Drage

Three carved stones are surrounded by a stone fence. The inscription is in Serbian. The memorial was erected on 3 September 1977, designed by Milan Bajc and Vinko Kepic.

EŠD 11211

Guide through partisan trails, Ljubljana: Založba Borec, 1978, pp. 132-133.

The village has been providing safe shelter to partisan units, organisations and bodies; Gorjan Battalion, Belokranjski Detachment, Vzhodnodolenjski Detachment, 13th Proletarian Brigade Rade Končar, operational staff of 4th Croatian Corps, regional committee of OF and regional committee of KPS for White Croatia and partisan workers.

In autumn 1943, when allies were dropping military supplies for the partisan army from planes at the Popoviči landing site, large storage facilities were built in the village. There was also an allied military mission with EKG team.

German planes bombed the village in April 1944 and caused serious damage.

The memorial dedicated to these events, made according to the idea of Milan Bajc and Vinko Kepic, was erected on the water collection point in the centre of the village, and was unveiled on 3 September 1977.

archive ZB NOB Metlika (13)

Drage were an important centre of the partisan movement during the Second World War – in the village operated the staffs of partisan units, partisan school and even an Anglo-American mission that helped with the supply of the resistance. Due to their role, Drage were given the nickname “Little Ljubljana”. In April 1944 the village was severely hit by German bombing, in which most of the houses were destroyed and five residents lost their lives. In November 2025, the village solemnly opened the renewed memorial to the national liberation struggle, the village water tower and an informative board.

Solemn opening of the renewed memorial to the national liberation struggle and the village water tower in the village of Drage. Municipality of Metlika 6 November 2025.

Drage during the Second World War. Information board November 2025.