= Paul = '''Paul''' was a prince of [[WorldHistory/Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] and regent for '''Peter II'''. <> ---- == History == '''Alexander I''' was assassinated on October 9th, 1934. Paul served as regent for his very young cousin '''Peter II'''. ---- == Policies == Paul appointed '''Milan Stojadinović''' as prime minister. He has served as finance minister and was a trained economist, so he was largely chosen for his capacity to lead Yugoslavia out of the [[WorldHistory/GreatDepression|Great Depression]]. With regard to foreign policy, Stojadinović was a sceptic of the [[WorldHistory/LeagueOfNations|League of Nations]] (especially after Alexander I's assassination) and favored the rising [[WorldHistory/Axis|Axis]]. Paul also favored the Axis, but more generally sought to play the international factions ([[Germany/AdolfHitler|Hitler]] and [[Italy/BenitoMussolini|Mussolini]]; [[France]] and the [[UnitedKingdom|United Kingdom]]; and the [[WorldHistory/SovietUnion|Soviet Union]] which the kingdom had still not officially recognized) against each other. Paul dismissed Stojadinović's government in February 1939 and began a push towards the [[WorldHistory/Allies|Allies]]. However, the [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2#Sudeten_Crisis|invasion of Czechoslovakia]] in March and of [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2#Expansionism_and_Irredentism|Albania]] in April placed Yugoslavia on the battlefront. The [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2#Molotov_Ribbentrop_Pact|Molotov-Ribbontrop Pact]] consolidated Paul's options. A gradual slide into Axis alignment began. Diplomatic relations were opened with the Soviet Union in June 1940. Paul signed the '''Tripartite Pact''' on March 25th, 1941. Two days later, Paul's regency was overthrown by the military. '''Peter II''' appointed a government under General '''Dušan Simović'''. ---- == Legacy == Ten days after the regency was overthrown, Germany [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2#Yugoslavia|invaded]] and rapidly forced an unconditional surrender which saw the kingdom partitioned. Paul lived in exile and died in 1976. ---- CategoryRicottone