Gabrovica, Žena Printing Press

Memorial Square near the Printery and ŽENA Printery. A preserved part of a house where the partisan unit ŽENA operated. The object was completely restored and presented in 1977.

EŠD 1322

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The magazine Slovenski Jadran from 1955 reports:

"'IN THE TIME OF THE GREATEST FASCIST WILDNESS..,' as the plaque states, it was alive with life. From Brkinov, Idrija, Trst, and everywhere, couriers and partisan patrols were coming under these vaults day by day. In all directions, richly provisioned supplies of all sorts were sent: weapons, food, clothing, medical supplies, and partisan literature. Yes, this vault was a bridge between Trieste and the hinterland. The eager for freedom Vaščani did everything to supply partisan units, who bravely fought their enemy and controlled a large part of Slovene Istria with all that was needed. Materials gathered from all sides were brought by special couriers from Trst, Milj, Kopra, and surrounding villages. Here was also the partisan unit. It laid down its press for a significant part of Primorska. Starting its work on May 9, 1943, it called itself 'Our Home' and had its headquarters in Bertokih pri Dekanih, just about 500 meters from the house of our founder Ivan Caha-Iskre. […] The unit operated at this place until October 20, 1943, when it had to move to a safer location due to proximity to large cities and increasing danger that it might be investigated. On that night, couriers carefully transported all equipment and machinery of the unit on their backs to Gabrovico, where Valerija Baruta was already preparing a bunker in her house. They used the wine cellars, separating them with an internal wall so that a good third of this space could accommodate all the unit's equipment and personnel. In the forecourt, there was a square opening in the floor covered by a heavy concrete slab. Along the walls of this forecourt were placed strong legs on which large tanks and beds rested. Everything was arranged so that in case of danger, one tank could be quickly moved to the bunker entrance and fully concealed from enemy view. In this sunless space, the unit worked tirelessly until May 28, 1944, changing its name to 'Snežnik' and later to 'Žena.'

On May 28, dark clouds gathered over you. Strong German detachments, which had come from Kopra and Kozine, surrounded you in early morning hours with three encirclements and began searching the vaults for hidden bunkers. The high patriotic awareness of the Vaščani was demonstrated, as they refused to disclose any hiding places despite the greatest pressure from the Germans. In the last moment, ten-year-old gospodarjevi hčerki Nevenka Barut revealed that she had moved a tank to the bunker entrance opening and sealed it, leaving all technicians inside. The Germans chased her just before entering the cellar. With threats of force, they wanted to make her reveal where the bunker was. But the girl held firm. In vain, the Germans began shooting at the vault, burning down living quarters and imprisoning residents on trucks to take them to internment camps. They planned to burn houses and gospodarski poslopij with sharp flames. The frustrated Germans began firing at the vault, killing a bedridden sick woman Ivančič Marija in her bed, and burning alive Križmančiča Nazarija. But you stood your ground.

After completing their mission, the Germans left the vaults, leaving the Vaščani to open the bunker and pull out almost living technicians from under the rubble of the vault. Even after the fire in the vaults, the unit continued its work until September of that year when the Germans established their post in the burnt-out vaults. Then partisans and activists hid all machinery in a natural cave above the vaults. The remaining Vaščani dug out what was left from the Poljske orodje under the ruins on June 12, 1944, establishing a farm cooperative."

Emil Smole, Our Cultural Monuments of Gabrovica, Slovenski Jadran, Year IV, Issue 48, Koper, Friday, November 25, 1955, pp. (6–7).

Electronic source:
Slovenski Jadran, issue 48, 1955, pp. (6–7) Accessed: February 22, 2024.