President of Yugoslavia. He gained recognition as the president of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from January 14, 1953 until his death in May of 1980. Born Josip Broz, he adopted the name of "Tito" for political reasons. Originating from peasant family in the village of Kumrovec then part of the Austria-Hungary Empire, he was the seventh of fifteen children born to Roman Catholic parents, a Slovenian mother and a Croatian father. He attended the village school before becoming an itinerant metalworker. Serving as an altar boy in the village church, he was cuffed while helping the priest with his vestments because he allowed part of the garment to fall to the floor. From that point, his days as a revolutionary began with him hating of the Roman Catholic church and then the monarchs who ruled Europe. At fifteen, he became an apprentice in nearby Sisak where he learned mechanics. Conscripted in 1913 into the Austro-Imperial Army, he fought on the Russian front against the Serbs. During World War I, he was captured by the Russians in April of 1915. While in prison of war camp hospital, recuperating for serious wounds, Josip Broz became a communist and upon his release, he joined the Bolsheviks fighting against the Czar. After World War I, he returned home to a country now called Yugoslavia engaging in underground activities for the banned communist party. He was jailed many times and rose rapidly in the party adopting the name "Tito" for use in underground party work. During World War II and the time of the Nazi occupation, Tito was named military commander with the aim of liberation while seizing power. His small band became the Partisans operating in the mountains of Bosnia. Citizens of every persuasion rallied to their cause and they soon eliminated the British-supported Serbian Royalist Chetniks while enduring intense Axis attacks. With the arrival of the Russians, Belgrade was liberated and the Ustase in Croatian fled. After complete control, the Partisans quickly administered revenge massacring fleeing Ustase forces, forbidding the return of the exiled Serbian royal family and set up sham trials to deal with collaborators. Draza Mihailovic the Chetnik general was shot and Cardinal Stepinac the Catholic Prelate of Croatia was found guilty of collaboration and imprisoned. Tito broke with Stalin angry at his attempts to put Yugoslavia in the Soviet Block. He unified the old waring nationalities of the country declaring himself President for life. Postwar Yugoslavia enjoyed a free exchange of idea's with solid stability. People were able to leave the country and thousands worked in Western Europe sending home needed hard currency. Westerners visited and vacationed regularly. With its window to the Adriatic sea, thousands of islands and warm weather, the nation became a favorite tourist destination. Tito promoted scientific exchanges with the West and made a visit to the U.S. He loved American movies and rented out vast numbers of his idle army to accommodate Hollywood film productions. Mickey Rooney and Sterling Hayden starred in films made along the Dalmatian coast. He outlasted every World War II leader and was the ruler for thirty five years. After becoming gravely ill, he spent four months confined to a hospital in Lubljana, Solvenia where he passed away at 88. His private train became a conveyance taking his remains past thousands of sorrowful people lining the tracks enroute to Belgrade. After laying in state at the Parliament Building, Tito was taken to an elaborate pre-constructed tomb on the grounds of the official government residence. He was interred after a service before hundreds of representatives from the international community. Yugoslavia disintegrated after Tito's death. What remains is called Serbia-Montenegro. His mausoleum is still open, a strong tourist attraction in Belgrade, but the grave has lost its twenty-four-hour guard of honor. His birth house in Kumrovec is preserved and was visited by then President Nixon with Tito as his guide.