Cerknica, grave of Alojz Popek - Vandek

Lojze Popek-Vandek was born in Bezuljak near Cerknica on 21 May 1920 in a peasant family. He was among the first organizers of the national liberation struggle on the local territory and in his youth organized the first volunteers for the partisans. In this capacity, he collected weapons and carried out sabotage actions. In November 1941, he successfully organized an attack on an Italian garrison in Bezuljak. Fifteen Italians fell and the partisans burned the ammunition depot. He became the commander of the Koželjska unit in the Šercerjev battalion. He participated in the attack on Verd near Borovnica. In March 1942, he operated in the area of Golo Mokrc. He fulfilled the role of commander of the Crimean battalion and upon the establishment of the Šercerjev brigade, he became the commander of the 3rd battalion, which participated in attacks on Be-Ga garrisons at Škocjan near Turjak, Topol on Blok, and at Ustje, Boštice, Benetih, Lužarji, and Rog. As deputy commander of the Cankarjev brigade, he fell during the fourth enemy offensive near S. Križ above Dvorišče in Žumberk. His remains were transferred to the common grave of the fallen on the cemetery in Cerknica on 11 May 1969.

Source: Brestov Obzornik, 30 May 1969

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