With the awareness of young people in particular, the project aims to recall the relationship between war destruction and local identities, exceed national and intercultural conflicts, collective guilt and intolerance.
DURATION: 1. 8. 2015–31. 1. 2017
DEVELOPERS OR PARTNERS OF THE PROJECT: University of Primorska, Science and Research Centre
PARTNERS: PiNA (SLO), Associazione 47|04 (ITA), Udruga “Žejane” (HR), Associazione Kinoatelje (SlO, ITA), Comune di San Dorligo della Valle (ITA), Istarsko povijesno društvo (HR)
THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY: Europe for citizens
REFERENCE NUMBER: 2015-1709/001-001
KEYWORDS: 2. WORLD WAR, YOUTH, ARSON
CONTACT: Borut Jerman
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
SIGNIFICANCE OF WAR DESTRUCTION FOR OVERCOMING CONFLICT AND INTOLERANCE
The project is focusing on the multiethnic border region between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia – Julian March or Venezia Giulia. This is an area where borders and political regimes changed multiple times in the last hundred years. Also during the World War II, one occupying country (Italy) was followed by the other (Germany). Although this region was since 1920 officially part of Italy, Slovene and Croatian population developed active resistance movements against the regime and agitated for the annexation to the “homeland” – Yugoslavia – or in some cases for the autonomy of the Julian March.
During World War II Nazi and Fascist occupying forces burnt several villages in this borderland. Burnt villages hold the symbolism of the sites that occupying forces tried to erase, and therefore should become recognized as sites of memory. The reason for these war crimes was usually the revenge towards civil population, which supported the resistance – foremost partisan movement, i. e. the freedom fighters. Burnings of villages were most often accompanied with killings, deportations, raids and other violence.
The project will raise awareness especially among the younger generations that the memory of these war devastations is important part of their local identity. Furthermore, in the spirit of intergenerational respect and curiosity, we have to transcend the national and intercultural conflicts, collective guilt, and intolerances, with a goal to contribute to the strengthening of European citizenship and to stimulate European integration of the region.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
To recollect the events, we will gather personal memories of the burnings and the follow-up, as well as photos of the villages. Based on archival sources and literature we will make a map of the burnt villages in the Julian March. Project will include:
Oral history seminar;
Documentary project, a short documentary presented in the “burnt villages”;
Touring photo exhibition, set in Mačkolje/Caresana (IT), Šmarje near Koper (SI), Lipa (CRO) and Žminj (CRO);
Round table – webinar streamed live on some European universities;
Memorial signs in selected “burnt villages” Mačkolje/Caresana, Miren near Nova Gorica (SI), Šmarje near Koper and Žejane (CRO).
PROJECT REPORT: click
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