Description
Object description
Yugoslav civilian in Slovenia, 1941-1944; served with the Domobranci (Slovene Home Guard), 1944-1945; interned at Viktring camp, Austria, and repatriated to Yugoslavia, 1945; emigrated to GB, 1947.
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period in Slovenia, Yugoslavia, 1921-1941: family background in Struge; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; attitude to Germany and Soviet Union; opinion of Royal Yugoslav Army. Recollections of period as civilian in Slovenia, Yugoslavia, 4/1941-3/1944: arrival of German and Italian Army troops, 4/1941; Yugoslav Partisan killings in Ljubljana area following German invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; how he was ordered to work for Yugoslav Partisans, 6/1942; Italian offensive against Yugoslav Partisans and execution of hostages including cousin, 6/1942; disobeying order to join Yugoslav Partisans; level of support for Yugoslav Partisans in Slovenia; reaction to Italian surrender, 9/1943; work harvesting potatoes for Yugoslav Partisans near Kocevje; German occupation of Kocevje and formation of Slovene Home Guard, 1943; attended commercial college, 1943; attitude to German occupation of Slovenia. Recollections of operations with Slovene Home Guard in Slovenia, Yugoslavia, 3/1944-5/1945: call-up for service with Slovene Home Guard, 3/1944; organisation and role of Slovene Home Guard; wounding and medical treatment, 12/1944; reason for move to Austria, 5/1945; relations between Germans and Slovene Home Guard; attitude towards Yugoslav Partisans in Slovenia; opinion of British sense of justice; comparison of different nationalities in Slovenia; position of Jews in Yugoslavia.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of Draža Mihailović; attitude to Yalta Conference and Allies support for Josip Tito; reason for leaving Slovenia, 5/1945; loss of family members during Second World War; walk to Austria and meeting British forces at the River Drava, 9/5/1945-10/5/1945. Recollections of period as refugee in Viktring and Bleiburg Refugee Camps, Austria, 5/1945: opinion of British Army troops; language situation; arrival at Viktring Refugee Camp, 5/1945; daily life in camp; other nationalities and Yugoslav groups in camp; story of being told about move to camp in Italy, 28/5/1945; former sergeant in the Slovene Home Guard escape from camp; question of lack of screening for inmates in camp; description of journey to Bleiburg Refugee Camp and doubts about actual destination.
REEL 3 Continues: reaction to arrival at Bleiburg Refugee Camp; reaction to changed behaviour of British Army troops; reaction to being guarded by Yugoslav Partisans; escape attempts. Aspects of period as prisoner in Yugoslavia, 6/1945: train journey to Slovenj Gradec via Dravograd; opinion of treatment by Yugoslav Partisan guards; two night stay at school in Slovenj Gradec and beating of some prisoners; separation of families and friends into pro-and anti-partisan groups; escape during march from Mislinja to Celje and walk back to home in Struge, Slovenia.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period in Slovenia, Yugoslavia and Austria, 1945-1947: story of being fed by women near home; reunion with mother; hiding for two months supported by local anti-partisan locals; situation of father in Spittal an der Dau, Austria; nature of journey to Austria via Italy; communication with family; reaction to deaths of brothers in Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany and at Kocevje; attitude to Josip Tito's amnesty offer; opinion of British Government's repatriation policy. Recollections of period as civilian in GB, 1947-1989: story of entering GB as a volunteer worker, 1947; initial impressions of GB; story of receiving support from Cardinal John Heenan; employment at Penallta Colliery in Hengoed.
REEL 5 Continues: description of refugee camps in Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire; English language tuition; story of arrival in Hengoed, 1948; role as interpreter for other Slovenes working in Penallta Colliery, Hengoed; accommodation; story of buying house with other Slovenes, 1950; relations with other miners; starting own business making lamps; activities with Slovene community; family; attitude to experience of forced repatriation after war; story of father's visit to GB; reasons for decision to settle in GB and question of adapting to new life style.
REEL 6 Continues: further comments on Slovene community in GB; opinion of treatment by British authorities; relations with Welsh people; political views; story of joining local choir; role as witness during Aldington-Tolstoy libel trial, 11/1989-12/1989; opinion of Nikolai Tolstoy and support for Slovenes; reaction to outcome of libel trial and damages.
