illegal weapons from the Albanians in Kosovo and the Prizren Trials, were neither his individual actions nor a result of his anti-Albanian attitude, as nothing could be done without Tito's approval or knowledge. Serbian historians do not consider him a Serbian nationalist at all; instead, they see him as a staunch Yugoslav and Tito's loyal associate who stood by him in all the pivotal moments and did not support or protect Serbian politicians who were forced out by Tito, like Blagoje Nešković. Ordinary people considered him both a victim and a symbol of an era, victim of both the Communist government and of an anti-Serbian conspiracy, as they see him as a Serbian nationalist who repressed the Albanians in Kosovo. For a faction within the Serbian Communist Party that aimed toward state centralisation, Ranković was viewed as a defender of Serb interests. Perspectives of Ranković among Kosovo Serbs was a hope for a return to conditions of the time he was in power, as he represented order and peace. For Kosovo Albanians, Ranković became a symbol that represented misery and suffering, as they associated him with negative actions toward them. See also Rankovićism OZNA UDBA League of Communists of Yugoslavia References Sources External links 1909 births 1983 deaths People from Obrenovac Vice presidents of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Serbia politicians Yugoslav Partisans members Serbian people of World War II Serbian communists Yugoslav dissidents Central Committee of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia members Recipients of the Order of the Hero of Socialist Labour