The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Peter II, king of Yugoslovia
1923–70, king of Yugoslavia (1934–45). He succeeded under the regency of his cousin, Prince Paul, when his father, King Alexander, was assassinated in Marseilles. In World War II, when Paul’s government signed (Mar., 1941) an agreement with the Axis Powers, the army and people of Yugoslavia overthrew the regent. Peter’s personal rule began with the German invasion (Apr., 1941) of Yugoslavia. His troops were soon defeated and Peter fled to England, where he headed a government in exile. After the war the newly elected Yugoslav assembly abolished (Nov., 1945) the monarchy and proclaimed a republic headed by Marshal Tito. Peter protested the action and remained in exile. He lived in the United States, where he died. He wrote A King’s Heritage (1954).
