Slovenia: Axis World War II Occupation--Ethnic Germans


Figure 1.--

Slovenia like other regions of Yugoslavia as well as other coutries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe had a substantial population of ethnic Germans. One sourcecclaims that the 1910 Austrian Census reported a population of over 103,000 ethnic Germans. One source suggest that this is probably an over count, including Slovenes who wanted to be considered Germans in Austrian dominated Slovenia. The Germans were concentrated primarily in lower Styria and in Carniola, which includes Kocevje, but also in Ljubljana. There were other areas with ethnic Germans. Most of the ethnic Germans were farmers, often described as "peaceful" farmers, who lived in German-speeking districts and towns and villages. One such village was Gottschee, current Kocevje. The ethnic Germans lived in Slovenia for centuries, emigraring at a time when the Duchy of Carniola (Krain) was a part of the Austrian Empire. Germans begam migrating into Slovenia in the 14th century. Accounts generally describe the Germans as living peacefully with their Slovene neighbors. A factor here may have been the political control of Austruan (German) authorities. The fact that there are Slovenes with German names and Germans with Slovene names does suggest amnicable interactions between the two communities. After World War I and the creation of Yugoslavia the Germans found themselves a minority in a foreign country. There were reports that the ethnic Germans were mistreated by Yugoslav authorities. Here it is difficult to determine if such charges were justified or the Germans found it difficult to adjust to minority status. Hitler used German minorities as a propaganda tool, but I do not know at a major NAZI propaganda campaign aimed at the Yugoslavs. Ethnic Germans in the Italian occupation zone were incouraged to sign up for relocation. They were move to areas in the German occupation zone from which the population was relocated. Many ethnic Germans in Slovenia and the rest of Yugoslavia were apparently attracted by NAZI propaganda, especially the younger generation. Many in the Italoian occupation zone accepted citizenship in the Reich and took the required oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. They agreed to be resettled as part of Hitler's Ingathering Policy or "Heimführung" (homebringing). The idea was to bring ethnic Germans from foreign countries back to the Reich. Often they were not brought to Germany, but to non-German areas of occupied cointries annexed to the Reich. Baltic Germans for example were resettled in areas of occupied Poland. The Slovene "Heimführung" to the Reich was not to Germany itself, but to the German annexed zone of Slovenia. The Slovenian inhabitants of certain areas were deported for forced labor in the Reich. There homes and farms were turned over to the ethnic Germans resettled from the Italian ocvupation zone. According to one source, about 37,000 Slovenes were deported for forced labor in the Reich. Obly about half of the deportees survived the War. [Tschinkel]

German Settlement

The ethnic Germans lived in Slovenia for centuries, emigraring at a time when the Duchy of Carniola (Krain) was a part of the Austrian Empire. Germans begam migrating into Slovenia in the 14th century. Accounts generally describe the Germans as living peacefully with their Slovene neighbors. A factor here may have been the political control of Austruan (German) authorities. The fact that there are Slovenes with German names and Germans with Slovene names does suggest amnicable interactions between the two communities.

Ethnic German Population

Slovenia like other regions of Yugoslavia as well as other coutries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe had a substantial population of ethnic Germans. One sourcecclaims that the 1910 Austrian Census reported a population of over 103,000 ethnic Germans. One source suggest that this is probably an over count, including Slovenes who wanted to be considered Germans in Austrian dominated Slovenia. The Germans were concentrated primarily in lower Styria and in Carniola, which includes Kocevje, but also in Ljubljana. There were other areas with ethnic Germans. Most of the ethnic Germans were farmers, often described as "peaceful" farmers, who lived in German-speeking districts and towns and villages. One such village was Gottschee, current Kocevje.

Yugoslavia

After World War I and the creation of Yugoslavia the Germans found themselves a minority in a foreign country. There were reports that the ethnic Germans were mistreated by Yugoslav authorities. Here it is difficult to determine if such charges were justified or the Germans found it difficult to adjust to minority status. Hitler used German minorities as a propaganda tool, but I do not know at a major NAZI propaganda campaign aimed at the Yugoslavs.

Axis Invasion (April 1941)

Hitler forced the Yugoslav Government to join the Axis (March 1941). This resulted in a student led-coup which replaced the Government. The coup occured in Belgrade initiated by Serbian students. Slovenes also backed a new Givernment. An irate Hitler ordered an invasion and the terror bombing of Belgrade. Slovenia was occupied within hours. It was then divided into German and Italian occupation zones with a small sector awarded to Axus partner Hungary.

Political Orientation

Many ethnic Germans in Slovenia and the rest of Yugoslavia were apparently attracted by NAZI propaganda, especially the younger generation. Many in the Italian occupation zone accepted citizenship in the Reich and took the required oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler.

Italian Occupation Zone

MAZI authorities incouraged ethnic Germans in the Italian occupation zone to sign up for relocation (Umsiedlung). They thoughtvthat they were to go to Germany, but instead were relocated to areas in the German occupation zone of Slovenia from which the population was relocated. One wonders what could have enduced people to give up farms that their families had worked for centuries. NAZI propaganda appeals must have been very powerful. The Italians did not force the ethnic Germans to leave. A major role was played by a fervent local NAZI, Wilhelm Lampeter and his militia (Mannschaft), using the Gottscheer Zeitung as a propaganda organ. Both persuasion and coersion was involved. Lampeter was rewarded by Himmler for his work with the ethnic Germans. He was appointed a SS Sturmbannführer in 1941.

Heimführung: Back to the Reich

They agreed to be resettled as part of Hitler's Ingathering Policy or "Heimführung" (homebringing). The idea was to bring ethnic Germans from foreign countries back to the Reich. Often they were not brought to Germany, but to non-German areas of occupied cointries annexed to the Reich. Baltic Germans for example were resettled in areas of occupied Poland. The Slovene "Heimführung" to the Reich was not to Germany itself, but to the German annexed zone of Slovenia.

Slovenian Deportments

The Slovenian inhabitants of certain areas were deported for forced labor in the Reich. There homes and farms were turned over to the ethnic Germans resettled from the Italian ocvupation zone. According to one source, about 37,000 Slovenes were deported for forced labor in the Reich. Obly about half of the deportees survived the War. [Tschinkel]

Ethnic German Military Involvement


Flight of the Ethnic Germans

The ethnic Germans fleed or were expelled by Yugoslav authorities at the end of the war. Some fled with the retreating German Wehrmmacht. The local NAZI Gauleiter ordered the ethnic Germans to leave. This is known as "Die Flucht". Others were forced out by the Yugoslavs who saw them as NAZI collaborators. Nor were they allowed to return to their farms aftervthe War. The Yugoslavs deported almost all remaining ethnic Germans in Slovenia, both the ones who camecfrom the German occupation zone as well as those from the Italian zone that had displaced Slovenians. There are today virtually no ethnic Germans in Slovenia. The 1991 Slovenian census reported only 745 Germans and Austrians. There were another 1,000 people who reported German as their mother tongue.

Sources

Tschinkel, John. The End of the Gottscheer as an Ethnic Group: The Documented Facts.







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Created: 8:42 AM 10/19/2005
Last updated: 8:42 AM 10/19/2005