--- title: Belgrade — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 2 description: Wikipedia's «Belgrade», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Belgrade (/bɛlˈgreɪd/ bel-GRAYD or /ˈbɛlɡreɪd/ BEL-grayd; Београд / Beograd, beǒɡrad) is the capital and historic largest city of Serbia. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belgrade/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Belgrade # Belgrade · page 2 From Wikipedia, [«Belgrade»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgrade), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belgrade/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belgrade/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belgrade/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belgrade/page/5/) The development of Belgrade architecture after 1815 can be divided into four periods.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") In the first phase, which lasted from 1815 to 1835, the dominant architectural style was still of a Balkan character, with substantial Ottoman influence.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") At the same time, an interest in joining the European mainstream allowed Central and Western European architecture to flourish.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Between 1835 and 1850, the amount of [neoclassicist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassicism) and [baroque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque) buildings south of the Austrian border rose considerably, exemplified by [Cathedral of Saint Archangel Michael](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Saint_Archangel_Michael,_Belgrade) (Serbian: Saborna crkva), completed in 1840.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Between 1850 and 1875, new architecture was characterised by a turn towards the newly popular [Romanticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism), along with older European architectural styles.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Typical of Central European cities in the last quarter of the 19th century, the fourth phase was characterised by an [eclecticist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclecticism) style based on the Renaissance and Baroque periods.[\[64\]](../../page/5/#ref-64 "note 64")[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1841, Prince [Mihailo Obrenović](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihailo_Obrenović) moved the capital of the [Principality of Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Serbia) from [Kragujevac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kragujevac) to Belgrade.[\[65\]](../../page/5/#ref-65 "note 65")[\[66\]](../../page/5/#ref-66 "note 66")[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") During his first reign (1815–1839), Prince [Miloš Obrenović](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miloš_Obrenović) pursued expansion of the city's population through the addition of new settlements, aiming and succeeding to make Belgrade the centre of the Principality's administrative, military and cultural institutions.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") His project of creating a new market space (the Abadžijska čaršija), however, was less successful; trade continued to be conducted in the centuries-old Donja čaršija and Gornja čaršija.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Still, new construction projects were typical for the Christian quarters as the older Muslim quarters declined; from Serbia's autonomy until 1863, the number of Belgrade quarters even decreased, mainly as a consequence of the gradual [disappearance of the city's Muslim population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_of_Muslims_from_Serbia_%281862%29).[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") An Ottoman city map from 1863 counts only 9 Muslim quarters (mahalas).[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The names of only five such neighbourhoods are known today: Ali-pašina, Reis-efendijina, Jahja-pašina, Bajram-begova, and Laz Hadži-Mahmudova.[\[67\]](../../page/5/#ref-67 "note 67")[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the [Čukur Fountain incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Čukur_Fountain_incident), Belgrade was bombed by the Ottomans.[\[68\]](../../page/5/#ref-68 "note 68")[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") On 18 April 1867, the Ottoman government ordered the Ottoman garrison, which had been since 1826 the last representation of Ottoman suzerainty in Serbia, withdrawn from [Kalemegdan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalemegdan).[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") The forlorn Porte's only stipulation was that the Ottoman flag continue to fly over the fortress alongside the Serbian one.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Serbia's [de facto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto) independence dates from this event.[\[69\]](../../page/5/#ref-69 "note 69")[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") In the following years, urban planner [Emilijan Josimović](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilijan_Josimović) had a significant influence on Belgrade.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") He conceptualised a regulation plan for the city in 1867, in which he proposed the replacement of the town's crooked streets with a [grid plan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_plan).[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Of great importance also was the construction of independent Serbian political and cultural institutions, as well as the city's now-plentiful parks.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Pointing to Josimović's work, Serbian scholars have noted an important break with Ottoman traditions.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") At the time of independence, Belgrade had a mainly Ottoman look, and Josimović stated he wanted to rebuild Belgrade so that "the capital does not retain the form that barbarism gave it".[\[70\]](../../page/5/#ref-70 "note 70")[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Josimović designed Belgrade to resemble Vienna, right down to building grand boulevards inspired by the Ringstrasse.[\[70\]](../../page/5/#ref-70 "note 70")[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") All that remains of Ottoman Belgrade today are two mosques, the citadel, and a fountain with Arabic inscriptions.[\[70\]](../../page/5/#ref-70 "note 70")[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") However, Istanbul—the capital city of the state to which Belgrade and Serbia de jure still belonged—underwent similar changes.[\[71\]](../../page/5/#ref-71 "note 71")[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") In May 1868, knez Mihailo was assassinated with his cousin [Anka Konstantinović](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anka_Konstantinović) while riding in a carriage in his country residence.[\[72\]](../../page/5/#ref-72 "note 72")[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") With the [Principality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Serbia)'s full independence in 1878 and its transformation into the [Kingdom of Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Serbia) in 1882, Belgrade once again became a key city in the Balkans, and developed rapidly.[\[61\]](../../page/5/#ref-61 "note 61")[\[73\]](../../page/5/#ref-73 "note 73")[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless, conditions in Serbia remained those of an overwhelmingly agrarian country, even with the opening of a railway to [Niš](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niš), Serbia's second city.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1900, the capital had only 70,000 inhabitants[\[74\]](../../page/5/#ref-74 "note 74") (at the time Serbia numbered 2.5 million).[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Still, by 1905, the population had grown to more than 80,000 and, by the outbreak of World War I in 1914, it had surpassed the 100,000 citizens, disregarding [Zemun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zemun), which still belonged to [Austria-Hungary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungary).[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") The first-ever projection of motion pictures in the Balkans and Central Europe was held in Belgrade in June 1896 by André Carr, a representative of the [Lumière brothers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_and_Louis_Lumière).[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") He shot the first motion pictures of Belgrade in the next year; however, they have not been preserved.[\[75\]](../../page/5/#ref-75 "note 75")[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") The first permanent cinema was opened in 1909 in Belgrade.[\[76\]](../../page/5/#ref-76 "note 76")[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") ### World War I: Austro–German invasion The First World War began on 28 July 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of the subsequent Balkan offensives occurred near Belgrade.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") [Austro-Hungarian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Navy) [monitors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_%28warship%29) shelled Belgrade on 29 July 1914, and it was taken by the [Austro-Hungarian Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Army) under General [Oskar Potiorek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Potiorek) on 1 December.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") On 16 December, it was re-taken by [Serbian troops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Campaign_%28World_War_I%29) under Marshal [Radomir Putnik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radomir_Putnik).[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") After a prolonged battle which destroyed much of the city, starting on 6 October 1915, Belgrade fell to [German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army_%28German_Empire%29) and Austro-Hungarian troops commanded by Field Marshal [August von Mackensen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_von_Mackensen) on 9 October of the same year.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") The city was liberated by Serbian and [French troops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Army) on 1 November 1918, under the command of Marshal [Louis Franchet d'Espèrey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Franchet_d%27Espèrey) of France and [Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_I_of_Yugoslavia).[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Belgrade, devastated as a front-line city, lost the title of largest city in the [Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia) to [Subotica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subotica) for some time.[\[77\]](../../page/5/#ref-77 "note 77")[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Kingdom of Yugoslavia After the war, Belgrade became the capital of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, renamed the [Kingdom of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia) in 1929.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") The Kingdom was split into [banovinas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subdivisions_of_the_Kingdom_of_Yugoslavia) and Belgrade, together with [Zemun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zemun) and [Pančevo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pančevo), formed a separate administrative unit.[\[78\]](../../page/5/#ref-78 "note 78")[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") During this period, the city experienced fast growth and significant modernisation.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Belgrade's population grew to 239,000 by 1931 (with the inclusion of Zemun), and to 320,000 by 1940.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") The population growth rate between 1921 and 1948 averaged 4.08% a year.[\[79\]](../../page/5/#ref-79 "note 79")[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1927, Belgrade's first airport opened, and in 1929, its first radio station began broadcasting.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Pančevo Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pančevo_Bridge), which crosses the Danube, was opened in 1935,[\[80\]](../../page/5/#ref-80 "note 80") while [King Alexander Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Alexander_Bridge) over the Sava was opened in 1934.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") On 3 September 1939 the first [Belgrade Grand Prix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgrade_Grand_Prix), the last [Grand Prix motor racing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prix_motor_racing) race before the outbreak of World War II, was held around the [Belgrade Fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgrade_Fortress) and was followed by 80,000 spectators.[\[81\]](../../page/5/#ref-81 "note 81")[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") The winner was [Tazio Nuvolari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tazio_Nuvolari).[\[82\]](../../page/5/#ref-82 "note 82")[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") ### World War II On 25 March 1941, the government of [regent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent) [Crown Prince Paul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Paul_of_Yugoslavia) signed the [Tripartite Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact), joining the [Axis powers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_powers_of_World_War_II) in an effort to stay out of the Second World War and keep Yugoslavia neutral during the conflict.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") This was immediately followed by mass protests in Belgrade and a military [coup d'état](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27état) led by Air Force commander General [Dušan Simović](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dušan_Simović), who proclaimed [King Peter II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_II_of_Yugoslavia) to be of age to rule the realm.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") As a result, the city was [heavily bombed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Retribution_%281941%29) by the [Luftwaffe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftwaffe) on 6 April 1941, killing up to 2,274 people.[\[83\]](../../page/5/#ref-83 "note 83")[\[84\]](../../page/5/#ref-84 "note 84")[\[85\]](../../page/5/#ref-85 "note 85")[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Yugoslavia was then [invaded](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Yugoslavia) by [German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany), [Italian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Italy), [Hungarian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary_between_the_two_world_wars), and [Bulgarian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Bulgaria_during_World_War_II) forces.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Belgrade was captured by subterfuge, with six German soldiers led by their officer [Fritz Klingenberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Klingenberg) feigning threatening size, forcing the city to capitulate.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") [\[86\]](../../page/5/#ref-86 "note 86") Belgrade was more directly occupied by the [German Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army_%28Wehrmacht%29) in the same month and became the seat of the puppet [Nedić regime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nedić_regime), headed by its namesake general.[\[87\]](../../page/5/#ref-87 "note 87")[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of today's parts of Belgrade were incorporated in the [Independent State of Croatia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_State_of_Croatia) in occupied Yugoslavia, another puppet state, where [Ustashe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ustashe) regime carried out the [Genocide of Serbs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide_of_Serbs_in_the_Independent_State_of_Croatia).[\[88\]](../../page/5/#ref-88 "note 88")[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") During the summer and autumn of 1941, in reprisal for guerrilla attacks, the Germans carried out several massacres of Belgrade citizens; in particular, members of the [Jewish community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Serbia) were subject to mass shootings at the order of General [Franz Böhme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Böhme), the German [Military Governor of Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territory_of_the_Military_Commander_in_Serbia).[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Böhme rigorously enforced the rule that for every German killed, 100 Serbs or Jews would be shot.[\[89\]](../../page/5/#ref-89 "note 89")[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") Belgrade became the first city in Europe to be declared by the Nazi occupation forces to be [judenfrei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judenfrei).[\[90\]](../../page/5/#ref-90 "note 90")[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") The resistance movement in Belgrade was led by Major [Žarko Todorović](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Žarko_Todorović) from 1941 until his arrest in 1943.[\[91\]](../../page/5/#ref-91 "note 91")[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") Just like [Rotterdam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotterdam), which was devastated twice by both German and Allied bombing, [Belgrade was bombed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_bombing_of_Yugoslavia_in_World_War_II#1944_Easter_bombing) once more during [World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II), this time by the [Allies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II) on 16 April 1944, killing at least 1,100 people.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") This bombing fell on the [Orthodox Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) [Easter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Easter).[\[92\]](../../page/5/#ref-92 "note 92")[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of the city remained under German occupation until 20 October 1944, when it was liberated by the [Red Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army) and the Communist [Yugoslav Partisans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partisans_%28Yugoslavia%29).[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") On 29 November 1945, Marshal [Josip Broz Tito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josip_Broz_Tito) proclaimed the [Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_People%27s_Republic_of_Yugoslavia) in Belgrade (later renamed to [Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia) on 7 April 1963).[\[93\]](../../page/5/#ref-93 "note 93")[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Socialist Yugoslavia When the war ended, the city was left with 11,500 demolished housing units.[\[94\]](../../page/5/#ref-94 "note 94")[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") During the post-war period, Belgrade grew rapidly as the capital of the [renewed Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia), developing as a major industrial centre.[\[73\]](../../page/5/#ref-73 "note 73")[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1948, construction of [New Belgrade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Belgrade) started.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") In the late 1940s and 1950s, the new regime made a point of rebuilding Belgrade in a modernistic style inspired by Le Corbusier to show that Yugoslavia was in the forefront of progress.[\[95\]](../../page/5/#ref-95 "note 95")[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1958, Belgrade's first television station began broadcasting.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1961, Belgrade hosted the first and founding conference of the [Non-Aligned Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement) under Tito's chairmanship.[\[96\]](../../page/5/#ref-96 "note 96")[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1962, [Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgrade_Nikola_Tesla_Airport) was built.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 1960s, a number of prestige buildings were put up such as the parliament building, the [Ušće Towers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ušće_Towers) which served as the headquarters for the Central Committee of the League of Communists, and the [Hotel Jugoslavija](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Jugoslavija).[\[95\]](../../page/5/#ref-95 "note 95")[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") An American journalist from the Washington Post newspaper wrote in 1967: "Belgrade is a lively, frivolous, noisy, jam-packed city compared with the one I remember from twenty years ago".[\[95\]](../../page/5/#ref-95 "note 95")[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1964, Tito embarked upon the policy of "market socialism" that allowed capitalism to co-exist with communism.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") As a result, Western visitors to Belgrade in the late 1960s were astonished to see that the main streets were dominated by gigantic and garish billboards promoting Western brands such as Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, Siemens and Pan Am, giving Belgrade a very Western feel.[\[95\]](../../page/5/#ref-95 "note 95")[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") Likewise, the Belgradians in the 1960s were described as dressed very much in fashionable Western styles with visitors noting that many women had an obsession with having their hair bleached blonde.[\[95\]](../../page/5/#ref-95 "note 95")[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") The German historian Marie-Jannine Calic wrote that in the 1960s Belgrade "a vibrant hustle and bustle prevailed in the streets, squares, and numerous cafes."[\[95\]](../../page/5/#ref-95 "note 95")[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") She also noted that the core of Belgrade had a very modern look, but that "along the mighty boulevards huddled pathetic little stores selling cloth, metal goods and dishware next to the dingy workshops of shoemakers, silversmiths and candle makers".[\[97\]](../../page/5/#ref-97 "note 97")[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") On the periphery of Belgrade, there was a semi-rural feel as chickens and cows wandered about the streets while the people lived in dire poverty, making their living as peddlers, wandering musicians, rag pickers, panhandlers, shoe shiners, scissor grinders, casual laborers and other marginal occupations.[\[97\]](../../page/5/#ref-97 "note 97")[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1968, [major student protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_student_demonstrations_in_Belgrade) led to several street clashes between students and the police.[\[98\]](../../page/5/#ref-98 "note 98")[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") By 1969, the population of Belgrade passed the one million mark for the first time.[\[99\]](../../page/5/#ref-99 "note 99")[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") The population increase was largely due to people moving from rural areas to Belgrade as it was estimated in 1969 that two of three Belgradians had been born in the countryside.[\[99\]](../../page/5/#ref-99 "note 99")[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") The population increase in the 1960s imposed serious social strains as more people were moving to Belgrade faster than the pace of housing construction, leading a housing crisis.[\[97\]](../../page/5/#ref-97 "note 97")[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") The 1961 Yugoslav census showed that an average of 2.5 people lived per one room in Belgrade compared to the average of 1.6 people per room in the rest of Yugoslavia.[\[97\]](../../page/5/#ref-97 "note 97")[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1965, it was estimated that there was a shortage of 50,000 housing units in Belgrade, which led to many people to make illegal makeshift homes in shops, basements, laundry rooms and even elevator shafts while on the periphery of Belgrade people built wooden huts and cottages.[\[97\]](../../page/5/#ref-97 "note 97")[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") The mayor of Belgrade, [Branko Pešić](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branko_Pešić), told a journalist in 1965: "In the last seven or eight years, 20,000 to 30,000 people have come to Belgrade each year.[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") That equals an entire small town...[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") And all of these people find shelter somewhere, hole up someplace.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") Some get an apartment, but that is the smallest percentage of them.[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") A great number are forced...to house in basement, in unhygienic apartments and barracks.[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") And whoever has not yet seen this should definitely see what this looks like...[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") Something like this doesn't even exist in Africa".[\[97\]](../../page/5/#ref-97 "note 97")[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1972, Belgrade faced a [smallpox outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Yugoslav_smallpox_outbreak), the last major outbreak of [smallpox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox) in [Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe) since World War II.[\[100\]](../../page/5/#ref-100 "note 100")[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") Between October 1977 and March 1978, the city hosted the first major gathering of the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_for_Security_and_Co-operation_in_Europe) with the aim of implementing the [Helsinki Accords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Accords) from, while in 1980 Belgrade hosted the [UNESCO General Conference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO_General_Conference).[\[101\]](../../page/5/#ref-101 "note 101")[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") Josip Broz Tito died in May 1980 and his [funeral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Josip_Broz_Tito) in Belgrade was attended by high officials and state delegations from 128 of the 154 [members of the United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_the_United_Nations) from all over the world, based on which it became one of the [largest funerals in history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_funerals).[\[102\]](../../page/5/#ref-102 "note 102")[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Breakup of Yugoslavia On 9 March 1991, [massive demonstrations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_9,_1991_protest) led by [Vuk Drašković](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuk_Drašković) were held in the city against [Slobodan Milošević](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slobodan_Milošević).[\[103\]](../../page/5/#ref-103 "note 103")[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") According to various media outlets, there were between 100,000 and 150,000 people on the streets.[\[104\]](../../page/5/#ref-104 "note 104")[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") Two people were killed, 203 were injured and 108 were arrested during the protests, and later that day tanks were deployed onto the streets to restore order.[\[105\]](../../page/5/#ref-105 "note 105")[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") Many [anti-war protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991–1992_anti-war_protests_in_Belgrade) were held in Belgrade, with the largest protests being dedicated to solidarity with the victims from the [besieged Sarajevo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo).[\[106\]](../../page/5/#ref-106 "note 106")[\[107\]](../../page/5/#ref-107 "note 107")[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") [Further anti-government protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996–1997_protests_in_Serbia) were held in Belgrade from November 1996 to February 1997 against the same government after alleged electoral fraud in local elections.[\[108\]](../../page/5/#ref-108 "note 108")[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") These protests brought [Zoran Đinđić](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoran_Đinđić) to power, the first [mayor of Belgrade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Belgrade) since World War II who did not belong to the [League of Communists of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Communists_of_Yugoslavia) or its later offshoot, the [Socialist Party of Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_of_Serbia).[\[109\]](../../page/5/#ref-109 "note 109")[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1999, during the [Kosovo War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War), the [NATO bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_bombing_of_Yugoslavia) campaign targeted a number of buildings in Belgrade.[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the sites bombed were some ministry buildings, the [RTS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Television_of_Serbia) building, hospitals, [Hotel Jugoslavija](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Jugoslavija), the [Central Committee building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ušće_Tower), [Avala Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avala_Tower), and the [Chinese embassy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_Bombing_of_the_Chinese_embassy_in_Belgrade).[\[110\]](../../page/5/#ref-110 "note 110")[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") Between 500[\[111\]](../../page/5/#ref-111 "note 111") and 2,000 civilians[\[112\]](../../page/5/#ref-112 "note 112") were killed in Serbia and Montenegro as a result of the NATO bombings, of which 27 were killed in Belgrade.[\[113\]](../../page/5/#ref-113 "note 113")[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") After the [Yugoslav Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_Wars), Serbia became home to the highest number of [refugees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee) and [internally displaced persons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internally_displaced_person) in Europe, with more than a third of these refugees having settled in Belgrade.[\[114\]](../../page/5/#ref-114 "note 114")[\[115\]](../../page/5/#ref-115 "note 115")[\[116\]](../../page/5/#ref-116 "note 116")[\[117\]](../../page/5/#ref-117 "note 117")[187](../../187/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belgrade/) **2** 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