Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

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Dimitrii
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Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

#1

Post by Dimitrii » 25 Sep 2022, 19:55

Hello everybody,

A question regarding the situation in the already very complex frontier-situation in Italy-Slovenia:

I can fully understand that German casualties in the border areas must be due to partisan collision. However, for 1944 I also keep finding German casualties more inland - for example Tolmezzo and Gradisca d'Isonzo. Could these casualties be due to Italian partisans attacking German troops and soldiers, as I cannot imagine that Slovenian partisans would operate so deep in Italy?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

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K.Kocjancic
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Re: Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

#2

Post by K.Kocjancic » 30 Sep 2022, 08:45

Hi!

First you have to take into the consideration, that Slovenian ethnic territory (e.g. places where Slovenians live(d)) streches quite "deep" into the current-day Italian territory; I'm speaking about the border region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

So, during the Second World War, such ethnic territory was even bigger (more Slovenians living there as today) and thus Slovenian partisans operated also there. With this, we have to keep in mind that partisan intelligence network expanded through the region and even further. Plus, there were some smaller partisan units operating in this territory, which were from time to time joined by larger partisan formation. For example, in early 1944, partisan 30th Division broke from the current-day Slovenian territory into the "Beneška Slovenija" (Venician Slovenia) area (current-day Slavia Friulana).

And then you have "National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Slovenia" (the official name of Slovenian partisans), that formed also several units from Italian personnel, that were operating also in this area.

Just a short answer for a much larger topic ...

KK


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G. Trifkovic
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Re: Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

#3

Post by G. Trifkovic » 06 Oct 2022, 16:00

Hi Dimitrii,

a couple of excerpts from my book Sea of Blood: A Military History of the Partisan Movement in Yugoslavia 1941-45 (Helion and Company, 2022), pp. 201, 236:
[...]After a lengthy period of stagnation, Primorska was experiencing a surge in guerrilla activity.
Ironically, the Italians and their forceful conscription of ethnic Slovenes into the Regio Esercito
were largely responsible for this state of affairs. The influx of draft-dodgers enabled the local
branch of the NOVJ not only to send over 1,000 unarmed replacements to Notranjska and
Dolenjska, but also to form a separate OZ in February and two additional brigades (the 5th
and 6th) in April 1943. In pursuance of the well-established policy of exporting the uprising,
these mobile formations were sent on an expedition to what was considered the far west of the
Slovene ethnic territory. The undertaking, which took place during the first three weeks of
May, produced mixed results. Its propaganda impact was considerable, not least because of the
successful actions such as the ambush on the Kobarid–Bovec road on the 18th that resulted in
the death or injury of over 20 enemy soldiers. On the other hand, the young brigades proved
to be too weak, inexperienced, and under-equipped to maintain themselves for long so deep in
the Italian metropolitan territory. Their foe–the XXIII, later also the XXIV AC, both from
the 8th ITA–was constantly on their heels, and even managed to surprise and nearly destroy
a large group of Partisans at Golobar on 26 April (altogether 43 KIA). Learning from these
experiences, the brigades dispersed, each battalion conducting its own small campaign during
late spring and early summer; the devastating attack on a CCRR bus outside Idrija on 23 June
(15 KIA and five WIA) stands out in this respect. The already-mentioned master plan of the
MHQ from early August had repercussions for Primorska OZ as well: the bulk of its fighters,
now combined into a single (3rd Slovenian) brigade, were ordered to join the 14th Division on
the outskirts of the capital[...]
[...]Speaking of more ambitious undertakings, the Partisans launched only one, the 30th
Division’s expedition to Slavia Friulana. The operation, devised to popularize the OF and boost
the morale of the local ethnic Slovenes, started on the last day of January 1944. During the next
couple of weeks, three Partisan brigades crisscrossed the region, attacking the traffic between
Tolmin and Kobarid, and the garrison at Faedis, less than 15 km from Udine. By this time, the
enemy pressure had become unbearable. In addition to a force of about 5,000 soldiers bearing
down upon them (Operation “Alpenrose”), the guerrillas were pounded from the air on a daily
basis by a flight of “Heinkel” He-111 medium bombers. Ultimately, the NOVJ division managed
to escape to the east, but not without difficulty: the crossing of the Soča was made by individual
brigades, battalions, and even groups of fighters, who had to leave their heavy weapons behind.
At the same time, the Partisans won a small, but psychologically important victory against the
SS “Karstwehr” Battalion in a head-to-head clash on the slopes of the Kolovrat Range on 19
February, capturing 30 pieces of small arms. In the end, despite the loss of 102 KIA, 117 WIA,
and 313 MIA (many of whom were just stragglers), and the failure to draw the local Slovenes
into the NOP’s fold, the expedition was deemed a success. The 30th Division was now a veteran
formation and its exploits were allegedly “recounted across the entire Northern Italy with the
greatest enthusiasm.”[...]
Hope this helps,

G.

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Dimitrii
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Re: Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

#4

Post by Dimitrii » 08 Oct 2022, 20:01

Many thanks to both for your interesting reports and replies, both gentlemen! Greatly appreciated.

The way that I understand it, this is a very complex situation whereby Slovenian partisans (controlled by Tito) crossed over into Italian territory that was historically Slovenian. It then also fought Italian troops, but Italians were also among the ranks of the Tito-partisans.

A further follow-up question, I see that G. Trifkovic talks about Tolmezzo (Tolmein) in February 1944. But I found a German casualty for the summer 1944 near Tolmezzo. If I read correctly, there was no more Slovene/Jugoslavian activity there by the summer? So these casualties must have been inflicted by Italian partisans?

Thanks again for all the interesting input.

By the way, I see that the SS-Karstjäger also ventured pretty south in Nord-Italy (away from the Karst) and went even deep into Slovenia (Predmeja), is this correct?

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Re: Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

#5

Post by filigranofil » 09 Oct 2022, 00:56

Hello @Dimitrii,

G. Trifkovic not mention Tolmezzo, he mention Tolmin.
So Tolmezzo casualties was not due of slovenian partisans.

The most western town attacked by slovenian partisans was Faedis (slovenian language: Fojda), 13 km from Udine (slovenian language: Videm).
IIn attack group was on 10.2.1944 at 23:00 only 60 partisans.

More about this attack and movement of Partisans in Beneška Slovenija (italian language:Slavia Friulana) can you find in the Book:
Boris Mlakar: Pohod 30.divizije v Beneško Slovenijo.
Book is in slovenian languge, but you cen put it in Google translate:
link to the Book:
https://www.sistory.si/cdn/publikacije/ ... Mlakar.pdf

About Beneška Slovenija/Slava Friulana on wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavia_Friulana

Yes, we have also in Slovenia Karst (in slovenian: Kras): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst

Slovenian minority in nowadays Italy:
ljudska_slovenska_beneska.jpg
Zemljevid_FJK.jpg

regards
Darko

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K.Kocjancic
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Re: Italian and Slovenian partisans in Italy 1943-1945

#6

Post by K.Kocjancic » 10 Oct 2022, 18:15

You need to take into consideration how the NOV in POS was formed from 1943 onwards. Brigades and divisions were used on operational/strategical level, being highly mobile, operationg not only in one region, but several (basically always moving around, attacking different targets, including trying to attack more heavily-occupied territories). They were supplimented by companies or detachments (odredi), later battalions, which were more regional in nature, staying put in one region, where they performed limited operations (mainly limited on ambushing patrols, attacking communications, performing mobilization, supporting brigades/divisions operating in their area).

For example, in December 1943, Briško-beneški odred was formed and was tasked to operate west from the river Soča/Isonzo, including in the current-day Italian territory. In Sept. 1944 it was disbanded; at that time it had five battalions with around 700 fighters. During this reform, Operational HQ for Western Littoral (Operativni štab za zapadno Primorsko) was established, that had 4 battalions and one mining-sabotage company. Among these 4 Btl., were also one in Benečija (Slavia Veneta) and one in Rezija (Resia). So, basically, Slovenian partisans were always present in the Slovenian ethnical territory.

Additionally, in this territory were also present:
a) courier system: a network of "courier points" (each stationed with several couriers), responsible with physically moving news, reports, (small amount of) equipment/supplies, ...
b) VDV (Vojska državne varnosti; State Security Army); partisan "secret service", tasked with (counter)intelligence, assassinations, and also providing "shock" troops.

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