Drežnica
Encyclopedia
Drežnica is a village in the Kobarid
municipality in the Littoral
region of Slovenia
. It is located above the Soča
river in a small plateau under the Krn mountain. Together with the neighboring settlements of Koseč
, Drežniške Ravne
, Jezerca
and Magozd
it has around 565 inhabitants.
At the outbreak of World War I
, most of the inhabitants were evacuated to the interior of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the first moths after the Italian attack on Austria-Hungary, the village was occupied by Italian troops and the rest of the inhabitants was sent to internment camps in Italy, where many died of malnutrition and bad conditions. The village was almost completely destroyed during the Battles of the Isonzo
, but the church remained completely intact.
After the war, in 1918, it was occupied by Italian troops and annexed to Italy in 1920. Between 1920 and 1941, many locals emigrated abroad, mostly to Argentina
and Yugoslavia
, and the number of inhabitants dropped significantly.
During World War II
, especially after the Italian armistice, the area was an important center of Slovenian partisan resistance. Between September 10 and November 1, Drežnica was part of the liberated territory, known as the Kobarid Republic, administered by the local anti-Fascist resistance (composed by partisans, former TIGR
members and unaffiliated insurgents). In November 1943, it was occupied by Nazi German forces, but the partisan resistance remained strong in the surrounding mountainous area around Mount Krn. In 1945, it was liberated by the partisans and put under Yugoslav military administration.
Between June 1945 and September 1947, Drežnica was cut off from Kobarid, which was put under Anglo-American military administration. This caused a severe economic crisis and many people emigrated from the village, either to the nearby Anglo-American zone, to Tolmin
or to the interior of Slovenia. In September 1947, it was officially annexed to Yugoslavia, and included in the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
.
. It was built on the site of an older building dedicated to Saint Julius. The belfry
was only completed in 1986 and is 52 metres high. The paintings inside the church were made during World War II by the Slovene modernist painters Zoran Mušič
and Avgust Černigoj
.
In July 2009, the Slovenian politician and former Prime Minister Janez Janša
married his current spouse, Urška Bačovnik, in the church.
Kobarid
Kobarid is a town and a municipality in the upper Soča valley, western Slovenia, near the Italian border.Kobarid is known for the famous Battle of Caporetto, where the Italian retreat was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The battle is well documented in the museum in...
municipality in the Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
region of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It is located above the Soča
Soca
The Soča or Isonzo is a 140 km long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at an elevation of around 1,100 metres...
river in a small plateau under the Krn mountain. Together with the neighboring settlements of Koseč
Kosec
Koseč is a small settlement above Drežnica in the Kobarid Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.A small church in the settlement, dedicated to Saint Justus, dates to the second half of the 14th centurty, making it one of the oldest surviving churches in the Soča area...
, Drežniške Ravne
Drežniške Ravne
Drežniške Ravne is a settlement in the Kobarid municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.The local church is dedicated to Saint Matthew and dates to 1511. The church itself with some of its furnishings was damaged in an earthquake in 1998, but this also revealed traces of late gothic frescos...
, Jezerca
Jezerca
Jezerca is a small settlement above the town of Kobarid in the Littoral region of Slovenia.-External links:*...
and Magozd
Magozd
Magozd is a settlement in the Kobarid Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.A small church dedicated to Saint Anne can be found just outside the village. It was built in the late 15th century and the belfry was added in the 17th century. It also has a 17th century wooden altar.-External...
it has around 565 inhabitants.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1324. In 1747, the parish of Drežnica was founded. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, it was a prosperous village with more than 1,000 inhabitants. During that time, the current church was built on the site of a previous, smaller one.At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, most of the inhabitants were evacuated to the interior of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the first moths after the Italian attack on Austria-Hungary, the village was occupied by Italian troops and the rest of the inhabitants was sent to internment camps in Italy, where many died of malnutrition and bad conditions. The village was almost completely destroyed during the Battles of the Isonzo
Battles of the Isonzo
The Battles of the Isonzo were a series of 12 battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies in World War I. They were fought along the Soča River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front between June 1915 and November 1917...
, but the church remained completely intact.
After the war, in 1918, it was occupied by Italian troops and annexed to Italy in 1920. Between 1920 and 1941, many locals emigrated abroad, mostly to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
, and the number of inhabitants dropped significantly.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, especially after the Italian armistice, the area was an important center of Slovenian partisan resistance. Between September 10 and November 1, Drežnica was part of the liberated territory, known as the Kobarid Republic, administered by the local anti-Fascist resistance (composed by partisans, former TIGR
TIGR
TIGR, abbreviation for Trst , Istra , Gorica and Reka , with the full name Revolutionary Organization of the Julian March T.I.G.R. was a militant anti-Fascist and insurgent organization active in the 1920s and the 1930s in the eastern Italian border region known as the Julian March.The...
members and unaffiliated insurgents). In November 1943, it was occupied by Nazi German forces, but the partisan resistance remained strong in the surrounding mountainous area around Mount Krn. In 1945, it was liberated by the partisans and put under Yugoslav military administration.
Between June 1945 and September 1947, Drežnica was cut off from Kobarid, which was put under Anglo-American military administration. This caused a severe economic crisis and many people emigrated from the village, either to the nearby Anglo-American zone, to Tolmin
Tolmin
Tolmin is a small town and municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.-Geography:Tolmin, the old town that gave the name to the entire area , is the largest settlement in the Upper Soča Valley , as well as its economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is located on a terrace above the...
or to the interior of Slovenia. In September 1947, it was officially annexed to Yugoslavia, and included in the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
.
The church
The main attraction in the village is the church, dedicated to the Sacred HeartSacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
. It was built on the site of an older building dedicated to Saint Julius. The belfry
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
was only completed in 1986 and is 52 metres high. The paintings inside the church were made during World War II by the Slovene modernist painters Zoran Mušič
Zoran Mušic
Zoran Mušič was a Slovenian painter. He spent half of his life living and working in Italy.-Life:Zoran Mušič was born in a Slovene-speaking family in Bukovica, a village in the Vipava Valley near Gorizia, in what was then the Austrian County of Gorizia and Gradisca...
and Avgust Černigoj
Avgust Cernigoj
Avgust Černigoj, also known in Italian as Augusto Cernigoi was a Italian painter, known for his avant-garde experiments in Constructivism....
.
In July 2009, the Slovenian politician and former Prime Minister Janez Janša
Janez Janša
Janez Janša is a Slovenian politician who was Prime Minister of Slovenia from November 2004 to November 2008. He has also been President of the Slovenian Democratic Party since 1993...
married his current spouse, Urška Bačovnik, in the church.