Peter II of Yugoslavia & Queen Alexandra (nee Greece)

[Mili]

After a brief conversation about Yugoslav monarchial history, my mother and grandmother informed me that they'd been taught that Peter II up and fled with the wealth of the crown and country coffers. Was this to do with a scurry during the course of the war or after he was forced out of the country in '45? Whats the story?

[Marlene]

After a brief conversation about Yugoslav monarchial history, my mother and grandmother informed me that they'd been taught that Peter II up and fled with the wealth of the crown and country coffers. Was this to do with a scurry during the course of the war or after he was forced out of the country in '45? Whats the story?

Well. you've been fed a load of nonsense.   King Peter II came to the throne in 1934 when he was a minor, and following his father's assassination.  A three-man regency, headed by King Alexander's first cousin, Prince Paul, ruled in Peter's name until early 1941, when Peter largely abolished the regency, even though he had not yet reached his majority age.  This was done because of Paul's arrangement with Germany.  Peter did not want an alliance with Germany.   Within weeks of Peter's take over,  German troops moved into Yugoslavia, and the royal family was forced to flee.  Peter did not take the Crown jewels, the treasury or much else with him.  By 1945, when Tito abolished the monarchy, Peter and his family were largely without funds, and dependant on others.

You will find that this rather well-documented.    Peter was never fully able to make the transition from king to exiled king, and his attempts at careers in the US were not successful.  

[Alex_for_King]

Queen Alexandra was the wife of King Peter II, the last Yugoslav King.
What's interesting about her is that she was the only Queen of the Serbian people that had never actually set foot onto the soil of the country that she was the Queen of.

[Alex_for_King]

The late King Peter II was just about the most tragic royal of WW 2. He lost his father when he was a young boy. At the age of 17 he became King when Yugoslavia was falling apart and into the hands of the Nazis.

He left Yugoslavia AT THE ADVICE OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. He had not "fled in fear", as the communists would later say, but was advised to do so. Had he stayed in Yugoslavia, he would have been murdered by communists just like the Romanovs. In any case, it was thought that he could be of more use from the outside than inside the country. Unfortunately, he was young and inexperienced and he was manipulated by Churchill and Tito. He never had much wealth, so your answer is - he did not take the crown jewels, gold, art collection etc out of Yugoslavia.

Most of the gold bars of the treasury of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia ended up hidden in the Ostrog monastery in Montenegro. After the occupation of Montenegro by Italy, most of it ended up in Italy and the Vatican. After the war, most of it was given back to Yugoslavia (i.e. to Tito). Tito never gave anyone any report about how he had spent the money, but he lived richer than most Kings. Tito was a real "Red Tsar".

King Peter II lived a fairly modest lifestyle in exile, and grieved for his homeland all his life. He left his son Crown Prince Alexander only 5.000 dollars which is nothing in Royal terms.

The fact is, much of Yugoslavia's gold was after the war in the hands of the communists. The Royal Art collection had largely remained in Yugoslavia - the person most responsible for that art collection was Prince Paul of Yugoslavia. The collection is scattered in various museums in Serbia, most likely the National Museum of Serbia. Some paintings are in the Palace, in various state institutions and some pieces of art were taken by communists to their private mansions, or given away as presents to important foreign politicians.

[Marc]

And was also the last Queen of Yugoslavia although allmost 95% of the people here in Serbia would say the the last Queen was Queen Marie...

[Alex_for_King]

In 1941, prior to the collapse of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, there were 57 trucks with 60 tons of gold and other valuable stuff - property of the National Bank, and 27 trucks of money of the Royal Treasury in various currencies. Most of the treasure was hidden somewhere in Montenegro, presumed in and around the Ostrog monastery.

Upon the occupation by Fascist Italy, Italian brigade general Pentimalli sent the Italian troops (over 100 men)to search for the caves and the Monastery of Ostrog, in search of the gold. The Italians got most of it.

The Germans were angry because they only got hold of 370 million dinars, which was small change compared to what the Italians stole. King Peter took with him 15 million dinars and that was all he took.

The Italian Treasurer Adzollinni could not believe his eyes when he saw the loot taken from Yugoslavia. He spend some of it on a mansion and on living the good life. He hid the other stuff, most of which was found after the war.

After the war, in 1945, Tito was given back 27 tons of gold that belonged to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. 2 years later, Tito got another 393 kilograms gold. Etc.

When Tito died in 1980, two unmarked and un-numbered gold bars were found locked in the drawer of his desk. He had lived a very luxurious lifestyle. He had diamond rings, a yacht, a train, about 40 villas across Yugoslavia, paintings, Arabian horses, you name it. He had a richer lifestyle than the President of the United States of America.

The final truth about the fate of the Yugoslav gold will never be known. King Peter took only a little part of it, a little bit was taken by Nazis, a big chunk by Italians, and a big chunk was given to the communists after the war. Some is probably still hidden in some cave somewhere, or in various Swiss bank accounts that nobody can now access...

Information gathered from the book

"Tito - the Crook", original title - "Hohstapler" by Miroslav Todorovic, published by Narodna knjiga - Alfa, 2003, language: Serbian. An excellent book that removes all the masks of Tito.

[Alex_for_King]

True. Most people have not even heard of Queen Alexandra. Well, those who follow their national history and royal events, know.

Those who don't know should learn, there are plenty of books and other sources out there.

Alexandra was pretty suicidal. I read somewhere that she had attempted suicide several times, by jumping from her balcony (from the first floor), by slashing her wrists, etc. First the balcony was not too high and the canal in Venice was not too deep. In the second attempt she slashed her wrists the wrong way.

Poor unfortunate woman.

Or perhaps she never REALLY wanted to die, perhaps she just craved for media attention.

I respect her because she was the mother of our Crown Prince, but I do not think Peter II and Alexandra should have gotten married during WW 2, while the carnage in Yugoslavia was going on.

In any case, I hope you have some photos for us.

[Marc]

Amazing infos,thank you!I knew all this stories,but not in such details,so thanks again and if you gather some more interesting stuff,please post...

[julia.montague]

Crownprince Alexander was born in a Hotel in London, the room he was born in was made Yugoslavian Territory for that day, because he could only have become king if he would have been born in Yugoslavia.

[Marc]

Yes,it's an apartmant in Claridges hotel in London...

[Laura_]

i think she was a beautiful lady:)

[Marc]

Peter's mother Marie was against this marriage because of the Second World War and also because of her ancestry(although her mother Aspasia Manos descended from many noble families and could even trace her ancestry from Byzantine emperors-it is said in Alexandra's biography)!She told Peter:''Among all those princesses with royal blood and money you chose peniless Greek one'' and didn't even show up for the wedding!

[TampaBay]

Why was Peter II buried in the USA? 

TampaBay

[Prince_Christopher]

Why was Peter II buried in the USA? 

He had lived in the US since WWII, and died in Denver.  I guess with Tito running Yugoslavia, there was no chance of getting his body back there for burial.

Does anyone know anything about his life in America?  He must have lived here for over 20 years.  What jobs did he have?  It seems like I remember reading somewhere that he and Alexandra were estranged and he had a mistress.  Does anyone know if this is correct?

[Marlene]

Because he died in the US and could not be buried in Yugoslavia.  his brother Andrej is also buried in a Serbian orthodox cemetery in the US

Why was Peter II buried in the USA? 

TampaBay