Priests in Primorska region : the victims of the revolution

Renato Podberšič

Abstract

The article scrutinises the casualties suffered by theologians and priests caused by local resistance forces (i.e. the partisans) during World War II in the Primorska region. The number of casualties was relatively small, particularly when compared with the so-called Ljubljana region. By the end of World War II, members of the local resistance forces, or individuals acting as such, had killed seven priests and two theologians in the Primorska region. In this region, the majority of priests wanted the national question, i.e. national ideals, to be resolved. This explains why, in most cases, they did not oppose the partisan resistance forces. However, they did oppose the Communist revolution. A small percentage of priests actively opposed the Communists, as well as the resistance movement led by the Slovenian Liberation Front, but were unsuccessful in organising a wider movement against them in the Primorska region. The situation worsened after the Germans invaded the Primorska region in September 1943, because that intensified the partisan pressure on the priests in that region.

Key words

Primorska priests, communist revolution, victims of revolution, killed priests, Primorska