Wartime Violence in Brkini and Ilirska Bistrica District during the Second World War

Abstract

After the end of the First World War, the Slovenes in Primorska suffered various forms of violence at the hands of the Italian state throughout its occupation of the area between the former Austro-Hungarian and the so-called Rapallo border. This was a result of its fascist policy of forced assimilation as well as the attempts to suppress anti-fascist resistance through severe punitive measures. During the Second World War this violence only intensified. The area of Brkini and Bistrica (south-east Primorska) was of great strategic importance (under the kingdom of Italy this was a border area and an important connection between the Balkans and Italy. Furthermore, in 1944, the Allies were expected to disembark in Istria.) Because of this, both the Italian and German authorities attempted to destroy the partisan movement by using the severest measures - carrying out regular "check-up" raids in villages, cleansing operations (offensives) and retributive actions against civilians, which included arsons of entire villages, looting, individual and group executions, arrests and deportations of those civilians and their families who collaborated with or supported the liberation movement. In addition, the German occupier introduced forced labour in Austria and Germany as well as within the local area for the construction of fortification lines in Istria and Čičarija.