Page 93 - Dark Shades of Istria
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5.3 Region of Istria: A Brief Historical Overview
them, this was fatal.⁶¹ Those ultra-narodnjaci who sought to cooperate
with the Nazis, as well as the Ustasha and Domobrani, were particularly
problematic for the communists (Oblak Moscarda, 2016, p. 51). The evi-
dent internal division of Istrian society, where the struggle for liberation
was developing together with the socialist revolution, in fact led to bellum
omnium contra omnes.
The next phase was a large-scale offensive of German forces in the au-
tumn of 1943 (Operation Istrien);⁶² the nazi-fascist violence then lasted
until the spring of 1945. Together with the vengeful fascist collaborators,
they performed an actual massacre on the residents of Istria; the above-
mentioned executions were alleviated (not completely interrupted),⁶³ al-
though the abysses (foibe), for the purpose of execution, were also used
by the nazi-fascists this time (Pirjevec et al., 2012; Scotti, 2008, pp. 82–96,
150; Verginella, 2009a, pp. 54–55, 61). During the German occupation,
the allied military aircraft bombed the city of Pula; by the conclusion
of w w i i, the city had been subjected to 23 bombings, resulting in the
most extensive recorded damage to the city in the 20th century.⁶⁴ Hu-
man tragedy was marked also by the deportation of more than 20,000
Istrians to the nazi-fascist concentration camps, from which more than
5,000 never returned (Istarsko povijesno društvo – Società Storica Istriana,
2018c; Jokić & Čudov, 1986, p. 417); 5,000 Istrian Partisan fighters did not
survive wwi i (Jokić & Čudov, 1986, p. 417). Interestingly, armed forces,
which contributed mostly to the establishment and economic develop-
ment of Pula in its history, caused the imminent destruction of the city as
well (Marsetič, 2006b, pp. 229–231; Spazzali, 2010)⁶⁵ – then for the second
time in the same century.
Pula was the last liberated area on the Istrian peninsula on 8 May,
with Koper being liberated on 30 April, and Cape Savudrija on 7 May
1945.⁶⁶ Paradoxically, the (Italian) battalion ‘Pino Budicin’ was to liberate
⁶¹ They even participated in the liberation struggle with the communists, but later, espe-
cially in 1946–1947, broke up and became their opponents (Oblak Moscarda, 2016, pp. 51,
139–140); more can be found in Oblak Moscarda (2016).
⁶² This bloody Rommel’s offensive in the autumn of 1943 particularly affected anti-fascists
and Istrian society in general.
⁶³ More can be found in Oblak Moscarda (2016, pp. 56–60).
⁶⁴ More can be found in Marsetič (2004) and Dukovski (2001).
⁶⁵ Systematic dehumanisation was implemented as well.
⁶⁶ The liberation of Istria was a military action of the anti-nazi/fascist resistance movement
led by the Yugoslav Partisans (see Dukovski, 2001; 2011b; Scotti and Giuricin, 1979).
93
them, this was fatal.⁶¹ Those ultra-narodnjaci who sought to cooperate
with the Nazis, as well as the Ustasha and Domobrani, were particularly
problematic for the communists (Oblak Moscarda, 2016, p. 51). The evi-
dent internal division of Istrian society, where the struggle for liberation
was developing together with the socialist revolution, in fact led to bellum
omnium contra omnes.
The next phase was a large-scale offensive of German forces in the au-
tumn of 1943 (Operation Istrien);⁶² the nazi-fascist violence then lasted
until the spring of 1945. Together with the vengeful fascist collaborators,
they performed an actual massacre on the residents of Istria; the above-
mentioned executions were alleviated (not completely interrupted),⁶³ al-
though the abysses (foibe), for the purpose of execution, were also used
by the nazi-fascists this time (Pirjevec et al., 2012; Scotti, 2008, pp. 82–96,
150; Verginella, 2009a, pp. 54–55, 61). During the German occupation,
the allied military aircraft bombed the city of Pula; by the conclusion
of w w i i, the city had been subjected to 23 bombings, resulting in the
most extensive recorded damage to the city in the 20th century.⁶⁴ Hu-
man tragedy was marked also by the deportation of more than 20,000
Istrians to the nazi-fascist concentration camps, from which more than
5,000 never returned (Istarsko povijesno društvo – Società Storica Istriana,
2018c; Jokić & Čudov, 1986, p. 417); 5,000 Istrian Partisan fighters did not
survive wwi i (Jokić & Čudov, 1986, p. 417). Interestingly, armed forces,
which contributed mostly to the establishment and economic develop-
ment of Pula in its history, caused the imminent destruction of the city as
well (Marsetič, 2006b, pp. 229–231; Spazzali, 2010)⁶⁵ – then for the second
time in the same century.
Pula was the last liberated area on the Istrian peninsula on 8 May,
with Koper being liberated on 30 April, and Cape Savudrija on 7 May
1945.⁶⁶ Paradoxically, the (Italian) battalion ‘Pino Budicin’ was to liberate
⁶¹ They even participated in the liberation struggle with the communists, but later, espe-
cially in 1946–1947, broke up and became their opponents (Oblak Moscarda, 2016, pp. 51,
139–140); more can be found in Oblak Moscarda (2016).
⁶² This bloody Rommel’s offensive in the autumn of 1943 particularly affected anti-fascists
and Istrian society in general.
⁶³ More can be found in Oblak Moscarda (2016, pp. 56–60).
⁶⁴ More can be found in Marsetič (2004) and Dukovski (2001).
⁶⁵ Systematic dehumanisation was implemented as well.
⁶⁶ The liberation of Istria was a military action of the anti-nazi/fascist resistance movement
led by the Yugoslav Partisans (see Dukovski, 2001; 2011b; Scotti and Giuricin, 1979).
93
