German troops arrived in Novo mesto on 11 April 1941 and stayed there until 23 April. Individual units allegedly left the town in the meantime, so there were no soldiers in the town on 17 April. According to records in the Franciscan chronicle, the Germans appointed their own mayor on 22 April and even declared the town's annexation to the Reich. The following day, the Italians arrived in town and appointed their own mayor. The German units withdrew from the town. Until the beginning of June, the border between the German and Italian troops was located in the immediate vicinity. Trška gora was located in Germany and the border ran past Mačkovec and Cikava. On 1 May, a rally was held in the town to protest against the Italians and support the town's annexation to Nazi Germany. People from the town's surrounding area are said to have joined the protest. Until the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, the town was inhabited by strong Italian units and their local collaborators. From the autumn of 1943 onwards, it was inhabited by Germans and the Home Guard. The Italians had already enclosed the town with bunkers and barbed wire, while the Germans further fortified the system.
During the war, Novo mesto was enclosed by barbed wire, numerous bunkers and fortified firing positions. The map shows the approximate course of the wire and the approximate positions of the bunkers. This map is based on a chart that was made at the intelligence centre of the 25th Division at the end of 1944 or in early 1945. It also marks the approximate course of the German-Italian border from April to June 1941 and the border crossings in Mačkovec and Cikava.
Base of the Isonzo Division at the courthouse in Novo mesto. Dolenjski muzej Novo mesto.
On 19 June 1941, Marshal De Bono conducted an inspection visit to Novo mesto. »The town had prepared well for the Marshal’s arrival; the main square in particular was full of Italian and Fascist flags, which fluttered from the houses to greet the eminent guest« Slovenec, 21 June 1941. MNZS.
The Italians, and later the Germans, fortified the town. All entry points into the town were guarded and barricades were placed at the crossings; everyone had to show their IDs. The picture shows women in front of the barricade in Novo mesto in 1942. MNZS.
Ragovo. A machine gun nest and tower on a hillock in Ragovo, overlooking Cerovci to the northeast. MNZS. Author of comparative photograph: Jure Tičar.
Members of the Home Guard in Novo mesto. Dolenjski muzej Novo mesto.
