• Path of Remembrance and Comradeship
In the 1950s, several memorials were set up around the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana along the course of the ring fence, with which the Italian occupiers had surrounded the city in 1942, as a reminder of the time of occupation. In 1985, the path was paved and named the »Path of Remembrance and Comradeship« (Slovene: Pot spominov in tovarištva). In total, about 6,000 people were killed in the region of Ljubljana under Italian occupation.
Image: Ljubljana, undated, Bunker along the barbed wire fence, Muzej novesje zgodovine Slovenije, Ljubljana
Ljubljana, undated, Bunker along the barbed wire fence, Muzej novesje zgodovine Slovenije, Ljubljana

Image: Ljubljana, 2011, Signpost on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Blaž Vizjak
Ljubljana, 2011, Signpost on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Blaž Vizjak
In the spring of 1941, Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis powers. As a result, the country was divided among the occupying powers: Germany, Italy and Hungary occupied most of Slovenia, while Ljubljana and surrounding areas were annexed by Italy as the »Provincia di Lubiana«. When partisans stationed in Ljubljana carried out successful attacks in the entire region, the Italian occupying forces decided to isolate the city in February 1942: they erected an approximately 30-km long barbed wired fence with 206 fortifications around Ljubljana. The occupiers regularly organised raids, arresting thousands of people suspected of cooperating with the partisans. Thousands of Slovenes were deported to Italian internment camps, such as the one on the Island of Rab. Italian units also frequently shot »hostages« in order to put pressure on the partisans - over 130 people were shot in Ljubljana over a course of 9 months. Following Italy's capitulation in 1943, Ljubljana was occupied by the Wehrmacht; the ring fence around the city remained in place. The German occupying forces focused on trying to suppress partisan resistance, but the German authorities also deported several Jews from Ljubljana. On May 9, 1945, the city was liberated by partisans.
Image: Ljubljana, undated, Bunker along the barbed wire fence, Muzej novesje zgodovine Slovenije, Ljubljana
Ljubljana, undated, Bunker along the barbed wire fence, Muzej novesje zgodovine Slovenije, Ljubljana

Image: Ljubljana, 2011, Signpost on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Blaž Vizjak
Ljubljana, 2011, Signpost on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Blaž Vizjak
In total, some 6,000 people perished in the occupied region of »Provincia Lubiana« until the end of Italian occupation in 1943. It is not known how many people perished under the Italian and German occupation regimes in Ljubljana.
Image: Ljubljana, 1942, Raid in Ljubljana, Muzej novesje zgodovine Slovenije, Ljubljana
Ljubljana, 1942, Raid in Ljubljana, Muzej novesje zgodovine Slovenije, Ljubljana

Image: Ljubljana, 2009, Memorial on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Jordan Magnuson
Ljubljana, 2009, Memorial on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Jordan Magnuson
In 1957, the first walk along the course of the former ring fence was organised. By now, the »Pohod ob žici« (English: »Hike around the fence«) has become a tradition, and it takes place annually on May 9, the anniversary of the liberation of Ljubljana. The »Path of Remembrance and Comradeship« was completed in 1985: a gravel-paved path now runs along the former ring fence. It is also referred to as the »Green Ring«. By 1962, 102 memorial stones and monuments by architect Vlasto Kopač had been laid out along the path. Moreover, preserved bunkers and fortifications once built by the occupying forces line the way.
Image: Ljubljana, 2011, Former bunker on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Marko Samastur
Ljubljana, 2011, Former bunker on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Marko Samastur

Image: Ljubljana, 2011, Memorial on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Marko Samastur
Ljubljana, 2011, Memorial on the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, Marko Samastur