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Occupation of Slovenia in 1941

Nazi Germany: Germany divided the Slovene territory it had occupied into two temporary administrative units: Spodnja Štajerska and Gorenjska with Mežiška dolina. After a few months, the seats of these units were moved from the original locations in Maribor and Bled to Graz and Klagenfurt. They were run by Chiefs of Civil Administration. Anticipating quick incorporation of these two units into the Reich, they reorganised them from within, following the German principle of counties and districts, introduced German services, and complied with German race laws. The German border with the NDH and Italy became the southern border of the German Reich and was to be its safeguard.

Italy: after the attack of the occupying forces on Yugoslavia, Italy spread beyond the Rapallo border, acquiring the majority of the Dolenjska region, and Ljubljana with its surroundings all the way to the Sava River. In the newly acquired territories it established the so-called Province of Ljubljana, which was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. It preserved the Rapallo border because it considered the Primorska region a part of the Italian national territory, and was about to Italianise the Province of Ljubljana. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, the entire territory formally remained under Mussolini’s Fascist state, but had in fact been passed on to Nazi administration. The Province of Ljubljana became a part of the so-called Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral with a seat in Trieste.

Hungary: The Germans gave Prekmurje to the Hungarians. After assuming power, they enforced a military administration, which was divided into two parts and directly subordinate to the Headquarters of the Military-Administrative Group of the Southern Army, stationed in Subotica and later on in Novi Sad. In August 1941, they replaced the military administration with a civil one, thus beginning to integrate the occupied territory into the state of Hungary. They divided Prekmurje between two districts: Železna županija and Zala, as had been the case under Austria-Hungary.

Independent State of Croatia: The NDH was formed just after World War II began on Yugoslav soil. Five Slovene settlements fell under its rule in 1941, namely: Bregansko selo (the present-day Slovenska vas), Nova vas pri Bregani (the present-day Nova vas pri Mokricah), Jesenice na Dolenjskem, Obrežje and Čedem. These villages cover a territory of around 20 square kilometres, at that time populated by some 800 inhabitants.

After occupation, Slovene territory was divided among the Germans, Italians, Hungarians and Croatians.
After occupation, Slovene territory was divided among the Germans, Italians, Hungarians and Croatians.


After splitting up the territories and demarcating the borders, the occupiers fortified and guarded their new borders in different ways. The Germans even went to the trouble of wiring the entire length of the border, cutting down forests or clearing the terrain within a 50m radius, and setting up a minefield, several metres wide. MNZS.
After splitting up the territories and demarcating the borders, the occupiers fortified and guarded their new borders in different ways. The Germans even went to the trouble of wiring the entire length of the border, cutting down forests or clearing the terrain within a 50m radius, and setting up a minefield, several metres wide. MNZS.


Border crossing between Germany and the Independent State of Croatia at Harine Zlake. MNZS.
Border crossing between Germany and the Independent State of Croatia at Harine Zlake. MNZS.


After the division of Slovene territories, Ljubljana became an Italian city along the German-Italian border. The map shows the course of the border as demarcated on 21 September 1941 by the Central Boundary Commission. Source: Spezialkarte der Österreichisch-ungarischen Monarchie 1:75,000, sheet Laibach (5553). Archive: Anton Melik Geographical Institute ZRC SAZU.
After the division of Slovene territories, Ljubljana became an Italian city along the German-Italian border. The map shows the course of the border as demarcated on 21 September 1941 by the Central Boundary Commission. Source: Spezialkarte der Österreichisch-ungarischen Monarchie 1:75,000, sheet Laibach (5553). Archive: Anton Melik Geographical Institute ZRC SAZU.


German and Italian soldiers somewhere on the newly placed border. MNZS.
German and Italian soldiers somewhere on the newly placed border. MNZS.


A German watchtower on the border with the Third Reich. MNZS.
A German watchtower on the border with the Third Reich. MNZS.