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William Deakin, 91; Historian, Founder of College at Oxford

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Sir William Deakin, 91, a historian who founded St. Antony’s College at Oxford University, died Saturday in Var, France, British newspapers reported. No cause of death was given.

During World War II, Deakin served in Britain’s Special Operations Executive behind enemy lines, and led the first British mission to Marshal Josip Broz Tito’s partisans in Yugoslavia. Deakin’s report on Tito’s group persuaded the British government to withdraw support from one group of partisans, the Chetniks, and back Tito instead.

Born in London, Deakin was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. Before World War II, he taught history and worked as a research assistant to Winston Churchill.

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After the war, he spent four years helping Churchill write his account of the conflict.

He also resumed teaching, at Oxford’s Wadham College.

Deakin was asked to oversee the work on a new college at Oxford in 1948.

He became the first warden at St. Antony’s, building it into a highly regarded center for modern history and political studies.

Deakin, who was knighted in 1975, also wrote widely about World War II.

His books include “The Brutal Friendship” (1962), a study of relations between Italy and Germany; and “The Embattled Mountain,” about Britain’s policy toward Yugoslavia during the war.

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