Submitted by Gal Kirn
Name

Grahovo Monument

Type / form
Abstract sculptureMemorial sitePlaque
Type / strategy
Open fascist rehabilitation
Country
Slovenia
Year
2014.
Location Grahovo, Cerknica, Slovenia
Description

A substantial intervention in the centre of the town, since the monument is a half-rounded wall, 9 meters long and 3.1 meters high. The form imitates the windows and the door of the defeated Home Guard guardhouse. The monument consists of a stone with inscribed names of 32 fallen fascists. There is also plamenica, a table made of stone (to meditate and rest) and posts that carry the flags at commemoration.

The date of inauguration. Instead of choosing the historically accurate date, November 23 when most of the 32 collaborationists died, the initiators took April 6 as the date of inauguration of the monument, a date when Nazi-fascist forces invaded the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and when the representatives of old dominant political forces in Slovenia initiated National Council (Natlacen), which openly collaborated with the fascist occupying forces.

Monument is dedicated to the 32 fallen fascist collaborationists. The event took place on November 22 and 23 1943, when the local fascist unit — Home Guards, which held an important patrol post in the village, was besieged by a partisan brigade. Despite the call to surrender, Home Guards held their post until the next morning, when on November 23 the partisans killed a large majority of them.

Initiated by:

Nova Slovenska Zaveza. A civil society group closely connected to the Catholic Church and supported by the largest right-wing parties SDS (Janez Janša) and Nova Slovenija (NSI, former Christian Democrats).

Designed by:

Franc Popek, architect (author of significant array of diverse plaques, granite crosses and memorial sites to Home Guards).

Found an inaccuracy on this page? Reach us at [email protected]