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Tito (a Croat... some insiders say a native Russian who poached the real Tito's identity during the Spanish civil war... but that's another story)
Some insiders? Which insiders?


Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Apr 6th, 2009 at 06:06:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The primary source of that information was Tito's Chief of Staff and Protocol - the late Mirko Milutinovic.

Tito had a slight but distinguishable Russian accent which he never managed to get rid of. Speculation has it that the real Tito died during the Spanish Civil War and was replaced by an NKVD agent - the new Tito. These theories were popular in Yugoslavia from 1945 up until the break with Stalin in 1948. Evidence cited pointed to Yugoslav policy which seemed to be dictated from Moscow.

Here's an extract from a CIA report from 1945:

In foreign affairs, as in internal affairs, Russia is the lodestone governing Tito's policies. In every international issue, whether it is the direct concern of Yugoslavia or not, Tito and his press assiduously follow Moscow's lead. In fact, Tito and his followers exhibit a servility toward the Kremlin which contrasts strangely with their otherwise dynamic individuality. It is enough for Moscow to express a view and the Belgrade press reprints it in toto, adding a few biting words of its own. Under these circumstances it is no small wonder that in Belgrade one finds no evidence of a corps of Russian agents directing the activities of individual ministries or agencies. Should the necessity arise for specific guidance, no doubt a brief message from Stalin to Tito would suffice.

Following the break with Stalin in 1948, Tito embarked on a policy of rapprochement with NATO which culminated in discussions about whether to admit Yugoslavia into the organization or not. Milutinovic maintained that Tito was ready to enter the organization but that the Americans were weary of accepting a potential Trojan horse into their back yard.

That said... I have no idea where the truth really stands.

by vladimir on Mon Apr 6th, 2009 at 07:09:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Another theory is that Tito was recruited by British intelligence operator (spy) Fitzroy MacLean - converted to Communism by Soviet mole James Klugmann. This explains why Churchill backed Tito as opposed to Draza Mihajlovic who would have been the 'natural' candidate for Western support during WWII. It also explains the defense pact signed between Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia in 1953 which in effect brought Yugoslavia into NATO.
by vladimir on Fri Apr 10th, 2009 at 02:55:06 AM EST
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A book published by Dr. Matunovic and Josip Kopinic - "Enigma Broz - ko ste vi druze predsednice" (The Broz Question - Who Are You Mr. President?) is also an excellent source of information.

The theory that Tito was in fact not Croatian is also put forward by these insiders. They mention, for example, that nobody in Kumrovac - Tito's alleged place of birth - actually recognised or knew Tito. Other circumstantial evidence is that after WWII, President Tito never met his mother, who was still alive.

by vladimir on Fri Apr 10th, 2009 at 03:52:03 AM EST
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Dr Matunovic was Tito's personal doctor.
by vladimir on Fri Apr 10th, 2009 at 03:53:19 AM EST
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The book you mention is most interesting. I happen to have heard of it before, and remember someone from Macedonia telling me some years ago that this Tito's doctor was intrigued by his patient's personal history. Like, for example, how did someone with a supposedly poor background could play (well?) the piano and speak 7(?) languages... This same person said to me that Tito was thought of being a friend of Churchill and a Freemason and that the real Tito had died in some war and the one we know as such was a Pole aristocrat that stole his identity with the purpose of making "a Socialist experiment called Yugoslavia"(!). I don't know what of this is fact, what is what I call "thesis" or what part of this is mere theory. I only remember him mentioning this book and some local TV shows made about Tito. But, since then, I have been most curious to know more about this book, but I can't read the language in which it was written. Which is it, by the way? Serbo-Croatian? Could you please briefly describe me the content of this book, so that I can possibly present it to someone who's willing to do some research about it? Are there any other good sources concerning this same subject that Tito's personal background might not correspond with the official story?
by portuguese citizen on Fri May 1st, 2009 at 11:53:27 PM EST
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