1918 -- The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes is formed. Kosovo is included in new state as part of Serbia. The name of the country is changed to Yugoslavia in 1929.

1941-42 -- Yugoslavia is invaded by Nazi troops. The Partisan resistance force is established, led by the Communist Party.

1943-44 -- Having proclaimed a provisional government, the Partisans, by now numbering 800,000, drive the occupation forces from Yugoslavia.

1944-45 -- A Partisan decree orders the confiscation of what amounts to 80 percent of industry, and most banks and commercial enterprises. After a brief period of a joint government with royalist forces, Partisan leader Josip Broz Tito becomes prime minister. Under the impact of revolutionary mobilizations including all nationalities, a land reform is enacted and a workers and peasants government comes into being.

1945 -- Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Macedonia become republics within the Yugoslav Federation. The Macedonian language is recognized for the first time. Affirmative action measures are implemented in the more backward areas of Montenegro and Macedonia. Albanians are recognized for the first time as a distinct national group and their language as one of Yugoslavia's official languages, but a separate republic is denied.

1950s -- A privileged bureaucratic caste consolidates its power in Yugoslavia and reaches an accommodation with Moscow.

1968 -- Large demonstrations in Pristina in November demand an end to chauvinist bureaucratic abuses by the authorities. At the same time students throughout Yugoslavia demonstrate for democratic rights and in opposition to the U.S. war in Vietnam. Government passes constitutional amendment granting right to fly the Albanian flag.

1970 -- The Albanian-language University of Pristina is established.

1974 -- New constitution recognizes Kosovo and Vojvodina as autonomous provinces. Regional parliaments established.

1980 -- Tito dies and a rotating federal presidency between the republics is put in place.

March 1981 -- Protests by students at the University of Pristina against living conditions explode into large-scale demonstrations demanding republican status. Government declares state of emergency, and repression leads to nine deaths and more than 2,000 convictions to jail sentences or fines.

1988 -- Up to 500,000 people demonstrate in Kosovo against abuses by the federal government in Belgrade.

March 1989 -- Belgrade takes control of courts and police in Kosovo. Hundreds of thousands demonstrate in protest. At least 24 Albanians are killed by the police.

October 27, 1989 -- Underground sit-down strike by 60 Albanian miners in Stari Terg mine to protest the trials stemming from the March protests.

1990 -- Albanian-language broadcasting on Pristina radio and TV is ended and the main daily in Albanian, Rilindjia, is banned.

January - February 1990 -- Waves of demonstrations demand the release of political prisoners and an end to the state of emergency. Cops kill at least 32 people.

July 1990 -- Belgrade dissolves the Kosovo parliament and takes direct control.

August 1990 -- Eight-day strike by miners demanding return to autonomous status. Later, 7,275 of 7,600 miners in Kosovo are fired from their jobs.

September 1990 -- Belgrade formally annexes Kosovo. More than 100,000 people join in one-day protest strike in response. Mass firings of Albanians begin when they refuse to sign a "loyalty oath" to Serbian regime.

September 7, 1990 -- The Albanian members of parliament meet and adopt a declaration declaring Kosovo independent.

1991 -- All education and health care in the Albanian language is gradually segregated and then shut down. An illegal parallel education system in Albanian is established, from elementary school to college, functioning out of private homes.

1992 -- Ibrahim Rugova of the Democratic League of Kosovo is elected president of the Republic of Kosovo. Elections are deemed illegal by regime in Belgrade.

November 1995 -- Washington forces warring factions in Yugoslavia to sign accord at Wright-Patterson Air Force base near Dayton, Ohio, which opens the door to partition of Bosnia and NATO troop occupation.

September 1996 -- Belgrade regime signs agreement with Albanian leadership to reopen University of Pristina to Albanians.

October - December 1997 -- On October 1 and 29, and December 30, tens of thousands of students take part in demonstrations in Pristina to protest the Serbian regime's refusal to carry out agreement to reopen the University of Pristina to Albanians.  
 
 
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