The Beginnings (1892-1937)

1892


May 7
Marija and Franjo Broz of Kumrovec, house number 8, get their seventh child Josip, who since WWII celebrates his birthday on May 25.
1885 --1900



Josip Broz is brought up by mother's father Martin Javorsek in Podsreda.
1900


September 1
Starts visiting primary school; his teacher is Jure Markovic. In the fourth grade his teacher is Stjepan Vimpuhek.
1905


June
Finishes primary school.
1905 - 1907



Visited two classes of the so-called repetitive school three times a week. In his spare time he works at his uncle's in Podsreda.
1907 - 1910



Apprenticeship in Sisak; first in Stirigl's canteen, then in a locksmith workshop »Hasek i Karas«, today's address Tomislavova ul. 6. He visited apprentice school (three grades). Becoming aware of the labour movement (assistant Smit). First time celebrates May 1.
1910


September 24
Trade authorities in Sisak issued his working permit.

September 26
Gets a job in Izidor Haramina workshop in Zagreb, on Ilica.

October
Becomes member of Union of metallurgy workers (Ilica 53) and at the same time the Social-democratic party of Croatia and Slavonia.

November
Took part in the so-called »constitutional demonstrations«.
1911


January - March
No work. Kumrovec - Rajhenburg - Ljubljana - Trst and again Kumrovec; looking for a job.

March 3
Gets a job in August Knaus workshop in Zagreb, Prilaz 65.

May 1
Marching with 2000 workers.

May 2 - 5
As a strike guard in front of Eisenhut factory.

June 12 - July 21
In the Six-week successful strike.

End of July
Goes to Ljubljana and then to Kamnik - factory of metal products.
1912


May
With a group of comrades goes to Jince-Cenkov, a factory of metal products.

August 23
Goes to Plzen, works for Humel, then in Skoda factory.

October
For some time in München, then in Mannheim and then in Vienna in the Griedl bridge factory.

November
With brother Martin works in Vienna Neustadt as a worker in the Daimler factory where he becomes a test driver. Lives in a small town Neudorfel an der Leithe.

December
Comes to Zagreb for the draft.
1913



Serves military service (since autumn): Vienna, then Zagreb (since November). After finishing junior officer school - youngest sergeant major in 25. Patriot regiment in Zagreb, Ilica 232.


1914


May
At a fencing competition of Austro-Hungarian Army in Budapest wins second place and silver medal.

August
At war; with the regiment at Belanija, then in Ruma. In Majur arrested because of the anti-war propaganda (locked in the Petrovaradin fortress).
1915


January
25th Patriot regiment is sent to Galizien on the Russian front.

March
In Bukovina injured by a granate from a Russian howitzer.

April 4
Near Okno in Bukovina seriously injured (Herkes lance hit him in his left shoulder blade); whole battalion falls into Russian captivity.
1916


Till spring
In hospital, then in a prison camp in Alatir on Sura, then in Ardatov (engine operator in Kalasjejevo village).

Since autumn
On Ural in Kungur.
1917


April
Organizes demonstrations of prisoners of war; 14 days in prison.

End of June
Runs away to Petersburg.

July 16 - 17
Takes part in the big Petersburg demonstrations.

Beginning of August
Runs away to Finland; arrested and locked in the Petropavlovsk fortress (three weeks); under guard sent again to prison camp in Kungur. Runs off the train and comes to Omsk.

November
In Omsk he registers in the Red Army.
1918


Spring
Writes an application to be accepted in the Russian Communist Party (of the Bolsheviks).

July
Before the Kolcakov troops attack he retreats to Mihajlovka - machine operator in a steam tresher.

August - December
In Khirghiz village (65 km from Omsk) with pilgrim Dkaksenbajev works as a mechanic and then as a mill manager.

December
Moves to liberated Omsk.
1919


March
In Omsk becomes a member of the Yugoslav section of RKP(b).

September 7
In Omsk marries Pelagija Belousova. Together with wife travels to Yugoslavia: Omsk, Petersburg (three weeks), Narva, Szczecin, Vienna, Maribor (war prisoners'quarantine), Zagreb (November 3).

November 5
Takes a job in mechanic workshop of Filip Baum in Zagreb, in Petrinjska ul. 3. Member of CPY (Communist Party of Yugoslavia).

December 30
Organizes big demonstration rally in Zagreb (general strike transforms into an anti-Obznana demonstration against introducing dictatorship).
1920


January 2
Stops working at Baum's.

End of January
Gets a job in Veliko Trojstvo as machine operator of a motorized mill at Samuel Polak's. Starts working on CPY renewal (illegal) and gets connections with comrades in Zagreb.

December 24
His daughter Zlatica is born.
1921



Intense political work (connected to Stevo Sabic).
1922


November 17
His son Hinko is born (but lived only for 7 days).
1923


March
Connects to illegal organization CPY in Bjelovar (his connection is Djuro Segovic).

June 17
His daughter Zlatica dies.
1924


January
Voted as a member of the new CPY District Committee for Krizevci - Bjelovar area: Dragan Dukanec (Secretary), Josip Broz, Stevo Sabic, Djuro Segovic, Matija Krok, Ivo Ledinski and Josip Vincek Valenta.

February 2
His son Zarko is born.
1925


March 18
At Josip Vincek's burial in Markovec he finishes off his speech with the words: »We swear, comrade, until the end of our lives we will fight for the idea, that you were so devoted to.« Because of the speech Broz is arrested for eight days in Bjelovar. Constantly under police surveillance.

September
With family moves to Zagreb to Antun Mavrak.

September 21
Takes a job in Kraljevica (Yugoslav dockyard d.d.). Links to Dr. Pavle Gregoric, a Party comrade. Intense political work and gathering workers in a syndicate.
1926


June
OK CPY is founded, Broz is one of the members.

August
Talks about heavy conditions of the workers at a labour meeting and calls for a two-hour strike.

August 24
135 workers from the docks in Kraljevica go on strike. The strike ends successfully on September 8.

October 2
Laid off from the dockyard in Kraljevica.

October - December
Unemployed in Belgrade.
1927


January
Works as a locksmith in Smederevska Palanka in Jasenica A. D. factory. Active politically as workers' confidant, author of articles in »Organized worker« paper, where he since August 19, 1926.

March
As »dangerous communist and agitator« he is fired.

End of March
Lives in Zagreb: works in a branch of metallurgy workers' Independent syndicates and was very active in the illegal CPY.

April 3
Voted as secretary of SRMI and OJ branch. In that time he is co-opted to the city committee of CPY for Zagreb.

May 11 - 12
Works in Meduliceva ul. 25 in Dragutin Hamel's company Craft and building locksmith shop.

May 16
Elected member of Executive board of city labor syndicate council in Zagreb, some time later takes over the duty of Province secretary of SRMI and OJ: he is paid self-initially by the Zagreb metallurgists, because the right winged from the central management didn't want to register his appointment.

June 10 - 11
At 3rd Congress of Metallurgy and Crafts Workers Union of Yugoslavia in Belgrade elected to the central management.

July 14
Arrested for later discovered Communist activities in Kraljevica.

July 23
»Borba« protests: »What is with the arrested Broz...«

August 7
Paris Committee of defending victims of white violence sent a protest to the president of Yugoslav government Vukicevic because of arresting Josip Broz, Radomir Vujovic and Labud Kudovac. Yugoslav papers published the protest note. Broz started a hunger strike in Ogulin jail.

August 22
Until the trial on parole.

September
Took over the duty of secretary of central leadership of Union of workers of leather secondary industry and craft of Yugoslavia from Blagoje Parovic. Also takes over from him the duty of organization secretary in the city committee of the party.

October 17
Elected secretary of work commission among women of city labor syndicate council.

October 25 - 28
Trial in Ogulinu; Broz is sentenced to seven months of heavy jail. Until the verdict is legal he is free.

November
Djuro Djakovic goes to study in the USSR and Broz again takes over the duty of provincial secretary SRMI and OJ. Constantly under police surveillance; with the apartment where he lived with his family (Tresnjevka III above number 25) he had another four illegal apartments.
1928


February 25-26
8th Conference of Zagreb party organization: Broz as Georgijevic was delegate of the communist fraction of SRMI and OJ; with co-referent he disapproved fractions. Conference approved Georgijevic's speech. New city committee with representatives of anti-fraction forces under Josip Broz was elected.

April
Presided a meeting of city party active: they discussed the results of war »March campaign«, organizational buildup of the party, stronger work with peasants, preparations for May 1.

May 1
So far most aggressive May 1 demonstrations in Zagreb. Among arrested ones are Broz and Kamilo Horvatin (14 days of prison).

May 26
Zagreb party active under Josip Broz in the apartment of Dragutin Saili (Supilova ul. 30) approved anti-fraction resolution of the Komintern (»Open letter«).

June 20
Broz was named deputy of Jakob Zorga, organization secretary of Central Committee of CPY.

June 21 (evening)
30.000 demonstrators responded to Broz's leaflet and came onto streets of Zagreb. 3 workers killed, more than 100 workers arrested.

June 22
In a bloody police fight with demonstrators Broz in a leaflet asked Zagreb proletariat to start a general strike June 23.

July 27
Arrested in his apartment on Petrova st. 62. During the search at syndicate quarters in Ilica 49 he runs away.

August 2
Bureau of Central Committee of CPY appoints Broz (Georgijevic) to the post of Secretary of Province Secretariat CPY for Croatia and Slavonia.

August 4
At 23.30: arrested in front of the house on Vinogradska st.46.

November 6
In front of Royal court chair in Zagreb trail against Josip Broz begins; trial came down to history as the »bombers' trial«. Josip Broz was interrogated on November 7. Court proceedings ended on November 9.

November 14
»Long live the Communist Party of Yugoslavia!« For 11 weeks he is in solitary confinement of the prison of the Court chair, on the corner of Amruseva ulica and Zrinjevac.
1929


End of February - End of May
Serves sentence in a solitary confinement of Lepoglava penitentiary.

End of May
In Lepoglava penitentiary assigned to work in the prison electricity plant, so-called »munjari«.
1931


May 7
With another three prisoners transferred from Lepoglava to Maribor penitentiary.
1933


November 13
From Maribor penitentiary transferred to Ogulin, where he serves the sentence of the 1927 Ogulin trial.
1934


March 12
After 2046 days spent in jail Tito leaves Frankopanska kula and is never again sent to prison.

March
Registers to the authorities in his home township. Visits Croatian Zagorje. Then he stops at Bjelovar and Veliko Trojstvo. District office in Klanjac orders maximum surveillance over Broz.

April
To get out of control, Tito moves to Samobor to his sister Tereza. In Zagreb works very agile trying to reconstruct party organization.

July 11
At politbureau CK CPY meeting in Vienna he is co-opted in the politbureau.

July 24
By an invitation of CK CPY arrives to Vienna in the night of July 27-28.

August 10
First time on a CK CPY politburo meeting.

August 24
Travels to Yugoslavia to help local commitees of CPY for Slovenia and Croatia preparing party conferences.

End of September
Returns to Vienna and is assigned to prepare IV. State Conference of CPY.

October 6
Arrives to Slovenia to check possibilities of having a state conference in Ljubljana or its surroundings. After Marseilles assassination of King Alexander he moves to Trebce to his Aunt Ana Kolar.

End of October
Returns to Vienna.

December 24 - 25
At IV. state conference of CPY in Ljubljana (in Ana Ziherl's apartment in Trdinova ul. 8) he is elected together with 11 comrades to the CK CPY.

December 26
At constitutive meeting of CK CPY he is with Cikinski (Gorkic), Parovic, Horvatin and Muk elected in the politbureau of CK CPY.
1935


Beginning of February
Went to USSR. Lived in Moscow, in the »Luks« hotel (here are almost all Kominterna functionals). Got a new name: Walter Friedrich.

March 4
Took part in the meeting of the Secretariat for Balkan states as a reporter.

March 25
Central Committee of CPY names the Presideny of CPY in the Komintern: Vladimir Cipic, Stjepan Cvijic and Josip Broz.

May 11
Officially given the job of a political referent of CPY in the Secretariat of Balkan States at Kominterna.

July 25 - August 21
As a member of CPY delegation together with Cikinski, Parovic, Maric, Petrovic, Radovanovic, Copic, Cvijic, Filipovic and Kuhar he participated at the VII. Congress of Kominterna in Moscow (513 delegates from 65 states).

October 27
After abolition of state secretaries works in the CPY representative office at Kominterna.
1936


August
Works with leading cadre of CPY in Moscow. Executive committee of Kominterna has critically evaluated the work of Central Committee of CPY, especially the April plenum. They decided that all members of Central Committee of CPY except for the secretary (stays as the connection with Kominterna) must return home. From IKKI Tito gets special authorities to return home as first and leads the work of the Party in Yugoslavia.

Middle of October
After 22 months leaves USSR and comes to Vienna via Warsaw. Copic sends him to work Prague, Stefek Cvijic is sent to Paris. Broz made contact to homeland. Dynamically leads Party apparatus in Vienna.

November 3
In Graz meets Bozidar Adki: they discuss United Labour Party and People's Front of Freedom.

December 8
Meeting Politburo CK CPY in Vienna. Cikinski (Gorkic) reports, that IKKI named new leadership: himself (Secretary General with the right of veto), Tito, Rodoljub Colakovic, Sreten Rujovic and Franc Leskosek. They decided Tito should immediately depart to homeland.

December 9 or 10
Comes to Ljubljana, then Zagreb. He was also at Kumrovec, without saying hello to anyone there.

End of December
Travels to Split to organize sending of volunteers to Spain. From Split he travels to Prague to meet Cikinski.
1937


January 6
Returns to Zagreb from Prague. Dynamic historic activities for reconstruction of the party began.

January 25
Visits Ljubljana (meets Leskosek). A few days later he consults the leadership of CPY in Slovenia: start of preparations for the founding congress of KP of Slovenia.

March 7
From Ljubljana he goes to Zagreb. All the time he worked intensely to get Party organizations in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia straight and with the sending of Spanish volunteers. Special care devoted to syndicate and reorganizing Skoj.

March 23
With train through Italy travels to Paris, where the headquarters of the Central Committee was.

April 3
At the meeting CK CPY in Paris Tito's report about the activities in the homeland was approved. Cikinski and Broz are to investigate the cause of failed transfer of Yugoslav volunteers to Spain with ship »La Corse«.

April 5
At Central Committee of CPY meeting Tito was appointed to the commission of working with youth.

April
Gives lectures on party classes for CPY cadres in France.

April 25
Escorted by Jele Jancic comes to Ljubljana with train.

End of April
Comes to Belgrade.

Beginning of May
In Sempeter (near Bistrica on Sotla) at his aunt's Ana Kolar he consults with syndicate leaders from Slovenia and Croatia.

Second Half of May
Leaves for Paris.

Beginning of June
Comes to Zagreb. Preparations for the constitutional congress of KP of Croatia. In woods near Samobor meets with Djuro Spoljaric, Drago Petrovic, Andrija Raj and Josip Kras and forms province leadership of KP for Croatia. In Zagreb meets the communist leaders of syndicate organizations. Forms Central youth commission (Lola Ribar, Leo Mates, Boris Kraigher). Chooses candidates for studying in the USSR. Forms several commissions (agitprop, for countryside, for syndicates) at PKCPY for Croatia.

August 1 - 2
In woods near Samobor the constitutive congress of KPH is held; present were 16 delegates. Tito gives a speech and reads the resolution "Manifest of constitutional congress of KPH".

August 17
On Colakovic's and Rujovic's call arrives to Paris. Since Cikinski is arrested in Moscow, Tito takes over the leadership of the Central committee.

September 20
In Paris has consultations with communists - syndicate functionaries about the near congress of URSSJ. He sends Srdjan Prica to work among the immigrants in the US and as a representative of Central Committee of CPY with the CCCPUS. Received a letter from Mose Pijade describing the heavy situation with Petko Miletic's fraction activities among the Sremska Mitrovica prisoners.

October 6
A commission (Tito, Maric, Kuhar) was formed to investigate the situation in the Sremska Mitrovica penitentiary.

December 9
By a Tito's suggestion prisoners committee of CPY in Sremska Mitrovica was dismissed; new Central Committee of CPY mandatory - Mosa Pijade.

December 24
With Veda Zagorac and Olga Kreacic Tito goes to Graz by train; then to Prague and Vienna.