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Occupation of the Dolenjska Region and Demarcation of the Border

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German troops were the first to arrive in the Dolenjska region, followed by the Italian troops a few days later. German units had arrived faster because the Italians, for various reasons, including an unfounded fear of the Yugoslav Army, attacked a few days later than the Germans. In some places, in the first half of April the German Army was superseded by the Italian Army in a matter of days. As a result, it occasionally happened that a town was unoccupied for a day or two. That occurred because the German troops had already left the town but the Italians had yet to arrive.

During the military operations following the attack on Yugoslavia, a demarcation line was laid down between the two armies, which ran south of Litija past Novo mesto towards Karlovac and farther southeast. Hitler had already laid down the final boundary in April 1941 in Vienna. The boundary was demarcated by the Germans who had only their own interests in mind. The new state border between Italy and Germany was strategic and did not follow the course of the Sava River. The Germans protected the border with barbed wire and minefields. They also built watchtowers for better surveillance. The image above shows the watchtowers from Hinjce and Bučka.
During the military operations following the attack on Yugoslavia, a demarcation line was laid down between the two armies, which ran south of Litija past Novo mesto towards Karlovac and farther southeast. Hitler had already laid down the final boundary in April 1941 in Vienna. The boundary was demarcated by the Germans who had only their own interests in mind. The new state border between Italy and Germany was strategic and did not follow the course of the Sava River. The Germans protected the border with barbed wire and minefields. They also built watchtowers for better surveillance. The image above shows the watchtowers from Hinjce and Bučka.


Germans and Italians in Raka. MNZS.
Germans and Italians in Raka. MNZS.


»In 1941, we planted potatoes in the first Yugoslavia; then it was divided and the Germans came, so we grew them in a German state. But we harvested them in Italy. In the same year, on the same field.« As told by Viktor Miklič, in the middle, (born 1917) from Mačkovec near Novo mesto. Author: Božidar Flajšman.
»In 1941, we planted potatoes in the first Yugoslavia; then it was divided and the Germans came, so we grew them in a German state. But we harvested them in Italy. In the same year, on the same field.« As told by Viktor Miklič, in the middle, (born 1917) from Mačkovec near Novo mesto. Author: Božidar Flajšman.


»The bridge was the demarcation line between Italy and Germany. It was the German border and they were very strict. We had a field on that side [German] and couldn't get to it.« As told by Jože Jankovič (born 1936) from Kostanjevica na Krki. Author: Božidar Flajšman.
»The bridge was the demarcation line between Italy and Germany. It was the German border and they were very strict. We had a field on that side [German] and couldn't get to it.« As told by Jože Jankovič (born 1936) from Kostanjevica na Krki. Author: Božidar Flajšman.


The border crossing in Veliko Mraševo on the Novo mesto – Brežice road in the direction of Cerklje ob Krki. PMB. Author of comparative photograph: Jure Tičar.
The border crossing in Veliko Mraševo on the Novo mesto – Brežice road in the direction of Cerklje ob Krki. PMB. Author of comparative photograph: Jure Tičar.


Map of the settlement area. The map shows the territory south of the Sava River up to the border with Italy and along the southern course of the Sotla River. The Germans deported Slovenes from this territory and populated it with Germans. When the war ended, these settlers moved away. MNZS.
Map of the settlement area. The map shows the territory south of the Sava River up to the border with Italy and along the southern course of the Sotla River. The Germans deported Slovenes from this territory and populated it with Germans. When the war ended, these settlers moved away. MNZS.


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