GERŠIČI-Memorial on the field between Geršiči and Dol. Dobravicami

January 1942 saw the Italian guard take over Geršiče, guarding the crossing over Lahinje and the crossing over the railway bridge. By the end of March, however, this guard had moved to a bunker above the bridge near the railway station at Dobravice.

In February 1942, fascists from the Underground came to the village and started looting without any pretext. Upon their return to the post, they were attacked by partisans.

In June of the same year, two Italian patrols clashed on the bridge, each believing the other to be partisans. On the same day, Italians came to the village, arrested six men, and the next day shot three of them, accusing them of attacking the Italian patrols.

The following month, the Italians, in order to prevent partisans from crossing over Lahinje, burned the bridge at Lahinje near Geršiče. However, they soon realized that this had brought them no benefit, but only caused them problems, so they repaired the bridge. Nevertheless, the partisans destroyed the bridge in spring 1943, because they needed to cross over the river near Žuničev mill in Krivoglavice. In spring 1944, the bridge was rebuilt again, but this time the partisans and the German and Home Guard invasion in Črnomelj on 14 November 1944 destroyed it again.

An organization of OF was established in Geršiče in June 1942, which among other things ensured safe passage over Lahinje and over the heavily guarded railway bridge.

The memorial, made from partially processed stone, is dedicated to three locals who were shot by Italian occupiers at this place in the summer of 1942. It was erected in 1978, designed by Milan Bajc and Vinko Kepic.

Vodnik 74

EŠD 11214

Murder of three locals

In retaliation, as partisans had mined the railway bridge Gradac-Metlika, -a hostile source speaks of an attack on their crew at the railway station Dobravice-, Italian soldiers from the post in Metlika surrounded the village on 2 July. The villagers were gathered together, beaten and robbed of their modest possessions. Men and boys over the age of 15 were tied up and taken away. Near the railway bridge, Alojz Kuret, Franček Papič and Niko Šimc were singled out and shot, although it was reported that they fell during the attack on 1 July 1942. With the remaining seven, they continued their journey to Metlika, from where they were sent to a concentration camp. Six of them died there in 1942 and 1943.

The memorial stone stands about 300 m north of the village, at the site where the locals were shot. It was uncovered in April 1978.

Source: archive ZB NOB Metlika (25)

Vodnik po partizanskih poteh, Ljubljana: Založba Borec, 1978, p. 139.