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Occupation and tri-borders in Prekmurje

The delimitation geodetic point at 388 meters known as Tromejnik today marks the border between Slovenia, Austria, and Hungary. To commemorate the demarcation, a three-sided plaque was erected in the municipality of Kuzma north of Trdkova in Goričko in the spring of 1924, four years after the Treaty of Trianon. According to it, Prekmurje belonged to the Kingdom of SHS, while Porabje came under Hungary. In the spring of 1924, the Inter-Allied Delimitation Commission verified whether the boundary markers were properly erected. The delimitation was confirmed on June 31 and officially closed on July 8, 1924. During the occupation, the tri-border became an ordinary border between Germany and Hungary, changing back to a tri-border after World War II. Since Prekmurje (safe for a couple of villages in Goričko) and Međimurje belonged to Hungary, a new tri-border between Germany, Hungary and the NHD (one of four during the occupation) was determined near Središče ob Dravi. Today, it is located in Croatia (municipality of Svibovec Podravski, Varaždin County).

The territory south of Središče ob Dravi, currently belonging to Croatia, was under the German Rule in 1941, namely the German state province of Styria (Reichsgau Steiermark).
The territory south of Središče ob Dravi, currently belonging to Croatia, was under the German Rule in 1941, namely the German state province of Styria (Reichsgau Steiermark).


The Slovenian side of the plaque carries the date of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Treaty of Trianon. The Austrian and Hungarian sides are both marked in the same way. Author: Darja Kerec.
The Slovenian side of the plaque carries the date of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Treaty of Trianon. The Austrian and Hungarian sides are both marked in the same way. Author: Darja Kerec.


The current tri-border between Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary. Before World War II, there was a border between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Hungary, but it was moved west during the war since Prekmurje and Međimurje came under Hungary. After World War II, the border between Yugoslavia and Hungary once again ran there, while the tri-border was formed after the independence of Slovenia and Croatia in 1991. Part of the research team visited the tri-border »hidden« in the swampy hard-to-reach confluence area of Velika Krka and Mura on April 13, 2018 (from left: Božo Repe, Darja Kerec, Božidar Flajšman, Kornelija Ajlec, and Peter Mikša). Author: Božidar Flajšman.
The current tri-border between Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary. Before World War II, there was a border between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Hungary, but it was moved west during the war since Prekmurje and Međimurje came under Hungary. After World War II, the border between Yugoslavia and Hungary once again ran there, while the tri-border was formed after the independence of Slovenia and Croatia in 1991. Part of the research team visited the tri-border »hidden« in the swampy hard-to-reach confluence area of Velika Krka and Mura on April 13, 2018 (from left: Božo Repe, Darja Kerec, Božidar Flajšman, Kornelija Ajlec, and Peter Mikša). Author: Božidar Flajšman.


Ludvik Dajč in front of the family mill in Sotina along the Mlinščica creek, November 23, 2018. The mill and homestead were annexed to Hungary after the occupation, separated from Germany by the nearby Lendava creek. Author: Sonja Bezenšek.
Ludvik Dajč in front of the family mill in Sotina along the Mlinščica creek, November 23, 2018. The mill and homestead were annexed to Hungary after the occupation, separated from Germany by the nearby Lendava creek. Author: Sonja Bezenšek.


On April 13, 2018, on the overgrown right, Croatian bank of the Drava River, south of Središče ob Dravi, part of the research team (from left: Peter Mikša, Božidar Flajšman, Darja Kerec, Božo Repe, and Kornelija Ajlec) marked the tri-border point between Germany, Hungary, and NDH. Today, hardly any physical remains of the former state border can be found in the flooded, muddy, and overgrown area. (Team members Matija Zorn and Peter Mikša found a possible border moat south of the village of Virje. Author: Božidar Flajšman.
On April 13, 2018, on the overgrown right, Croatian bank of the Drava River, south of Središče ob Dravi, part of the research team (from left: Peter Mikša, Božidar Flajšman, Darja Kerec, Božo Repe, and Kornelija Ajlec) marked the tri-border point between Germany, Hungary, and NDH. Today, hardly any physical remains of the former state border can be found in the flooded, muddy, and overgrown area. (Team members Matija Zorn and Peter Mikša found a possible border moat south of the village of Virje. Author: Božidar Flajšman.