Dolenja vas pri Senožečah - Memorial plaque to the victims of war violence

Memorial plaque, which was installed by the Union of Fighters of NOV Senožeče, was unveiled on June 3, 1984, by the chairman of the local organization of ZZB Viktor Dolenc. It is dedicated to the victims who were shot by the occupier and then thrown into a burning house on June 2, 1944. The holes made by bullets in the façade of the house are today marked in red.

On June 1, 1944, a meeting took place in Dolenja vas organized by the fighters of the Southern Primorska Detachment. On the same day, the partisans learned that the occupier was expected to reinforce the garrison in Senožeška postojanka the following day. The II. Battalion of JPO was supposed to have already prepared a position early in the morning of June 2 to intercept the approaching enemy units. Since the column of enemy vehicles arrived too spread out, the partisans did not decide to attack, but instead decided to call for reinforcements and attack the enemy upon their return. Germans, together with local collaborators, arrived in Dolenja vas and gathered the villagers in the middle of the village. Two captured partisans were shot together with six locals and their bodies thrown into the burning house. The enemy then looted the village and then proceeded towards Senožeče. According to some accounts, it was only at this time that the partisan position began to be prepared. In the evening, when the enemy convoy passed by the position, the partisan forces attacked and killed the enemy. Some of them were captured. The captured Germans and local collaborators were brought by the partisans before the victims of the previous shooting. The victims condemned the captives and demanded their execution. Although it is written everywhere that the captives were shot, among the villagers it is still said that the victims killed the captives to death.

June 2 thus strongly impressed the memory of the villagers of Dolenja vas and all surrounding villages, so that this very day was chosen as the local holiday. Every year, on this occasion, people gather in the middle of Dolenja vas for an event dedicated to the fallen in NOB, and a wreath is laid at the memorial plaque.

Literature:

Benedik, Franc et al. Guide to partisan trails. Ljubljana: Borec, 1978.

Dolenc, Ervin. Senožeče: a community on the edge. Koper: Rubic Trade, 1994.

Grmek, Jože. «Borbena pot Južnoprimorskega odreda.» 27 vasi, 11/1 (July 1984), pp. 19-21.

«Report of the staff of the IX. Corps of NOVJ from June 9, 1944 to the main staff of NOV and PO Slovenia on the attack of the Southern Primorska Detachment on the enemy column on the road Senožeče-Štorje and on the attack of the XXX. Division on the German-local collaboration post in Razdrto.» In: Collection of documents and data on the national liberation war of the Yugoslav nations. Part 6, Vol. 14, Battles in Slovenia 1944 (June 1 – July 15), ed. Jože Čertalič and Jože Novak, pp. 143-146. Ljubljana: Partizanska knjiga, 1972.

«Report of the staff of the Southern Primorska Detachment from June 3, 1944 to the staff of the IX. Corps of NOVJ on battles and mining sabotage actions of subordinate units.» In: Collection of documents and data on the national liberation war of the Yugoslav nations. Part 6, Vol. 14, Battles in Slovenia 1944 (June 1 – July 15), ed. Jože Čertalič and Jože Novak, pp. 104-106. Ljubljana: Partizanska knjiga, 1972.

Rener, Polde – Boris. Zublji na Vrheh. Sežana: Municipal Committee of ZZB NOV, 1978.

Savnik, Roman, ed. Senožeče in battle and construction. The Senožeška region in the past and present. Senožeče: Local Committee of ZB NOV, 1967.

Memory lives on: Senožeče, Štjak, Vrabče 1965–1991, ed. Lea Franetič et al. Nova Gorica: Branko, 2015.

http://giskd2s.situla.org/rkd/Opis.asp?ESD=13460&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

EŠD 13460

Photograph: E. Franetič, December 2016.