Dr. Jože Dežman: Selected Portraits

250

Jože Janša was conscripted into the German Army. He deserted and joined the partisans. When he found out that they would exile his family to Germany, he surrendered himself to the German authorities. He was sentenced to death. He was beheaded on 12th May, 1944, in Graz. He is also buried there.

Notification that Jože Janša was beheaded in Graz on 12th May, 1944 at 21:38.

Name of Jože Janša on the central monument for victims of National Socialism in Graz.

252

Leon Kern was mobilized and then captured. He survived ten prisoners of war camps in the Soviet Union. Because he was misidentified as a German prisoner with the same first and last name, he remained a prisoner in the Soviet Union until 1954.

Leon Kern’s discharge from Soviet captivity on 15th December, 1954.

Leon Kern in Soviet captivity.

254

As an NCO, Hugo Primožič received one of the highest German decorations, the knight’s cross with oak leaves. He and his antitank cannon crew destroyed several dozens of Soviet tanks. His father was from Tržič and Hugo was brought over to visit Tržič in 1943 as the ideal German warrior.

Hugo Primožič with his crew under Soviet tire rescuing a broken down antitank cannon. Signal, Aprii, 1943.

Hugo Primožič visiting Tržič in Slovenia – birthplace of his father, June 1943. Saved by Tržič Museum.

256

Alojz Žibert was wounded while serving as a German soldier and became disabled. He fought for the rights of the disabled, but they were forbidden to associate. He wrote a book of memories Pod Marijinim varstvom (In Mary’s Care) in two editions. He often wrote about the wrongs perpetrated against those mobilized.

Cover of the second edition of Alojz Žiberfs memories Pod Marijinim varstvom (In Mary’s Care), Kranj, 1995.

Alojz Žibert opening the exhibition Forced Soldiers in Slovenj Gradec, 17th May, 1991. Photolibrary of the Koroška Regional Museum Slovenj Gradec.

258

Forced mobilized Andrej Roblek wrote a diary until his death, 13th October, 1944. He fell on the Eastern Front somewhere between Poland and Belarus.

Last entry in Roblek’s diary, 13th October, 1944, when he wrote: »The Russians are right behind us in great masses, and fighting Starts at dawn.«

Letter accompanying Andrej Roblek’s belongings home after his death. Stored by Gorenjska Museum.

260

Peter Florjančič avoided conscription into the German Army by pretending to have died in an accident. But he actually escaped to Switzerland and became a successful inventor.

Peter Florjančič (light jacket, middle of second row) in a refugee camp in Switzerland.

For Peter Florjančiči 100th birthday in 2019, many events were organised, including an exhibition in Bled.

262

Albert Mikac was on leave from the German Army and deserted into the partisans on 28th April, 1944. He was involved in many battles and marches in Koroška, Štajerska, Gorenjska and Prekmurje.

Albert Mikac in the partisans. Stored by the Koroška Regional Museum Slovenj Gradec.

264

Franc Grmek initiated contact with the resistance in France, he was arrested and convicted. He was wounded in the Eastern Front and sent home on leave. He deserted and joined the Royal Yugoslav Army. In May, 1945, he retreated to Koroška with other anti-communist units. They were sent back to Yugoslavia. Grmek used a lightning conductor to escape the camp in Škofja Loka Castle. He escaped first to Austria and then to Canada. In Canada he was a national gymnastics representative. He built bridges all over the world. He was also a notable hunter, with many trophies from several continents. He also wrote a book of memories.

The tower used by Grmek to escape is in the front. Photo by Jože Štukl. Franc Grmek visiting Slovenia in 2006.

A simple drawing depicts Franc Grmek’s escape down the lightning conduit from the Škofja Loka Castle tower.

1

4 2 3

Image 1: Podkoren; A monument to the fallen mobilized in Podkoren. Photo by Jože Dežman. Image 2: Kranj; Monument to the fallen mobilized, Planina in Kranj. The monument is the work of architect Cyril Oblak. Photo by Jože Dežman. Image 3: Brezje; Slovene monument to fallen forcibly mobilized in the Chapel of Mary of Succour in the Basilica in Brezje. Photo by Klemen Kunaver. Image 4: Moscow; Monument to fallen Slovenes in the First and Second World War on Russian soil in Moscow. The monument is also dedicated in Russia to fallen and captured Slovene forcible mobilizers in the German Army. The monument is the work of architect Rok Klanjšček. Photo by Gregor Ivanušič

Several hundred obituaries for the fallen people forcibly mobilized from Gorenjska were published in the weekly Karawanken Bote (Karavanke courier). (page 264)