Page 84 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 84
Trans-Border Region of Istria
that, Vienna designated Pula as its primary military port, thereby trans-
forming the settlement from an inconsequential and unpromising fishing
village into one of Europe’s more renowned naval bases; no following au-
thorities succeeded in upgrading these development policies (Marsetič,
2013, pp. 483–484; Perović, 2006, pp. 72–73, 78). Nevertheless, there was
some uncertainty about the most convenient place for the headquarters
of the Austrian military navy,³³ with Pula being proclaimed as the main
military port (Zentralkriegshafen) in 1853, and the first stone of the Arse-
nal (K. u. K. See-Arsenal) being placed on 9 December 1856. A ceremonial
event was organised in Pula, which was attended by the Emperor and his
wife (Benussi, 1923, p. 84; Marcotti, 1899, p. 156; Marsetič, 2013, p. 485; No-
tizie storiche di Pola, 1876; Perović, 2006, pp. 85–88; Rastelli, 2010, pp. 212–
217; Urošević, 2003).³⁴ The Emperor also participated in the foundation
stone laying ceremony for the Church of Our Lady of the Sea (Mornarička
crkva, Marinekirche, Chiesa della Marina) in 1891, which confirms the im-
portance of the navy for the city also at the religious level. Consequently,
Pula transformed into the biggest city of the peninsula, which until then
was the city of Rovinj (Stradner, 1903, p. 131).
In addition to the fleet base, there were also air (seaplane)³⁵ and sub-
marine centres (Milaković & Pocedić, 2015; Perović, 2006, p. 97). Accord-
ingly, the Arsenal of Pula was also responsible for the construction of
naval aviation (Mandić, 2006, pp. 195–201; Milaković & Pocedić, 2015).
The development of the airplane(s) was also interesting for journalists
and the general public.³⁶ Military authorities significantly supported the
development of the airport infrastructure (K. u. K. See-Flug Arsenal) –
the biggest military aviation centre in the East Adriatic – as well as mil-
itary aviation personnel trainings (K.u.K. Schulflugstation Cosada).³⁷ In
addition, a special military engineering service (K. u. K. Genie Direction
³³ Candidate cities were Muggia/Trieste, Piran, Pula, Šibenik and Kotor, although Gobbo
(2017) mentions only Trieste and Pula.
³⁴ There is a considerable mismatch about the time of the establishment of Pula as the centre
of the navy and the beginning of works. Since this is not the key issue for this study, we
only summarised and used the date most often stated in the acquired references.
³⁵ More about this can be found in Mandić (2009).
³⁶ Journalist Ambrosich was, according to the Croatian newspaper Naša sloga (Mandić,
2006, p. 196; ‘Pogled po Primorju: Puljsko-rovinjski kotar’, 1910, p. 1), due to his excessive
curiosity and enthusiastic reporting, accused of spying and then imprisoned.
³⁷ More about this can be found in Mandić (2006), Marsetič (2013), or Milaković and
Pocedić (2015).
84
that, Vienna designated Pula as its primary military port, thereby trans-
forming the settlement from an inconsequential and unpromising fishing
village into one of Europe’s more renowned naval bases; no following au-
thorities succeeded in upgrading these development policies (Marsetič,
2013, pp. 483–484; Perović, 2006, pp. 72–73, 78). Nevertheless, there was
some uncertainty about the most convenient place for the headquarters
of the Austrian military navy,³³ with Pula being proclaimed as the main
military port (Zentralkriegshafen) in 1853, and the first stone of the Arse-
nal (K. u. K. See-Arsenal) being placed on 9 December 1856. A ceremonial
event was organised in Pula, which was attended by the Emperor and his
wife (Benussi, 1923, p. 84; Marcotti, 1899, p. 156; Marsetič, 2013, p. 485; No-
tizie storiche di Pola, 1876; Perović, 2006, pp. 85–88; Rastelli, 2010, pp. 212–
217; Urošević, 2003).³⁴ The Emperor also participated in the foundation
stone laying ceremony for the Church of Our Lady of the Sea (Mornarička
crkva, Marinekirche, Chiesa della Marina) in 1891, which confirms the im-
portance of the navy for the city also at the religious level. Consequently,
Pula transformed into the biggest city of the peninsula, which until then
was the city of Rovinj (Stradner, 1903, p. 131).
In addition to the fleet base, there were also air (seaplane)³⁵ and sub-
marine centres (Milaković & Pocedić, 2015; Perović, 2006, p. 97). Accord-
ingly, the Arsenal of Pula was also responsible for the construction of
naval aviation (Mandić, 2006, pp. 195–201; Milaković & Pocedić, 2015).
The development of the airplane(s) was also interesting for journalists
and the general public.³⁶ Military authorities significantly supported the
development of the airport infrastructure (K. u. K. See-Flug Arsenal) –
the biggest military aviation centre in the East Adriatic – as well as mil-
itary aviation personnel trainings (K.u.K. Schulflugstation Cosada).³⁷ In
addition, a special military engineering service (K. u. K. Genie Direction
³³ Candidate cities were Muggia/Trieste, Piran, Pula, Šibenik and Kotor, although Gobbo
(2017) mentions only Trieste and Pula.
³⁴ There is a considerable mismatch about the time of the establishment of Pula as the centre
of the navy and the beginning of works. Since this is not the key issue for this study, we
only summarised and used the date most often stated in the acquired references.
³⁵ More about this can be found in Mandić (2009).
³⁶ Journalist Ambrosich was, according to the Croatian newspaper Naša sloga (Mandić,
2006, p. 196; ‘Pogled po Primorju: Puljsko-rovinjski kotar’, 1910, p. 1), due to his excessive
curiosity and enthusiastic reporting, accused of spying and then imprisoned.
³⁷ More about this can be found in Mandić (2006), Marsetič (2013), or Milaković and
Pocedić (2015).
84
