The country with a checkered history, Croatia is located in the Central Europe. It always came out with new vigor like a phoenix from its difficulties. In most parts of the twentieth century Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia. In 1918, just before the end of the First World War Croatia declared independence of the empire of Austria-Hungary and it joined Yugoslavia and was one of the founders of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Germany occupied Croatia during the Second World War and declared Croatia independent of the Yugoslavian union. After the defeat of Germany Croatia again declare independence and became a founding member of the second Yugoslavia. In 1991 Yugoslavia disintegrated and Croatia ag... read more.