European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

That was all just retold rather harshly, but they understood. There were no charges brought against me.

I had deserted in September and it was December before I received my certificate of discharge.

For three months I had been de facto, and I might very well have been charged with desertion before a military court.

It was another of my crazy maneuvers that had simply worked out well.

They had understood this powerful desire of mine to study

and they turned a blind eye towards the fact that I had broken the law, that I had deserted the unit without anyone’s permission.

I just left.

Our unit was the Gubcev brigade with its seat in Postojna.

Every day I tested: I have to go studying, leave it alone,

we have other worries, and you know how invaluable you are to us.

I was immediately nominated for some medals, but I just didn’t stop.

Once the commander finally lost his temper and said: I’m sick of you! Just get out of my sight!

He only meant get out of his room at headquarters, but I played dumb and said: Ok, Ok, I’ll go to hell!

And I went straight to the station in Postojna and I hopped onto the very first train.

Relationships back then were much more humane.

He understood that I hadn’t really deserted, but rather that I’d gone to study.

And I could afford it too, because I truly felt that it was my right.

I always had advocated almost philosophically, that no society is well-suited if its individuals are not content with how they fit in.

Struggle to create an united Slovenian state

Speaking of the circumstances of WWII, we often forget that the Slovenian area