By the resolution of Vienna Congress in 1815, Dubrovnik was annexed to Austria (later Austria-Hungary), where it remained until the end of the World War I when it became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During this period Dubrovnik was just a provincial town, living mostly of its shipping. Tourism started developing especially in the period between the two wars. In the World War II it was first occupied by Italian and then by German forces. In October 1944 Partisans liberated Dubrovnik from the Germans and in 1945 Dubrovnik became a part of the Socialistic Republic of Croatia under the Communist Yugoslavia. From 1950’s the growing number of tourists made Dubrovnik completely turn to the development of tourist industry. Its ideal combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage and entertainment made it become a popular tourist destination. During the 1980’s Dubrovnik reached the elite status as one of the most prized destinations in Europe. After Croatia gained its independence, Dubrovnik experienced a rough and difficult period as it was brutally attacked by the Serbo-Montenegrin army in 1991.
			The Serbo-Montenegrin siege of Dubrovnik lasted for seven months.The electric and water supply was cut down, and the town was constantly under fire of heavy artillery that was destroying one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Mediterranean and killing its unarmed citizens. In 1992 the Croatian Army liberated Dubrovnik and its surroundings, but the danger of Serbo-Montenegrin attacks lasted for another three years. After this painful chapter Dubrovnik once again recovered and took its rightful position aside other Mediterranean tourist hotspots such as Venice, Athens and Barcelona. Tourists from all over the world are coming to see Dubrovnik in all its splendour as a pride of Croatia and a true jewel of Europe.