# Jovanka Broz

> First Lady of Yugoslavia (1924–2013)

**Wikidata**: [Q2484636](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2484636)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovanka_Broz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jovanka-broz

## Summary

Jovanka Broz (born Јованка Будисављевић) was a Yugoslav politician and military personnel who served as the First Lady of Yugoslavia. Born in 1924 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, she lived through the tumultuous history of Yugoslavia—from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, through World War II, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro—before dying in Serbia in 2013 at the age of 88. She was a recipient of numerous high-ranking Yugoslav and international decorations, including the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, indicating her involvement in the World War II partisan resistance.

## Biography

- **Born:** December 7, 1924, in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (the official name for Yugoslavia from December 1918 to October 1929)
- **Died:** October 20, 2013
- **Birth Name:** Јованка Будисављевић (Jovanka Budisavljević)
- **Nationality:** Held citizenship across successive Yugoslav states: Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, and ultimately Serbia
- **Known for:** Serving as First Lady of Yugoslavia; career as a politician and military personnel
- **Field(s):** Politics, military service
- **Conflict:** World War II in Yugoslavia

## Contributions

Jovanka Broz served as First Lady of Yugoslavia during the era of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a socialist state in Central and Southeast Europe that existed from 1945 to 1992 with Belgrade as its capital. Her receipt of the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941—a Yugoslav medal instituted on September 14, 1944—confirms her active participation in the World War II partisan resistance movement in Yugoslavia. As a military personnel member and politician, she held positions within the Yugoslav government structure across multiple political eras. Her public role spanned the socialist period of Yugoslavia, a nation that at its 1991 census had a population of 23.7 million and covered 250,000 square kilometers, with official languages including Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, and Bosniak.

## FAQs

**What was Jovanka Broz's role in World War II?**
Jovanka Broz participated in World War II in Yugoslavia as military personnel. She was awarded the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, a Yugoslav decoration created on September 14, 1944, which was specifically given to those who participated in the partisan resistance movement from its early days.

**What countries was Jovanka Broz a citizen of during her lifetime?**
Over her 88-year life, Jovanka Broz held citizenship in six successive states: the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918–1929), the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929–1945), the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992–2003), Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006), and finally Serbia (from 2006).

**What awards and honors did Jovanka Broz receive?**
She received numerous Yugoslav and international decorations, including the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, the Order of Brotherhood and Unity (instituted August 15, 1943), the Order of the Yugoslav Star (instituted February 1, 1954), the Order "For Merit to the People" (instituted June 9, 1945), the Order of Military Merits (instituted December 29, 1951), and the Order of Bravery. Internationally, she received France's National Order of Merit (instituted December 3, 1963), the Netherlands' Order of the Crown and Order of the House of Orange, Togo's Order of Mono (instituted September 2, 1961), and Nepal's Order of Tri Shakti Patta (instituted November 27, 1937).

**Where is Jovanka Broz buried?**
She is interred at the House of Flowers (Кућа цвећа) in Belgrade, as documented by the grave marker image "Grob Jovanke Broz, Kuća cveća.JPG."

## Why They Matter

Jovanka Broz occupies a unique position in Yugoslav history as someone who lived through—and participated in—nearly every phase of Yugoslavia's existence in the 20th century. Born in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes just six years after its formation following World War I, she witnessed the renaming to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929, the Axis invasion of 1941, the rise of socialist Yugoslavia, and ultimately the dissolution of the state into independent nations in the 1990s and 2000s. Her service as First Lady placed her at the center of political life in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a nation that played a significant role in the Non-Aligned Movement and Cold War geopolitics. As a decorated World War II veteran who received the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, she represents the generation that fought in the resistance and then built the socialist state. The breadth of her awards—from Yugoslav military honors to French, Dutch, Togolese, and Nepalese decorations—reflects the international diplomatic standing of Yugoslavia during her time as First Lady. Her life story mirrors the trajectory of Yugoslavia itself: from monarchy through wartime resistance to socialist federation and eventual dissolution into successor states.

## Notable For

- Serving as First Lady of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a nation of 23.7 million people (1991) spanning 250,000 square kilometers
- Receiving the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, confirming early involvement in World War II resistance
- Holding citizenship across six different Yugoslav and post-Yugoslav states over her 88-year lifespan
- Being decorated with the Order of the Yugoslav Star, one of Yugoslavia's highest orders (instituted 1954)
- Receiving the Order of Brotherhood and Unity (instituted August 15, 1943), reflecting contribution to Yugoslav inter-ethnic solidarity
- Being awarded the Order "For Merit to the People" of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (instituted June 9, 1945)
- Receiving the Order of Military Merits (instituted December 29, 1951), recognizing military service
- Holding the French National Order of Merit, awarded by the President of the French Republic
- Being a recipient of the Dutch Order of the Crown and the Order of the House of Orange
- Receiving the Order of Mono from Togo (instituted September 2, 1961), a Togolese order of chivalry
- Being awarded Nepal's Order of Tri Shakti Patta (instituted November 27, 1937)
- Being interred at the House of Flowers in Belgrade, a site of significant historical importance in Serbia
- Being documented across 30 Wikimedia site links, indicating broad international recognition

## Body

### Early Life and Origins

Jovanka Broz was born Јованка Будисављевић on December 7, 1924, in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. This state had been formed in December 1918 following the collapse of Austria-Hungary and the end of World War I, as an ambitious attempt to create a unified South Slavic state bringing together Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Bosnians, Macedonians, Montenegrins, and other ethnic groups under a single crown. When she was approximately four years old, the kingdom was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on October 3, 1929, under King Alexander I, who implemented major constitutional and administrative changes including the 6 January Dictatorship.

### World War II and Military Service

Broz served as military personnel during World War II in Yugoslavia, which constituted the local theater of the broader European conflict. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was invaded by Axis powers on April 6, 1941, leading to its effective collapse. The government went into exile, and the territory was partitioned among Axis forces and their allies. In response, resistance movements emerged, including the Yugoslav Partisans led by Josip Broz Tito. Jovanka Broz's participation in this resistance is confirmed by her receipt of the Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941, a Yugoslav medal instituted on September 14, 1944, which was specifically awarded to those who had been part of the partisan movement from its earliest phase. She also received the Order of Bravery (instituted August 15, 1943) and the Order of Military Merits (instituted December 29, 1951), further attesting to her military contributions during and after the war.

### Political Career and Role as First Lady

Jovanka Broz held the occupation of politician and served as First Lady of Yugoslavia. Her role coincided with the era of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), which existed from 1945 to 1992 as a socialist state in Central and Southeast Europe. The SFRY had its capital in Belgrade, operated as a socialist federal republic with a communist system, and used the Yugoslav dinar as its currency. The state maintained official languages of Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, and Bosniak, and was a member of the United Nations (from 1945) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (from 1972). As First Lady, Broz would have been present at the center of Yugoslav political life during a period when the country played a significant role in international affairs, particularly through the Non-Aligned Movement.

### Yugoslav Honors and Decorations

Throughout her life, Jovanka Broz received numerous high-ranking Yugoslav decorations that reflect her service to the state:

- **Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941**: Instituted September 14, 1944, this medal recognized her early participation in the partisan resistance movement during World War II.
- **Order of Brotherhood and Unity**: Instituted August 15, 1943, during the war, this order promoted the Yugoslav ideal of inter-ethnic solidarity among South Slavic peoples.
- **Order of the Yugoslav Star**: Instituted February 1, 1954, this was one of the highest orders of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
- **Order "For Merit to the People"**: Instituted June 9, 1945, this order of the SFRY recognized significant contributions to the people and the state.
- **Order of Military Merits**: Instituted December 29, 1951, this military order recognized service and contributions to the Yugoslav armed forces.
- **Order of Bravery**: A Yugoslavian order instituted on August 15, 1943, recognizing acts of courage.

### International Decorations

Beyond Yugoslav honors, Broz received decorations from multiple countries, reflecting Yugoslavia's diplomatic reach during her time:

- **National Order of Merit (France)**: An order of state with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, instituted on December 3, 1963.
- **Order of the Crown (Netherlands)**: A Dutch order of knighthood, instituted on November 30, 1969.
- **Order of the House of Orange (Netherlands)**: A dynastic order of the House of Orange-Nassau, the royal family of the Netherlands, instituted on March 19, 1905.
- **Order of Mono (Togo)**: A Togolese order of chivalry in five grades, instituted on September 2, 1961.
- **Order of Tri Shakti Patta (Nepal)**: A Nepalese order instituted on November 27, 1937.

### Citizenship Across Successive States

Jovanka Broz's life spanned nearly the entire history of Yugoslavia as a unified state, and she held citizenship in each of its successive iterations:

1. **Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes** (1918–1929): The state into which she was born in 1924.
2. **Kingdom of Yugoslavia** (1929–1945): Renamed during her early childhood, this kingdom operated as a constitutional monarchy until the Axis invasion of 1941.
3. **Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia** (1945–1992): The socialist state that emerged from World War II, with a population that would reach 23.7 million by 1991.
4. **Federal Republic of Yugoslavia** (1992–2003): Formed on April 27, 1992, consisting of Serbia and Montenegro, with Belgrade as its capital and the Yugoslav dinar as its currency.
5. **Serbia and Montenegro** (2003–2006): The state union that succeeded the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
6. **Serbia** (from 2006): The sovereign state in Southeast Europe with Belgrade as its capital, a population of approximately 6.6 million, and the Serbian dinar as its currency.

### Final Years and Burial

Jovanka Broz died on October 20, 2013, in Serbia, at the age of 88. She is buried at the House of Flowers (Кућа цвећа) in Belgrade, as documented by the grave image "Grob Jovanke Broz, Kuća cveća.JPG." The House of Flowers is a historically significant site in Serbia. Her death occurred during the period of the modern Republic of Serbia, a parliamentary republic with President Aleksandar Vučić as head of state and Belgrade as its administrative capital.

### Documentary and Archival Presence

Jovanka Broz is extensively documented across multiple international knowledge systems and library catalogs, with identifiers including ISNI (0000000093831292), VIAF (84426794), GND (119070944), LCCN (n84803288), BNF (122928339), and many others. She is recorded with 30 Wikimedia site links and an IMDb identifier (nm1246655), indicating presence in both encyclopedic and media databases. Her image is preserved as "Jovanka Broz 1970.jpg," and her grave site is documented photographically.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. general catalog of BnF
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. filmportal.de
5. BnF authorities
6. Croatian Biographical Lexicon
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. CONOR.SI