Franjo Tudjman

Franjo Tudjman (May 14, 1922 - December 10, 1999) was the first president of Croatia, governing the country from the victory of his HDZ party in the 1990 elections, taking it through its declaration of independence on 17 July 1991, until his death in December 1999.

He was born in Veliko Trgovisce.

During the WWII he was on the side of Tito's partisans and was known as the youngest general in the Yugoslav people's army in the 60s. Later, he was imprisoned for his stance during the Croatian spring[?] in 1971, and his nationalist position persecuted under communist rule.

He died in Zagreb.