Edvard Kardelj Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Edvard Kardelj


Member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia for SR Slovenia
In office 15 May 1974 – 10 February 1979
President	Josip Broz Tito
Preceded by	Marko Bulc Sergej Kraigher Mitja Ribičič
Succeeded by	Sergej Kraigher
7th President of the Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia
In office 29 June 1963 – 16 May 1967
Preceded by	Petar Stambolić
Succeeded by	Milentije Popović
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia
In office 31 August 1948 – 15 January 1953
Prime Minister	Josip Broz Tito
Preceded by	Stanoje Simić
Succeeded by	Koča Popović
Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia
In office 2 February 1946 – 29 June 1963
Prime Minister	Josip Broz Tito
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Boris Kraigher Miloš Minić Veljko Zeković

Personal details
Born	(1910-01-27)27 January 1910 Ljubljana, Austria-Hungary
Died	10 February 1979(1979-02-10) (aged 69) Ljubljana, Slovenia, Yugoslavia
Cause of death	Colon cancer
Resting place	Tomb of National Heroes, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nationality	Slovenian
Political party	League of Communists of Yugoslavia
Spouse	Pepca Maček (m. 1939)
Children	Borut Kardelj
Relatives	Ivan Maček (brother-in-law)
Alma mater	Ljubljana Teachers' College International Lenin School Communist University of the National Minorities of the West
Awards	Order of the Yugoslav Great Star Order of the People's Hero Order of the Hero of Socialist Labour (2) Order of National Liberation Order of the Yugoslav Star with Sash Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941
Nicknames	Bevc, Krištof, Sperans
Military service
Allegiance	Yugoslavia
Branch/service	Yugoslav Partisans Yugoslav People's Army
Years of service	1941–1979
Rank	Colonel general
Battles/wars	World War II in Yugoslavia

Edvard Kardelj (born January 27, 1910 – died February 10, 1979) was an important politician and economist from Yugoslavia. He was also known by his secret names like Bevc, Sperans, and Krištof.

Before World War II, Kardelj was a key member of the Communist Party of Slovenia. During the war, he helped lead the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People and was a Slovene Partisan. After the war, he became a top political leader in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He also led talks with Italy about the border in the Julian March.

Kardelj is famous for creating Yugoslavia's unique system called workers' self-management. He was also an economist and a member of important science academies. He played a big part in Yugoslavia's foreign policy. He helped create the idea of nonalignment, which meant Yugoslavia did not pick sides in the Cold War.

Early Life and Political Beginnings
- Joining the Comintern
- Family and War Efforts
After the War: A Leader in Yugoslavia
- New Economic Ideas
- Later Political Role
Death and Lasting Impact
See also

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Kardelj was born in Ljubljana, which is now the capital of Slovenia. When he was 16, he joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. He had planned to become a teacher, but he never worked in that field.

In 1930, he was arrested in Belgrade for being part of the illegal Communist Party. He was released in 1932. He then returned to Ljubljana and became a leader of the party's Slovenian branch.

Joining the Comintern

In 1935, Kardelj moved to Moscow to work for the Comintern. This was an international organization for communist parties. He was one of the few Yugoslav communist leaders who survived difficult times there.

After Josip Broz Tito became the party leader, Kardelj became a very important member. In 1937, Kardelj and other leaders, including Tito, returned to Yugoslavia. They started a new plan for the party. This plan called for all left-wing groups in Yugoslavia to unite against fascism. They also wanted Yugoslavia to become a federation of different regions.

That same year, the Communist Party of Slovenia was formed. Kardelj was one of its main leaders, along with Franc Leskošek and Boris Kidrič.

Family and War Efforts

On August 15, 1939, Kardelj married Pepca Kardelj. Her brother, Ivan Maček, was also a famous communist leader.

After the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, Kardelj became a leader of the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People. In 1941, he helped organize armed resistance in Slovenia. This group fought against the occupying forces until May 1945. They worked with Tito's Partisans in what was called the People's Liberation War of Yugoslavia.

After the War: A Leader in Yugoslavia

After 1945, Kardelj rose to the highest positions in the Yugoslav government. He moved into a large house in Ljubljana that had been taken from its previous owner.

From 1945 to 1947, Kardelj led the Yugoslav team that talked with Italy about the border in the Julian March.

New Economic Ideas

After the Tito–Stalin split in 1948, Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union became enemies. Kardelj, along with Milovan Đilas and Vladimir Bakarić, helped create a new economic plan for Yugoslavia. This plan was known as workers' self-management. It meant that workers in factories and businesses would have more control over how things were run.

In the 1950s, Kardelj became the main thinker behind Titoism. This was the special way Yugoslavia practiced socialism, focusing on workers' self-management.

Later Political Role

Kardelj's influence seemed to lessen in the 1960s. However, he became very important again after 1973. At that time, Tito removed some reformist leaders from power. Kardelj then helped write the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution. This new constitution gave more power to the individual republics within Yugoslavia.

Death and Lasting Impact

Edvard Kardelj died from colon cancer in Ljubljana on February 10, 1979.

During his life, he received many honors. He was made a member of the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts. He was also officially honored as a People's Hero of Yugoslavia.

Many streets were named after him. The town of Ploče in southern Croatia was even called Kardeljevo for a time. After his death, the University of Ljubljana was renamed "Edvard Kardelj University of Ljubljana."

After Yugoslavia broke apart, most of these names were changed back. However, in Slovenia, some streets and squares still carry his name today. For example, there is a square named after him in Nova Gorica and in Velenje.

Edvard Kardelj's son was the poet Borut Kardelj, who passed away in 1971. His wife, Pepca Kardelj, died in 1990. His grandson is Igor Šoltes, who is a lawyer and politician.

Edvard Kardelj facts for kids

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