Tito-Stalin Split

The Tito-Stalin Split refers to the ideological and political rift between Josip Broz Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, and Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader, in the late 1940s. Initially allies during World War II, tensions arose as Tito sought to maintain Yugoslavia's independence from Soviet control. In 1948, Stalin expelled Yugoslavia from the Eastern Bloc, fearing Tito's self-governing socialist policies could inspire dissent in other communist countries. This split marked a significant moment in the Cold War, as Yugoslavia pursued a unique path of non-alignment and self-determination, contrasting with strict Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.