Miha Krek
Encyclopedia
Miha Krek was a Slovenia
n lawyer
and conservative politician
. Between 1941 and 1969, he was the informal leader of the Slovenian anti-Communist emigration.
Born in the Upper Carniola
n village of Leskovica
, he studied at the St. Stanislau Institution in Šentvid
near Ljubljana
. During World War I
, he was drafted in the Austro-Hungarian Army
. After the war, he studied law at the universities of Zagreb
and Ljubljana
, where he obtained his PhD in 1930. Until 1935, he had a law firm in Ljubljana.
Krek joined the conservative Catholic Slovene People's Party
in 1921. Initially, he served in the Party's auxiliary cultural associations. He also served as the president of the Slovenian section of the Catholic Action
, and chief editor of the main conservative newspaper Slovenec. During the royal dictatorship of king Alexander I of Yugoslavia
, he served as vice-president of the party.
In 1936, he became minister without portfolio
in the cabinet of Milan Stojadinović
. In 1938, he was elected Member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
on the list of the Yugoslav Radical Community, of which the Slovene People's Party was part between 1935 and 1941. In December of the same year, he became Minister of Constructions. He maintained the ministry in the government of Dragiša Cvetković
, formed after Stojadinović's downfall in February 1939. In 1940, he was named Minister of Education in the Cvetković-Maček coalition government
. After the death of Anton Korošec
, Krek became General Secretary of the Yugoslav Radical Community in the Drava Banovina
, and thus the second most influential politician in the Slovene People's Party after Fran Kulovec.
After the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia
in April 1941, Krek emigrated to Palestine
and then to London
, as a member of the Yugoslav Government in Exile
, led by Dušan Simović
. Following the death of Fran Kulovec in the Belgrade air raid
, Krek became the exile leader of the Slovene People's Party, while Marko Natlačen
became the party's leader in occupied Slovenia
.
Together with fellow party member Franc Snoj, Krek became the Slovene representative the Yugoslav exile governments of Slobodan Jovanović
and Miloš Trifunović
. During this time, he published several manifestos urging the Slovenes, without much success, to join the Chetnik resistance movement of Draža Mihajlović. He also maintained contacts with the Slovene non-Communist underground resistance, known as the Slovene Convenant.
In 1944, he opposed the Tito-Šubašić Agreement
, with which the Yugoslav government in exile recognized the Yugoslav partisans. The same year, he moved to Rome
, where he organized the Slovenian National Council Abroad, which was opposed to the Communist-led Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
. In May and June 1945, he tried unsuccessfully to prevent the re-patriation of the Slovene Home Guard to Yugoslavia
. In September of the same year, he co-authored a manifesto titled "Tito's Government is Introducing Totalitarianism", together with the leader of the Socialist Party of Yugoslavia
Živko Topalović
and the leader of the Independent Democratic Party
Adam Pribićević. In 1946, Krek was trialed in absentia
by the new Yugoslav Communist authorities on charges of high treason and war crimes and sentenced to 15 years of prison.
He stayed in Rome until 1947, where he organized, together with Ivan Ahčin
, a network that helped in the emigration of tens and thousands of Slovenes, especially to Argentina
and to the United States
. In 1947, he moved to the United States himself, and was officially elected as president of the Slovene People's Party in Exile. He died in Cleveland, Ohio
, and was succeeded by Miloš Stare as the President of the Slovene People's Party.
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...
n lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and conservative politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Between 1941 and 1969, he was the informal leader of the Slovenian anti-Communist emigration.
Born in the Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The centre of the region is Kranj, while other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale.- Historical background :...
n village of Leskovica
Leskovica, Gorenja vas - Poljane
Leskovica is a village in the Gorenja vas - Poljane Municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.The local church is dedicated to Saint Ulrich . The original Late Gothic church was dedicated by the Bishop of Aquileia in 1517. The current church is of the same size, but dates to the late...
, he studied at the St. Stanislau Institution in Šentvid
Šentvid
The Šentvid District or simply Šentvid is a city district of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia....
near Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. During 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...
, he was drafted in the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
. After the war, he studied law at the universities of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
and Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
, where he obtained his PhD in 1930. Until 1935, he had a law firm in Ljubljana.
Krek joined the conservative Catholic Slovene People's Party
Slovene People's Party (historical)
The Slovene People's Party was a Slovenian political party in the 19th and 20th centuries, active in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Between 1907 and 1941, it was the largest and arguably the most influential political party in the Slovene Lands...
in 1921. Initially, he served in the Party's auxiliary cultural associations. He also served as the president of the Slovenian section of the Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
, and chief editor of the main conservative newspaper Slovenec. During the royal dictatorship of king Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
, he served as vice-president of the party.
In 1936, he became minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
in the cabinet of Milan Stojadinović
Milan Stojadinovic
Milan Stojadinović was a Yugoslav political figure and a noted economist.Stojadinović was born in Čačak in central Serbia, and went to school in Užice and Kragujevac. In 1910 he graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School, and gained a Ph.D. in economics in 1911...
. In 1938, he was elected Member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of 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...
on the list of the Yugoslav Radical Community, of which the Slovene People's Party was part between 1935 and 1941. In December of the same year, he became Minister of Constructions. He maintained the ministry in the government of Dragiša Cvetković
Dragiša Cvetkovic
Dragiša Cvetković was a Yugoslav politician.He served as the prime minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia from 1939 to 1941. He developed the federalization of Yugoslavia through the creation of the Banovina of Croatia by an agreement with Croatian leader Vladko Maček...
, formed after Stojadinović's downfall in February 1939. In 1940, he was named Minister of Education in the Cvetković-Maček coalition government
Cvetkovic-Macek Agreement
The Cvetković-Maček Agreement was a political agreement on the internal divisions in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which was settled on August 23, 1939 by Yugoslav prime minister Dragiša Cvetković and Vladko Maček, a Croat politician...
. After the death of Anton Korošec
Anton Korošec
Anton Korošec was a Slovenian political leader, a prominent member of the conservative People's Party, a priest and a noted orator....
, Krek became General Secretary of the Yugoslav Radical Community in the Drava Banovina
Drava Banovina
The Drava Banovina or Drava Banate was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. This province consisted of most of present-day Slovenia and was named for the Drava River...
, and thus the second most influential politician in the Slovene People's Party after Fran Kulovec.
After the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
in April 1941, Krek emigrated to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and then to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, as a member of the Yugoslav Government in Exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
, led by Dušan Simović
Dušan Simovic
Dušan T. Simović was a Yugoslav general who served as chief of the air force and commander-in-chief of the Royal Yugoslav Army and as the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia.-Life and career:...
. Following the death of Fran Kulovec in the Belgrade air raid
Bombing of Belgrade in World War II
The city of Belgrade was bombed during two campaigns in World War II, the first undertaken by the Luftwaffe in 1941, and the latter by Allied air forces in 1944.- German bombing :...
, Krek became the exile leader of the Slovene People's Party, while Marko Natlačen
Marko Natlačen
Marko Natlačen was a Slovenian politician and jurist, who also served as a ban of the Dravska banovina but is perhaps best remembered as the author of the xenophobic slogan Srbe na vrbe.-Biography:...
became the party's leader in occupied Slovenia
Province of Ljubljana
The Province of Ljubljana was a province of the Kingdom of Italy and of the Nazi German Adriatic Littoral during World War II. It was created on May 3, 1941 from territory occupied and annexed to Italy after the Axis invasion and dissolution of Yugoslavia, and it was abolished on May 9, 1945, when...
.
Together with fellow party member Franc Snoj, Krek became the Slovene representative the Yugoslav exile governments of Slobodan Jovanović
Slobodan Jovanovic
Slobodan Jovanović was one of Serbia's most prolific jurists, historians, sociologists, journalists and literary critics. He distinguished himself with a characteristically clear and sharp writing style later called the "Belgrade style"...
and Miloš Trifunović
Miloš Trifunović
Miloš Trifunović is a Serbian footballer currently playing in FC Bunyodkor from Tashkent, on loan from Red Star Belgrade.-Career:...
. During this time, he published several manifestos urging the Slovenes, without much success, to join the Chetnik resistance movement of Draža Mihajlović. He also maintained contacts with the Slovene non-Communist underground resistance, known as the Slovene Convenant.
In 1944, he opposed the Tito-Šubašić Agreement
Tito-Šubašic Agreement
The Treaty of Vis , also known as the Tito-Šubašić Agreement, was an attempt by the Western Powers to merge the royal Yugoslav government in exile with the Communist-led Partisans who were fighting the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia in the Second World War and were de facto rulers on the liberated...
, with which the Yugoslav government in exile recognized the Yugoslav partisans. The same year, he moved to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he organized the Slovenian National Council Abroad, which was opposed to the Communist-led Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
On 26 April 1941 in Ljubljana the Anti-Imperialist Front was established. It was to promote "an international massive movement" to "liberate the Slovenian nation" whose "hope and example was the Soviet Union"...
. In May and June 1945, he tried unsuccessfully to prevent the re-patriation of the Slovene Home Guard to Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. In September of the same year, he co-authored a manifesto titled "Tito's Government is Introducing Totalitarianism", together with the leader of the Socialist Party of Yugoslavia
Socialist Party of Yugoslavia
Socialist Party of Yugoslavia is a political party in Montenegro...
Živko Topalović
Živko Topalović
Živko Topalović was a Yugoslav socialist politician. Topalović became a leading figure in the Socialist Party of Yugoslavia, founded in 1921....
and the leader of the Independent Democratic Party
Independent Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)
The Independent Democratic Party was a social liberal political party in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It was established by Svetozar Pribićević as a breakaway faction of the Democratic Party in 1924...
Adam Pribićević. In 1946, Krek was trialed in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
by the new Yugoslav Communist authorities on charges of high treason and war crimes and sentenced to 15 years of prison.
He stayed in Rome until 1947, where he organized, together with Ivan Ahčin
Ivan Ahcin
Ivan Ahčin was a Slovene sociologist, publicist, journalist, author and politician.He studied theology at the University of Ljubljana, where he graduated in 1925. He later worked as a professor of sociology at the University of Ljubljana...
, a network that helped in the emigration of tens and thousands of Slovenes, especially 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 to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1947, he moved to the United States himself, and was officially elected as president of the Slovene People's Party in Exile. He died in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, and was succeeded by Miloš Stare as the President of the Slovene People's Party.