Petar II

Given NamePetar
HouseKaradordevic
Born6 Sep 1923
Died3 Nov 1970
CountryYugoslavia
CategoryGovernment
GenderMale

Contributor:

ww2dbaseKing Petar II (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар II; sometimes westernized as Peter II), was a student of Sandroyd School in Britain when his father King Aleksandar I was assassinated in 1934. He returned to Yugoslavia upon hear the news, and was coronated as the next king but ruled under the regency of Prince Pavle (Paul). In fear of German aggression, under the direction of Prince Pavle, Petar II aligned Yugoslavia with Germany. On 27 Mar 1941, nearing the age of 18, he was declared of-age to rule as king, and two days later attempted to overthrow the Regent with the help of General Dusan Simovic. Germany, already planning to send troops to the Balkans to rescue the Italians out of their failing campaign in Greece, responded by launching Operation Marita into the Balkans on 6 Apr. After Yugoslavia's fall on 17 Apr, Petar II reached Britain in Jun 1941 through Greece, the Middle East, and Egypt. In Britain, he completed a degree at Cambridge University and then joined the Royal Air Force. He never returned to Yugoslavia. He was deposed on 29 Nov 1945 by Yugoslavia's Constituent Assembly, but he never abdicated this crown. He moved to the United States, where he passed away after a failed liver transplant. He now rests in peace at the St. Sava Monastery Church at Libertyville, Illinois; he is the only European monarch to be buried in the United States.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Jul 2006

Photographs

King George VI of the United Kingdom hosting a gathering of royal families in exile during World War II, early 1940s.Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery, King Petar II of Yugoslavia, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Britain, 1944

Petar II Timeline

6 Sep 1923 Petar II was born.
17 Apr 1941 King Petar II of Yugoslavia arrived at London, England, United Kingdom via Athens, Greece.
3 Nov 1970 Petar II passed away.




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Petar II Photo Gallery
King George VI of the United Kingdom hosting a gathering of royal families in exile during World War II, early 1940s.
See all 2 photographs of Petar II


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