Page 175 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 175
8.5 Case Study Event 4: The Anniversary of the Battle of Kućibreg
cultural dimensions apparently did not attract visitors. The third repeti-
tion edition of the exhibition in the regional environment (Piran – Trieste
– Buje) and other activities mentioned in the previous chapters, e.g. the
pilgrimage of believers from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trieste to
Istria, had no positive effect on the arrival of visitors.
Other visitors of the memorial exhibition, which closed on 16 Septem-
ber 2018, were not an object of systematic observation. The opening cere-
mony as well as the whole exhibition also had great educational potential,
but we do not know if it was exploited.
8.5 Case Study Event 4: The Anniversary of the Battle of Kućibreg
As in case study event 3, we assumed that the selected north-Istrian event
is recognisable in the Upper Adriatic area. It is dedicated namely to the
victims of the clash of the Italian-Croatian-Slovenian Partisan forces with
the Nazis in 1944. Thus, this event should have especially attracted wwi i
veterans (anti-fascists), their descendants, sympathisers and supporters
in the Upper Adriatic.
Today, Kućibreg in Croatia and Hrvoji in Slovenia are disadvantaged
depopulated neighbouring border villages on both sides of the state bor-
der (with less than 1,000 metres between them). The historical event in
wwi i is probably not the only contemporary (anthropogenic) attraction
with a significance for tourism but the full attention of this research was
deliberately put exclusively on this example. Collective memory related
to wwi i in fact strongly connects both villages.
background of the event: the battle of kuibreg
After the armistice of Italy in 1943, when Istria was annexed to Nazi Ger-
many, its army began exercising terrible violence in Northern Istria: mil-
itary actions were directed towards the Partisan units, as well as towards
the civilian population. In the autumn of 1944, there were the follow-
ing Partisan units: the Croatian Second Brigade of the 43rd division, the
Italian Battalion Alma Vivoda, and the Commands of Buje and Koper
(Ivančič, n.d.). According to the reports, the Italian battalion was quite
passive and faced desertion by its combatants; in general, the social sit-
uation was quite chaotic (Vlahov, 1986, p. 70). In November – especially
4 and 25 – the strong Nazi military forces performed an offensive against
the Partisan units. About 120 Partisans of the Croatian, Slovenian and
Italian nationality fell in the battle (the exact number is not well known);
many were captured and then transported to the camp Risiera di San
175
cultural dimensions apparently did not attract visitors. The third repeti-
tion edition of the exhibition in the regional environment (Piran – Trieste
– Buje) and other activities mentioned in the previous chapters, e.g. the
pilgrimage of believers from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trieste to
Istria, had no positive effect on the arrival of visitors.
Other visitors of the memorial exhibition, which closed on 16 Septem-
ber 2018, were not an object of systematic observation. The opening cere-
mony as well as the whole exhibition also had great educational potential,
but we do not know if it was exploited.
8.5 Case Study Event 4: The Anniversary of the Battle of Kućibreg
As in case study event 3, we assumed that the selected north-Istrian event
is recognisable in the Upper Adriatic area. It is dedicated namely to the
victims of the clash of the Italian-Croatian-Slovenian Partisan forces with
the Nazis in 1944. Thus, this event should have especially attracted wwi i
veterans (anti-fascists), their descendants, sympathisers and supporters
in the Upper Adriatic.
Today, Kućibreg in Croatia and Hrvoji in Slovenia are disadvantaged
depopulated neighbouring border villages on both sides of the state bor-
der (with less than 1,000 metres between them). The historical event in
wwi i is probably not the only contemporary (anthropogenic) attraction
with a significance for tourism but the full attention of this research was
deliberately put exclusively on this example. Collective memory related
to wwi i in fact strongly connects both villages.
background of the event: the battle of kuibreg
After the armistice of Italy in 1943, when Istria was annexed to Nazi Ger-
many, its army began exercising terrible violence in Northern Istria: mil-
itary actions were directed towards the Partisan units, as well as towards
the civilian population. In the autumn of 1944, there were the follow-
ing Partisan units: the Croatian Second Brigade of the 43rd division, the
Italian Battalion Alma Vivoda, and the Commands of Buje and Koper
(Ivančič, n.d.). According to the reports, the Italian battalion was quite
passive and faced desertion by its combatants; in general, the social sit-
uation was quite chaotic (Vlahov, 1986, p. 70). In November – especially
4 and 25 – the strong Nazi military forces performed an offensive against
the Partisan units. About 120 Partisans of the Croatian, Slovenian and
Italian nationality fell in the battle (the exact number is not well known);
many were captured and then transported to the camp Risiera di San
175
