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Border regime

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The border was regularly overseen by patrols, which would inspect it twice during the day and once during the night. The border crossings were constantly controled by border guards. Watchtowers were also used to oversee the border. The closest tower recorded so far was located on the hill Kovček over Suhi Dol near Lučine.

The stricter border regime introduced by the Germans made crossing the border more difficult, which broke some of the previously-established connections. The consequences of the delimitation could be seen in all areas of everyday life: private, religious, transport, economic, and administrative. Not wishing to lose their income, and wishing to stay in contact with their loved ones and with spiritual care, which could not be accessed in some areas, as well as with their income, the population needed to cross the border illegally. They were also secretly crossing the border due to threats of internment, deportation, and mobilisation. These acts, which were extremely dangerous due to the highly fortified border, frequently had a tragic end.

Gradual cleanse of the frontier

The danger remained in place even after Italy’s capitulation, German occupation of Idrija on 23 September 1943, and German retreat from Žiri on 23 October 1943. The German army did, however, take away some of the landmines and meshes, and raised the road turnpikes. The obstacles on the border were also removed by Partisan units. By removing the barbed-wire obstacles, they made it easier to cross the border. The landmines, which they also removed, were used in battle. A small part of the obstacles was also removed by the local population. Most of the physical boundary obstacles, however, remained in place until the end of the war.

Then followed its removal, which lasted for many years after the end of the war. The removal of barbed-wire obstacles and minefields was in the domain of the Yugoslav Army, which was also helped by the landowners. Due to the unresolved border issue with Italy, permission was needed to cross the former Rapallo Border even after the war. The tensions on the border were thus felt in the region until the annexation of Zone B of the Julian March to Yugoslavia.

Despite the Italian occupation of the Province of Ljubljana in April of 1941, police and tax control was still carried out on the Rapallo Border. While taking some time off from serving in the Italian army, Bogomir Eržen from Idrija (seen on the right) and his brother Danijel went to Rovte, where they bought a Czech machine gun Zbrojovka from a butcher. They took it past the financier’s office in Dole and smuggled it back to Idrija. When the anti-Italian resistance started in 1942, they handed over the weapon to Vojko’s unit, while also joining the Partisans. Private archive of Ivica Kavčič.
Despite the Italian occupation of the Province of Ljubljana in April of 1941, police and tax control was still carried out on the Rapallo Border. While taking some time off from serving in the Italian army, Bogomir Eržen from Idrija (seen on the right) and his brother Danijel went to Rovte, where they bought a Czech machine gun Zbrojovka from a butcher. They took it past the financier’s office in Dole and smuggled it back to Idrija. When the anti-Italian resistance started in 1942, they handed over the weapon to Vojko’s unit, while also joining the Partisans. Private archive of Ivica Kavčič.


On 3 December 1943, part of Gradnik’s brigade was stationed at a farm at Mrzlikar above Otalež. Suddenly, they were taken by surprise by a column of 150 German soldiers from Idrija. Mrzlikar’s hayrack started burning, while the members of the Gradnik’s brigade began panicking. Tens of soldiers fled towards the former Italian- German border, which was fortified with barbed-wire obstacles and landmines, and soon after massive explosions could be heard. The deadly border obstacles were fatal for most of the 37 deceased that day. In the photograph, we can see depicted the Partisan soldier who was caught while fleeing. The Germans later took the Partisan to Idrija. Private archive of Aleksander Eržen.
On 3 December 1943, part of Gradnik’s brigade was stationed at a farm at Mrzlikar above Otalež. Suddenly, they were taken by surprise by a column of 150 German soldiers from Idrija. Mrzlikar’s hayrack started burning, while the members of the Gradnik’s brigade began panicking. Tens of soldiers fled towards the former Italian- German border, which was fortified with barbed-wire obstacles and landmines, and soon after massive explosions could be heard. The deadly border obstacles were fatal for most of the 37 deceased that day. In the photograph, we can see depicted the Partisan soldier who was caught while fleeing. The Germans later took the Partisan to Idrija. Private archive of Aleksander Eržen.


During the time of the occupation, the German border police officers, who were attracted by Italian wine, would also attend the unofficial social events with the Italians in the Fascist barracks at Mrzli Vrh (above Vodičar). When the Germans, accompanied by Italians, were returning from one of such meetings to the other side of the border, they accidentally set off a landmine in its vicinity. The location where a German and an Italian lost their lives is depicted by the map above.
During the time of the occupation, the German border police officers, who were attracted by Italian wine, would also attend the unofficial social events with the Italians in the Fascist barracks at Mrzli Vrh (above Vodičar). When the Germans, accompanied by Italians, were returning from one of such meetings to the other side of the border, they accidentally set off a landmine in its vicinity. The location where a German and an Italian lost their lives is depicted by the map above.


The photograph depicts an exaple of a travel permit application to cross the border between the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia and Zone B of the Julian March, the applicant entered his direction, location, and reasons for crossing. SI ZAL ŠKL, 0030, 4, 34, year 1946, 2, 01.
The photograph depicts an exaple of a travel permit application to cross the border between the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia and Zone B of the Julian March, the applicant entered his direction, location, and reasons for crossing. SI ZAL ŠKL, 0030, 4, 34, year 1946, 2, 01.


As part of the project, the recording of the remains of the border infrastructure is being carried out.The photograph shows the project’s leader Božo Repe, Ph. D., looking through the remains of border militia's barracks at Spodnji Vrsnik. Author of the photograph: Božidar Flajšman.
As part of the project, the recording of the remains of the border infrastructure is being carried out.The photograph shows the project’s leader Božo Repe, Ph. D., looking through the remains of border militia's barracks at Spodnji Vrsnik. Author of the photograph: Božidar Flajšman.


On 15 February 1942 an order came to power, stipulating that the border can only be crossed with an official permission and valid border documents. In the notice, it can be seen that an official border crossing was also located in Žiri. SI ZAL ŠKL, 0268, 79, OK-C-15.
On 15 February 1942 an order came to power, stipulating that the border can only be crossed with an official permission and valid border documents. In the notice, it can be seen that an official border crossing was also located in Žiri. SI ZAL ŠKL, 0268, 79, OK-C-15.


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