Ethnic Groups of Yugoslavia (Alexander the Liberator)

Yugoslavia is the most ethnically diverse nation in Europe following Russia, and the only nation with no clear ethnic majority. Most Yugoslav ethnicities are part of the South Slavic peoples.

Serbs
The Serbs, or Serbians, are the largest ethnic group in Yugoslavia. The majority of Serbs inhabit the province of Serbia, East Serbia, and Vojvodina. They form significant minorities in Macedonia and Slovenia.The Serbs share many cultural traits with the rest of the peoples of Southeast Europe. They are predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christians by religion.

In the 19th century, the Serbian national identity was manifested, with awareness of history and tradition, medieval heritage, cultural unity, despite living under different empires. Three elements, together with the legacy of the Nemanjić dynasty, were crucial in forging identity and preservation during foreign domination: the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Serbian language, and Kosovo Myth. When the Principality of Serbia gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, Orthodoxy became crucial in defining the national identity, instead of language which was shared by other South Slavs (Croats and Bosniaks). The tradition of slava, the family saint feast day, is an important ethnic marker of Serb identity, and is usually regarded their most significant and most solemn feast day.

Croats
As the second largest ethnic group within Yugoslavia, Croats mainly live in the provinces of Croatia and Bosnia. Croats are mostly Roman Catholics.