Anton Lukanc

Sistory states First and last name: Anton Lukanc, Father: Alojz, Mother: Antonija, Date of birth: 03. 10. 1922, Place of birth: Podklanc, Place of residence: Podklanc, Old municipality: Dravograd, New municipality: Dravograd, Profession (social status): student, Date of death/disappearance: 00. 00. 0000, Place of death/disappearance: Šidsko polje, Country of burial: Serbia.

«The Slovenian battalion had crossed almost the entire Srem front. Its men and boys marched now during the day, now at night, in snow, cold, and wind, hungry, barefoot, torn. Even the boys cursed and swore, until they started singing again.

In the night between 16th and 17th January 1945, the battalion occupied positions west of Ilok, between Opatovac and Sodin. Guards and patrols protected their sleep. Constant vigilance was needed right behind the back, the grizzled enemy, who still stubbornly resisted in Srem.

On the east, the morning began to glow slightly.

What is that? As if trucks are rumbling in the distance. Then, as if snow is crunching. Steps! Footsteps! The engines of the tanks are roaring!

The Germans are here! They are attacking!

Rifles are firing at our positions. From the darkness, a white-painted German tank emerges, surrounded by white-clad soldiers. The machine guns and rifles are wildly firing. The tank's cannons are bursting fire and death. Bombs and grenades are burying the entrenched positions. This is a hellish awakening!

Fighters grab for weapons and desperately defend themselves. The commander's orders are barely heard in the chaos. Charge! To the knife! Too late..

The enemy has managed to surprise us at several places where he concentrated his strong forces with abundant equipment. He has even broken through the battalion's flank and begun to encircle it.

Poor boys! No bravery could help them avoid falling in large numbers. Three of them attacked the tank with anti-tank bombs, but death swept them away from the ground. In the bunker lay a machine gunner who had barely left his school desk. With his 'machine gun', he had mowed down a line of attackers, but now he lay dead, embraced by the loving heart of his mother in Belgrade. Dead was also the commander Dolšak.

"Retreat! Back! Save yourselves, whoever can!"

The surviving fighters fled across the snow-covered field. [..] But behind the fleeing ones remained the corpses. [..] After this battle, the battalion recorded 77 dead fighters, even more wounded, some captured as well. [..] The fields of Srem were soaked in the blood of all the nations of Yugoslavia, including Slovenians – in proof of the brotherhood and unity of all.

The fields of Srem became a second Doberdob, a new grave for Slovenian boys.."

Rudi Dobovišek-Kučej, From the writings of volunteers, in: Fran Roš, Slovenian exiles in Serbia 1941–1945, Maribor: Obzorja Publishing House, 1967, p. 479, 480.

»LIST of fighters and deceased wounded members of the Slovenian volunteer brigade in Serbia, included in the I. Home Army brigade as its 5th battalion: [..] Lukanc Anton [..]«

Fran Roš, Slovenian exiles in Serbia 1941–1945, Maribor: Obzorja Publishing House, 1967, p. 480, 481.