TIGR - Slovenian patriotic organization, 1927 - 1941

[M.R.]

This thread is dedicated to Slovenian patriotic nationalistic anti-Italian organization TIGR (meaning Trst Istra Gorica Reka). Probably most of you never heard of it, but it's famous for being the first anti-fascist organization on the world.

Some people believe that by today's standards, TIGR is a "terrorist" organization, but this is an insult, it was simply a patriotic Slovenian organization which fought against Italianization of Slovenian lands. After WWII, many members were killed by communists, because TIGR were anti-communists and were a considered a threat for new Yugoslavian regime.

After WWI Italy got a lot of Slovenian land inhabitated by ethnic Slovenians and Slovenian minority was opressed, the situation got worse for Slovenians. Italians burnt Slovenian national home in 1920 in Trst and destroyed more than 100 other important Slovenian buildings. They destroyed everythingSlovenian from Istra to northern Primorska, in 1932 50,000 Slovenian families had to change their last names to Italian version, in 1928 Slovenians weren't allowed to give Slovenian names to their children.

That's why Slovenian nationalistic organization TIGR was formed, it's goal was to reclaim Primorska and Istra for Slovenia and to resist the Italianization. From years 1927-30 they burnt down 18 Italians schools which were made to Italianize Slovenians who weren't allowed to learn Slovenian in schools. Although in year 1930 4 leaders of TIGR were executed, TIGR continued the fight. TIGR even fought against Germans in Carinthia. In 1934 TIGR planed to assassinate Mussolini, but assassinator Ivan Leban was arrested. The second assissaniton attempt was in 1938 when TIGR member Franc Kavs, who was prepared to sacrifice for his country, planed some kind of suicide-bomb attack, but 'duce' was surrounded by Slovenian children, which would die toghether with him, so Kavs didn't kill him. In may 1941 3 TIGR members, including the legendary leader Danilo Zelen, fought in central Slovenia and were betrayed by some partisan. Danilo Zelen and other 2 TIGR members (Ferdo Kravanja and Anton Majnik) fought against Italians bravely, Zelen shot himself in the head with his last bullet, Anton Majnik was arrested, he later escaped from prison, Ferdo Kravanja was injured, but Italians didn't know who he was, Kravanja told them he's a Serbian soldier 'Juro Jovanović', had Italians know who he really was, he would be shot. Later in 1944 he was betrayed by communist partisans and shout somewhere in southern Slovenia.

TIGR members were the finest sons of Slovenian nation who fough bravely for their country under Italian occupation. Although communist paid no respect to them and they weren't mentioned lot in history books, they have great respect from every Slovenian patriot and nationalist.


Danilo Zelen.


Danilo Zelen memorial.


"Svoboda" (Freedom).


TIGR memorial.


Ferdo Kravanja.


"Wanted" - Ferdo Kravanja, Italians offered 100,000 Dinars for him.


Ferdo Kravanja memorial.

[HrdinaSlovan]

Know TIGR very well!
Slovenians+Slovakians =brothers in arms

[M.R.]

Originally Posted by HrdinaSlovan

Know TIGR very well!
Slovenians+Slovakians =brothers in arms

Thank you very much!

I completly agree with Slovenians and Slovakians being brothers, we have much in common in our culture and our language is simmilar too.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Panonski

Thank you very much!

I completly agree with Slovenians and Slovakians being brothers, we have much in common in our culture and our language is simmilar too.

Too bad the Burgenland corridor in Austria seperate the two of you.

But I'd agree. I view Slovenians as being West Slavs, their mentality, cultural and lagnuage is different from the South Slavs here. And you are correct in the place here where I live in Serbia 20% of the population is of Slovak or partial Slovak descent and they seem closer to Slovenes then any other Slavic group in this region.

[Zrinski]

I would just like to add here that many Croats fought in TIGR as well (some were even among the founders of the organization). Just as the name says it was consisted of people from Triest, Gorizia, Istria and Rijeka. Slovenes and Croats shared the same destiny under Italian occuppation.

Though it is true that the organization was more Slovene oriented and that it was later incorporated into Slovenian Partisans I am somewhat disappointed that Croatia completelly neglects this also undoubtably part of Croatian history as well.

[M.R.]

Originally Posted by Zrinski

I would just like to add here that many Croats fought in TIGR as well (some were even among the founders of the organization). Just as the name says it was consisted of people from Triest, Gorizia, Istria and Rijeka. Slovenes and Croats shared the same destiny under Italian occuppation.

Yes, it's a fact. Anyway, can you write something in short about Croatian TIGR members, if you have time it would be nice.

Though it is true that the organization was more Slovene oriented and that it was later incorporated into Slovenian Partisans

Yes, but it was a mistake for TIGR, many (if not most) of their members were later killed by communists who considered them as enemies of communist revolution. Shame really.

I am somewhat disappointed that Croatia completelly neglects this also undoubtably part of Croatian history as well.

Indeed, also considering the fact Istra and Rijeka are now part of Croatia. As far as I know there are no monuments for TIGR members or anything simmilar in Croatia.

--

I see there are some problems with showing up pictures.

I have uploaded them on my Photobucket account, here you have them



Danilo Zelen.



Danilo Zelen memorial.



"Svoboda" (Freedom).



TIGR memorial.



Ferdo Kravanja.



"Wanted" - Ferdo Kravanja, Italians offered 100,000 Dinars for him.



Ferdo Kravanja memorial.

[Zrinski]

Originally Posted by Panonski

Yes, it's a fact. Anyway, can you write something in short about Croatian TIGR members, if you have time it would be nice.

In full honesty I don't much about them.
I know about Vladimir Gortan though. He organized the demonstrations in Istria against the fixed referendum in March 24th 1929. He was captured and taken to Rome where the Italian Fascists tortured him and finally convicted him to death by shooting. He became the symbol of Croatian national and anti-fascist struggle in Istria.

[HrdinaSlovan]

In 1848, when volentures started liberation of Slovakia from hungarian empire, almost 30% army was Croats, Serbs and Slovenians (leader of one army was Croatian general, but I dont remember his name...)
In 1914 Slovak regiment refuses to battle with Serbs, they throw away their weapons....they were all executed by Austrian/hungarian empire, from this time, most of Slovaks deserted and joined Serbian army
And in 29. 8. 1944 when Slovakian uprising started, you brothers came to help liberate our country from germans