Figure 1.--This is a scene from Camp "Hesselberg" during 1943. The teachers , year 1943 with the teachers Janez Lepuschitz (in the center left) and Franc Kosutnik (in the center right). I do not understand at this time the circumstances as to why the children were in the camp. They are apparently part od the Slovenia minority thast was living in Austria. They look healthy and well cared for. Notice the slates boards are written in German and not Slovenian. Click on the image to see the rest of the group.

Solvenia bordered on Austria which as a result of the Anchluss was part of the German Reich. German troops poured across the border and occupied Slovenia within hours with virtually no resistance. Slovenia was partitioned with Axis partner Italy. Italy was awarded southwest Slovenia, including Ljubljana. The NAZIs annexed the northern part of Slovenia into the Reich. Hungary was awarded Prekmurje. This action shows that NAZI officals judged the Slovenes as racially salvageable. We are not sure to what extent NAZI officials instituted racial evaluations and assessment of the Slovenian population. NAZI officials in Austria ininiated an ethnic cleansinf campaign in the Carinthian and Styrian regions. The level of violence in Slovenia, however, never approached that in Bosnia and other areas of Yugoslavia. Many Slovenes participated in the resistance. As part of the Reich, Slovene youth in the German section were subject to conscription and thousands were forced to fight in the German military. Boys were required to join Hitler Youth units which were organized. The language of instruction in the schools became German. The Italians in their sector set out to Italicize Slovenes, but without the racial component persued in the German section. We have no information at this time on what happened in the small sector of Slovenia occupied by the Hungarians. At the end of the War, Croatians fleeing partisan actions against Utashi supporters were intercepted in Slovenia near the Austrian border. After a brief fight, large numbers of the Croatians who surrendered were executed.

Background

Solvenia bordered on Austria. Before World War I, Slovenia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a multi-ethnic empire, there was considerable mixing of people. There were ethnic Austrians living in Slovenia. They dominated in positions of authority and Government jobs. Theree were also Slovenes living in Austria. This meant that after World War I and the formation of Yugoslavia that there was an Austrian minority in Slovenia which lost many of their former prvliges. Across the frontier there was also a Slovene minority in Austria. As a result of the Anchluss. Austria became part of the German Reich (1938).

Coup

Unlike the situation in Croatia, Slovenes generally approved the coup in Belgrade that removed Prince Paul and the Government which aggreed to join the Axis.

Invasion

German troops poured across the border and occupied Slovenia within hours with virtually no resistance.

Partition

Slovenia was partitioned among the Axis partners. Most of the county was divided between the Germans and Italians. This significantly impacted the occupation regime. This changed when Italy signed an armistace with the Allies and withdrew from the Axis (september 1943). German troops occupied the Italian sector.

Italy

Italy was awarded southwest Slovenia, including Ljubljana.

Germany

The NAZIs annexed the northern part of Slovenia into the Reich. This action shows that NAZI officals judged the Slovenes as racially salvageable. We are not sure to what extent NAZI officials instituted racial evaluations and assessment of the Slovenian population. As part of the Reich, Slovene youth in the German section were subject to conscription and thousands were forced to fight in the German military. Boys were required to join Hitler Youth units which were organized. The language of instruction in the schools became German. The Italians in their sector set out to Italicize Slovenes, but without the racial component persued in the German section.

Hungary

Hungary was awarded Prekmurje. We have no information at this time on what happened in the small sector of Slovenia occupied by the Hungarians.

Austria

Austrian officials proceeded to conduct a brutal ethnic clensing campsaign in the Carinthian and Styrian regions. A reader reports that Slovenian children were deported, presumably from the German occupied sector. I do not at this time understand the circumstances. A HBC reader reports, "Slovenia deported children during War II. In the camp "Hesselberg" parents were allowed to organize for their children a kind of "kindergarten" and also a school (figure 1)." I think the Slovene children here are some of the Slovenes deported from Austria. A reader explains, "The Slovenian-speaking minority in Carinthia (the Austrian province, bordering on Slovenia), was expelled by the NAZIs (Austrian officiaks) (April 1942). The initial plan was to send them somewhere in the Ukraine, but the disaster at Stalingrad prevented that, so they were sent to places in Germany outside of Ostmark (Austria). The Hesselberg camp here was one of the places.

Violence

The level of violence in Slovenia, however, never approached that in Bosnia and other areas of Yugoslavia.

Resistance

Many Slovenes participated in the resistance.

Massacre

At the end of the War, Croatians fleeing partisan actions against Utashi supporters were intercepted in Slovenia near the Austrian border. After a brief fight, large numbers of the Croatians who surrendered were executed.

Germans Expelled

With the voctoriy of the Allies, Tito's Government did some ethnic cleansing of their own. The German/Austrian minority in Slovenia that lived for centuries in the Gottschee region was expelled (1945).

Sources

Rehsmann, F. Rod pod Jepo. The deportation and internment of the Slovenian children is presumably explained here, but we have not had an opportunity to examine the book.

Created: 4:38 AM 10/15/2005
Last updated: 6:22 PM 10/15/2005