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I would not count the period when Russia was under Communist rule. By its ideology, Communism is anti-nationalist and, while Communists may encourage nationalism when it is in their interest, their primary goal is the promotion of Communism. In World War II, the Soviets supported the Communist enemies of the Croatians and the Germans, rather than the nationalist faction. Unfortunately for Stalin and his successors, Tito did not show his gratitude and did not join the Warsaw Pact, even though he was a Communist.

Bosnia and most of Croatia was under a puppet regime installed by the Germans, the so-called Independent State of Croatia (the rest of Croatia was annexed by Mussolini). This had very little popular support. The leading Croatian politician, Vlatko Macek, refused to collaborate with the Germans and spent most of the war either in prison or under house arrest. He was a pacifist so did not try to organize an armed resistance movement. Over time a lot of Croats joined Tito's Partisans.

Tito was very pro-Stalin at first and wanted to imitate the Soviet Union but also wanted to develop Yugoslavia economically--but Stalin wanted Yugoslavia to be the source of raw materials for the USSR. Tito wasn't subservient enough so Stalin wanted to eliminate him. I think the Warsaw Pact was organized after the Tito/Stalin break (June 28, 1948).