Spomenik Database | Liberation Monument at Maribor

This spomenik at Maribor commemorates the nearly 700 hostages and rebels who were killed by German forces during the National Liberation War (WWII) for attempting to resist occupation.

WWII Maribor

World War II

Just before the Axis invasion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941, the city of Maribor (then known as its German name 'Marburg'), situated right on the Kingdom's northern border, was directly adjacent to the border of the expanding Greater German territory. In addition, during this time, there was also a remnant ethnic-German population in Maribor (roughly 25%), who remained in the city after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, even despite Slovene efforts of mandatory cultural assimilation. After the Axis invasion in April of 1941, Germany annexed Maribor and the surrounding Lower Styrian region into the Greater German Reich. Upon this annexation, immediate plans were made by Nazi Germany to re-Germanize the city, which included not only pushing out and marginalizing the Slovene population and culture, but also the mass arrests of local Slovenes and importation of ethnic Germans to the city. In fact, portraying Maribor as a Germanized city was so important for Germany that it was the only city in the occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia that was personally visited by Hitler himself during the war (Photo 1). This oppression and ethnic-cleansing of Maribor were naturally met with intense anger and hostility from Slovenes around the region. As a result, many Slovenes began to organize and coordinate uprising groups to fight against these aggressions, most notably the Liberation Front and the Communist Partisan resistance movement. The Maribor Partisan's first act of uprising was on April 29th, 1941, when they destroyed two German military vehicles with explosives in a city center alleyway. This symbolically occurred just three days after Hilter's visit to the city. These movements were both particularly strong in Slovenia as the Slovene culture and identity itself was being threatened with elimination in all parts of the country by not only the Germans, but also by the Italians in the west and the Hungarians in the eastern parts of Slovenia (see Figure 1).

A map to the location of the monument at the spomenik complex in Maribor, Slovenia.

Photo 1: Hitler visiting Maribor in his only trip to the Yugoslav region during the war, April 26th, 1941.

Figure 1: Map of the Slovenia partition during WWII

The Slovene Partisans generally utilized the only methods available to them, which was crude but effective guerilla tactics, sabotage and unconventional warfare. However, the Nazis found these rebels to be a surprisingly difficult group to deal with, even despite their being vastly under-equipped and having much smaller numbers compared to the German Army. In order to prevent more Slovenes from joining these uprising groups, the Nazis began to take as hostages many prominent local Slovenes in Maribor, at which point the Nazis would then declare that these hostages would be executed upon any further Partisan attacks or incursions against German troops. The first executions began on August 24th, 1941 and continued through the war. However, despite these brutal warnings, attacks by Partisan units against the Germans continued unabated. Thus, in retaliation, these innocent hostages were subsequently executed by the Germans, generally either by mass public hangings or by large groups being placed in front of firing squads. Often, the executions were made intentionally macabre in order to impart maximum impact on those observing. By the end of the war, roughly 700 Slovene hostages were executed in retaliation for Partisan actions.

The city of Maribor was finally liberated from German control on May 9th of 1945, however, it was left in great ruin. As the city was host to German munitions plants and factories, it was heavily bombed by the Allies during the war with over two dozen raids, which killed hundreds of civilians and left nearly half the city completely leveled. In all, over 2,600 Maribor residents were killed during the course of the war. Meanwhile, after the war, all remaining ethnic-German civilians were expelled from Slovenia, while many Partisans groups set about executing hundreds of Slovenes who collaborated with the Nazis, most notably the anti-communist Slovene Home Guard. These post-war extra-judicial executions of anti-communist Slovenes by Partisans were not discussed or debated in the Yugoslav public sphere until 1975.

Constr. Maribor

Spomenik Construction

Plans for the construction of a monument dedicated to the National Liberation War were initiated as early as the mid-1950s. The first design competition for choosing a monument form for Maribor was held in 1955, yet, the designated committee tasked with making this decision was unable to come to an agreement upon any of the entries. A second competition was held in 1958. It was to this competition that Slovene sculptor Slavko Tihec, along with architect Jaroslav Černigoj, submitted a proposal (Photo 2a). After years of deliberation, in 1961, the Memorial Committee approved Tihec & Černigoj's proposal. However, the execution of this submission was bogged down in bureaucratic wrangling and was never realized.

Photo 2a: Tihec and his first submission to the Maribor monument competition

Photo 2b: Tihec's second submission to the Maribor monument competition

A third initiative was convened in 1966, during which Tihec and architect Branko Kosmut put forward a completely new submission. Tihec again won this third competition (Photo 2b), yet, it was also bogged down in red tape and was never realized. The monument project was re-initiated in 1971, with the Memorial Committee deciding to make this competition invitation-only. Along with Tihec, the famous sculptors Drago Tršar, Stojan Batič, Zdenko Kalin, and Boris Kalin were invited. Though, despite the invitations, only Tršar and Tihec submitted proposals. For this competition, Tihec submitted a design (created in partnership with architect Branko Kocmut) that was very similar to an artistic concept that he submitted for the design competition for the monument at Kozara, Bosnia, but which had been rejected. It was with this modified "Kozara" concept model that Tihec again won the competition. He officially signed a contract with the municipality of Maribor in January of 1974 and then, after making several modifications to his proposal suggested by the committee, Tihec's final design was approved in April of 1975 (Photo 3a).

Photo 3a: A concept model for the Maribor monument [source]

Photo 3b: The Maribor monument under construction [source]

The location chosen for the monument to reside was a central location in the city's 'Trg Svobode' or 'Freedom Square'. Construction on the project took roughly a year (Photo 3b), with the metal fabricators who cast the monument's pieces being "GP Stavbar" of Maribor and "Torzo" of Zagreb, which were then assembled on site by the firms Samobormetal and Metalgrad. The primary foreman of the project was Edo Žak. It is also important to mention that Tihec supervised the construction of his monument during every phase. Branko Kocmut's role was situating the monument within the square and the stone paving of the surrounding surface. Cost for the project ran to roughly 8 million Yugoslav dinars (what would today be roughly 2.2 million euros), with these funds being raised via numerous public campaigns.

The memorial was officially unveiled to the public during a ceremony on November 27th, 1975 and was attended by thousands of people (Photo 4). The date was chosen to coincide with Yugoslavia's 'Republic Day' two days later on the 29th. A keynote speech during the ceremony was given by Sergej Kraigher, then president of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. Afterwards, all of the lights in the square were dimmed, at which point torches and spotlights were then progressively illuminated, turning the emergence of the monument from darkness into a metaphor for victory over the darkness of occupation. The monument reportedly weighed 25 tons. The final work that Tihec created for this memorial space was a large 7m tall knob-shaped bronze sculpture. Through large strips cut through two sides of the sculpture's smooth bronze facade, an inner sphere shape, engraved with the faces of many Partisan and Yugoslav heroes, can be seen. The sculpture sits on a circular bronze platform which itself is also engraved with a number of inscriptions, one of which is a depiction of a handwritten letter penned by Maribor resident Jože Fluks to his family right before being executed by German forces in 1942.

Present Maribor

Photo 4: The unveiling ceremony of the Maribor monument in 1975

Yugoslav-era to Present-Day

While Tihec's monument became a significant landmark and symbol for the city of Maribor during the Yugoslav-era, it is important to point out that not all Maribor residents immediately understood or embraced the memorial sculpture. Some sources record feelings and recollections of widespread puzzlement at the time of its unveiling. People openly questioned what such an abstract sculpture was supposed to represent and whether such a modern form was appropriate for an NOB memorial in Maribor. It is noteworthy to point out that while large abstract WWII monuments could be found all across Yugoslavia during that time period, Slovenia actually had very few major works of this nature within its city centers and public areas. Even in the 1950s and 1960s, the Maribor newspaper "Večer" had repeatedly published arguments about whether the city's central monument should be abstract, monumental, comprehensible, documentary, heroic or figurative.

During the break-up and dismantling of Yugoslavia during the 1990s, the Liberation Monument complex at Maribor did not experience the turmoil, damage and vandalism that many other memorials across the former country underwent during that time period. As such, it remains in excellent condition and still stands as one of the central symbols of the city of Maribor, finally being fully embraced in the modern era. The monument has even been renovated in recent years, while local discussions are currently being instigated in Maribor on how to better popularize and promote the sculptural work of Slavko Tihec, who is often referred to as the most important Maribor-born sculptor of the 20th century.

Plaques Maribor

Plaques, Engravings and Graffiti:

On the base of the monument there is a engraving in large letters from Slovenian historian Janez Švajncer (Slides 1 & 2). It roughly translates, when translated from Slovenian to English, as:

"Resistance Liberation War Victory

1941-1945"

On the reverse side of the bronze base, there are three additional sets of engravings. In the middle, there is an engraving which depicts a handwritten letter by a local Maribor resident Jože Fluks to his family just before being executed (Slides 3 & 4). Translated from Slovenian to English, it reads as:

Maribor spomenik (engravings)

1/11

Slideshow

My dear family,

I have been sentenced to death today. Don't mourn me, but be brave, just as I am brave. I kiss you all in spirit, mother, father, Majda, Jelko, Tone, my girl Ančka, all my friends and comrades. Keep me in good memory, and until my last moment I'll be thinking of you all. Many kisses, the last in spirit sent from your Jo!

Jože Fluks
March 30th, 1942
Mehllirügestrasse 12/1 (address)

The above letter, in which I received translation help from Reddit user 'grim_asdf', is one of hundreds of examples of farewell letters which the hostages under Nazi detention were allowed to write to loved ones before their execution, which would then be passed (or not) on to relatives by the German soldiers. As the letters were most certainly examined and censored by the Gestapo, these farewells may not always have been communicating all sentiments which the condemned wanted to express. In some cases, farewell letters which were smuggled out from prisons were able to tell more detailed and specific accounts of detainment conditions, which often included information on Nazi tactics, beatings and torture of hostages.

Meanwhile, the left-most engraving on the bronze base depicts a poster of the WWII-era announcing executions which occurred here in Maribor of 13 Slovene dissidents for crimes they were accused of committing against German soldiers and infrastructure (Slides 5 & 6). This inscription reads, when translated from Slovenian to English, as:

ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to their participation in the bandit attack carried out on August 11, 1941 at Ribnica, and due to their participation in the August 9, 1941 attack on the officer and guard company in Zagorje, and ultimately due to their participation in the communist intrigues and the illegal possession of weapons, as well the preparation of sabotage campaigns...

...[they] were shot on August 24th and August 25th, 1941:

Eduard Grubelnik, auxiliary worker, born on November 3rd, 1911 in Ribnica, residing in Ribnica.
Franz Eckardt, auxiliary worker, born on November 14th, 1919 in Rogoza, residing in Rogoza near Koča.
Branko Babič, miner, born on July 29th, 1922 in Kisovec, residing in Zagorje, Kisovec 61.
Leopold Grahek, miner, born on October 22nd, 1920, in Loki, residing in Zagorje, Toplice 112.
Josef Tovornik, student, born on January 2nd, 1920 in Trbovlje, residing in Rimske Toplice.
Salva Klavora, student, born on May 11th, 1921 in Maribor, residing in Maribor.
Svetozar Koćevar, locksmith assistant, born on December 31st, 1922 in Maribor, residing in Maribor.
Franz Weber, forest ranger, born on March 17th, 1909 in Škofja Vas, residing in Škofja Vas near Celje.
Franz Vrunc, teacher, born on February 12th, 1910 in Slovenj Gradec, residing in Slovenj Gradec.
Josef Kowatsch, auxiliary worker, born on March 3rd, 1919 in Lovrenc na Pohorju, residing in Trbovlje, Heiligenuhr.
Franz Kolaric, weaver, born on November 20th, 1921 in Slovenska Bistrica, residing in Lovrenc na Pohorju, Koter Inn.
Stanislaus Bresovnik, salesman, born on June 13th, 1920 in Ruše, residing in Lovrenc na Pohorju, number 30.
Antonia Wresnig, born June 18th, 1914 in Puščava, residing in Lovrenc na Pohorju, number 151.

Head of Civil Administration in Lower Styria

It is important to note that in the engraved inscription in Slides 5 & 6, translated above, the Germanified versions of place names are used in the inscription when describing the places of birth and residence of the executed individuals. In my above translation, I have changed those German versions to their present-day Slovenian versions, as detailed in the notes on page 103 of this document.

Finally, Slides 7 - 9 show a view of the another engraved depiction of a Nazi propaganda poster which would have been hung around Maribor during WWII, alerting and warning residents of the city about what happens to Partisan and rebel collaborators.

Notice

Communist bandits, theives, and murderers have, again, committed a series of unconscionable killings and several robbery attacks. They murdered peaceful people in a sneaky and cowardly manner. The son of a farmer in the vicinity of Schönstein [Šoštanj] was thrown by these bandits into the flames of his burning house, which they had set alight. The following persons are also guilty of the crimes committed by these gangs. They have supported the bandits in a variety of ways. On October 2, 1942, they were shot in Maribor:

[list of roughly 150 names of Slovene residents of the Maribor region]

The members were arrested and their assets were confiscated. Furthermore, during the last few weeks, the following communist bandits were shot dead in the vicinity of their hiding-places, in total, 30 bandits:

[list of 30 names of Slovene residents and dates they were killed]

Maribor, October 2nd, 1942

Signed, the High SS and Police Officer

[Erwin] Rösener

The Nazi SS officer who penned the above notice, General Erwin Rösener (Photo 5) of the German 18th Army, was stationed in Germany's annexed Slovene lands, acting as head of anti-Partisan operations in the region. In order to achieve his mission, as his above declaration describes, he went to any and all lengths in rooting out Partisans and their collaborators, while doing whatever he felt necessary in dissuading other Slovenes from joining the Partisans. During the final weeks of the war, Rösener, fearing capture by the Partisans, abandoned his command and fled into Austria. However, he was captured only a few months after the end of the war by British troops and returned to Yugoslavia. He went to trial in Ljubljana on August 23rd, 1946, charged with committing mass executions of civilians. By August 29th, he was convicted guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Six days later that sentence was carried out. Rösener's remains are interred in an unmarked grave in Ljubljana's Žale cemetery.

Meanwhile, there is a small inscription on the sculpture's base (Slide 10), which essentially is the artist's signature, Slavko Tihec, while also communicating the year the work was completed, 1975, and that this is a bronze version of the work. In addition, it also includes the name of the contractor who built it, Torzo Zagreb, and the metal fabricators who assembled the pieces, Samobormetal and Metalgrad.

Photo 5: General Erwin Rösener

Photo 6: Template-strips of photos to be turned into the grooved reliefs [source]

Facial Inscriptions

Finally, the surface of the inner sphere of the memorial sculpture depicts roughly 200 faces of a great many Yugoslav heroes from the People's Liberation Struggle. Each of the two sides of the sphere has a collection of five thin alcoves that reveal an array of faces, largely ones that are symbolic of the WWII uprising and communist revolution of Maribor. The artistic depictions are extremely photo-realistic, made by crafting a series of precisely shaped horizontal grooves in bronze which, when observed from a distance, reveal a myriad of life-like faces. This result was achieved by Tihec and his team experimenting over months, arranging hundreds of photo portraits in order to create a template-strip for each required alcove (Photo 6), then from these photo templates the final groove relief sculptures were meticulously crafted. This stylistically unique process of Tihec's is very rare among other memorial complexes across the former Yugoslavia; in fact, this may be the only such use of this artistic process for a memorial site during the era.

In the following images, we will identify as many of these images as we can. Although over 200 images are depicted within this monument, so far, only about a 1/4 of them have thus far been identified. These images commemorate known and unknown fighters, hostages, deportees, internees and activists of Slovenia (largely people from Maribor itself) who opposed and rose up against occupation. In this first diagram image (Photo 7a), we will look at the east-facing side of the monument, looking at the faces which are inscribed upon its five alcoves (Rows A1 - A5). Meanwhile, the second diagram (Photo 7b), shows the west-facing side of the monument and all the faces inscribed upon it (Rows B1 - B5).

Photo 7a: A diagram identifying the inscribed faces upon the east-facing side of the Maribor monument

Row A1:

-1.) Lovro Polančič - Ubo: An executed Partisan from Maribor

-2.) Ivan Zagernik - Joco: An OF District Committee Member of Maribor

-3.) Jože Hermanko: An executed National Hero from Maribor

-4.) Franc Vresk - Gustl: Pohorje Battalion Partisan killed by Nazis

Row A2:

-5.) Karel Destovnik - Kajuh: National Hero & poet killed by Nazis

-6.) Rado Iršič - Gregl: National Hero & journalist killed in Maribor by Nazis

-7.) Slava Klavora: National Hero from Maribor killed by Nazis

-8.) Bojan Ilich: National Hero killed in Maribor by Nazis

-9.) Jože Fluks: Maribor Communist civilian executed by Nazis as a hostage

Row A3:

-10.) Franc Rozman - Stane: Partisan Commander & National Hero

-11.) Josip Broz Tito: President of Yugoslavia

-12.) Jože Kerenčič - Janko: National Hero from Maribor executed by Nazis

-13.) Ivo Polančič - Ubo: Partisan from Maribor killed by Nazis

-14.) Jadviga Golež - Špela: Maribor Partisan activist, tried for treason, suicide

-15.) Ivan Kokol - Ilija: Maribor KPS Committee member killed by Nazis

Row A4:

-16.) Martin Konšak: Partisan organizer from Maribor, executed by Nazis

-17.) Ljudmila Kerin - Milka: Slovene Partisan National Hero, killed by Nazis

18.) Angel Besednjak - Don: National Hero from Maribor killed by Nazis

-19.) Boris Peče: Maribor KPS courier & activist, arrested and killed by Nazis

-20.) Ljubo Marion: Maribor activist & Partisan, executed by Nazis
-21.) Pavle Narat: Partisan organizer from Maribor, executed by Nazis

Row A5:

-22.) Jože Menih - Rajko Knap: National Hero from Maribor, killed by Nazis

-23.) Pavla Mede - Katarina: National Hero, Pohorje Battalion, killed by Nazis

-24.) Elizabeta Jančar - Lizika: National Hero from Maribor, killed by Italy facsists

Photo 7b: A diagram identifying the inscribed faces upon the west-facing side of the Maribor monument

Row B1:

-1.) Štefan Kovač - Marko: National Hero from Maribor, killed by Hungary fascists

-2.) Tončka Čeč: National Hero & KPS activist, killed at Auschwitz

-3.) Miloš Rems - Marko: Student and OF member, killed escaping from jail

Row B2:

-4.) Jože Kovač - Jakob: KPS Committee member of Maribor, killed by Nazis

-5.) Avgust Majerič: Partisan/KPS member of Maribor, executed by Nazis

-6.) Josip Broz Tito: President of Yugoslavia

-7.) Marjan Bantan - Stojan: Secretary of Maribor SKOJ, killed by Nazis

-8.) Dušan Mravljak - Mrož: National Hero & doctor, killed by Nazis

Row B3:

-9.) Alfonz Šarh - Iztok: Partisan & National Hero, killed by Nazis

-10.) Miha Pintar - Toledo: National Hero & Partisan Commander, killed by Nazis

-11.) Jože Lacko: Partisan & National Hero, tortured to death by Nazis

-12.) Slavko Šlander - Aleš: Partisan & National Hero, shot as hostage by Nazis

-13.) Vlado Vidav: Maribor KPS member & activist, executed by Nazis

-14.) Maks Durjava: KPH member from Maribor, executed by Ustaše

-15.) Vanček Šarh: Partisan of Pohorje Battalion, killed by Nazis

-16.) Pepček Šarh: Partisan of Pohorje Battalion, killed by Nazis

Row B4:

-17.) Franc Kunaver - Sulc: Partisan of Pohorje Battalion, executed by Nazis

-18.) Miloš Zidanšek - Vencelj: National Hero from Maribor, killed by Italy fascists

-19.) Martin Kores: Maribor City Council, executed as a hostage by Nazis

-20.) Vera Šlander - Pepca: Partisan & KPS member, killed by Nazis

-21.) Tone Grčar - Johan: KPS member & Partisan organizer, killed by Nazis

-22.) Ivan Glinšek: Partisan from Maribor, executed by Nazis

-23.) Robert Filipič - Jakec: Partisan activist from Maribor, killed by Nazis

Row B5:

-24.) Lojze Šušmelj: Partisan activist, executed in prison in Celje

-25.) Silvira Tomasini - Slovenka: National Hero from Maribor, executed

-26.) Marica Kerenčič - Jelka: Partisan from Maribor, executed by Nazis

-27.) Tone Čufar: OF member & poet, shot by Nazis while escaping prison

-28.) Stane Lenardon: Partisan from Maribor, killed by betrayal

-29.) Ernest Šnofl - Vitez: KPS activist, imprisoned by Nazis, suicide

Tihec later said that one conceptual stimulus for the solution of this monument came from observing geological erosion in the Colorado River/Grand Canyon landscape, where successive grooves cut into material suggested to him a way of moving from two-dimensional image to three-dimensional relief. Art historians additionally relate the method to the thin metallic lines he had already been embedding into his wooden Container sculptures. The original photos of the subjects themselves were provided by the Museum of National Liberation of Maribor, at which point Tihec made the artistic decisions for the arrangement and composition of the images within the framework of the monument. For more information about the many individuals depicted on this monument, a more in-depth exploration of them and their significance can be found in a 2016 issue of the Slovenian cultural magazine "Dialogi". If anyone reading this is able to identify any of the as of yet unmarked people depicted on this monument, please reach out to me.

Symbolism Maribr

Symbolism:

Sources indicate that various levels of symbolism were employed by Slavko Tihec in the creation of this monument. The wife of Tihec, Vlasta Zorko, relates that this sculpture was intended to be a symbol for a nation that "has risen from the ground" after defeating an oppressive and brutal occupier. In addition, the shape of the sculpture is very reminiscent of an upside-down view of an escaping water-droplet, as if Tihec is saying that the revolutionary struggle (and philosophy) of the Partisan movement could never simply be contained within the ground where its dead martyrs are interred. Meanwhile, this abstract form is further used as a medium in which to display the images of the Yugoslav war heroes shown within the sliced inner segments of the sculpture. There are roughly 200 faces depicted within the monument, with the photos themselves sourced from the archives of the Museum of the National Liberation in Maribor.

Photo 8: "Big Stratified Shape" by Tihec, Ljubljana, 1986

Status Maribor

This method of depicting photo-realistic human faces through metal lines of varying thickness within sculptures is a trademark of Tihec's personal style, as it can be seen in many of his works, most notably seen in the sculpture depicting Ivan Cankar located in front of the Cultural and Congress Centre in Ljubljana. Furthermore, the general abstract form of the monument is of a very similar style employed in other Tihec sculptures, such as his 1986 sculpture titled "Big Stratified Shape" in front of the Ljubljana World Trade Center (Photo 8).

Status and Condition:

This spomenik complex at Maribor is in excellent condition. It is extremely well maintained and landscaped, while also being visited by tens of thousands of people a year, simply by virtue of it being in the center of Maribor, but also because it is a very well honored memorial by the local community. In the short amount of time I spent there upon my most recent visit to the site in the spring of 2017, I witnessed significant numbers of tourists and city folk admiring it, discussing it together and thoughtfully reading its inscriptions. In fact, the monument has even developed the locally used nickname of 'Kodžak', in reference to the similarities the sculpture has to the bald head of TV character 'Kojak', played by actor Telly Savalas in the American crime drama of the same name. Yet interestingly, despite the monument's popularity, in 2005 plans were put forward by the city to move the structure to the nearby Square of General Rudolf Maister in order for an underground parking lot to be built beneath Freedom Square. However, these plans were soon abandoned due to public backlash.

Photo 9: A view of the Maribor Uprisings at Freedom Square, 2012

The monument is well publicized and advertised by the city as a cultural and historic attraction, while many regard the sculpture as one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. There is ample signage advertising and pointing people in the direction of the complex, while the monument itself contains a number of informative engravings which relate many historical aspects of the events which occurred in the city during WWII. However, the site lacks any multi-lingual informational or interpretive signs which might inform non-Slovenian speaking tourists the significance of the memorial. Yet, while the spomenik complex is, by all measures, well patronized, in a very good state and well taken care of by the city. In addition, the site is still used as a commemorative space, but interestingly, in recent times it has been used a space to conduct protests and popularly organized social events, such as the Maribor Uprisings (Photo 9) of 2012 and 2013.

Add Mar

Additional Sites in the Maribor Area:

This section explores additional Yugoslav-era historic, cultural and memorial sites around the vicinity of the city of Maribor, Slovenia that might be relevant to people already interested in Yugoslav monuments. Such sites that will be examined here are the the Monument to Boris Kidrič in Maribor, as well as the Monument at Volkmer's Crossing.

Volkmer's Crossing Monument:

On the morning of April 29th, 1941 at a small alleyway in the Maribor city center called Volkmer's Crossing (Volkmerjev prehod) between Gosposka Street and Grajski Square, a group of Slovene Partisans blew up two German vehicles with explosives. This action was Maribor's first move towards uprising by the Partisan resistance against occupation and oppression. This act of sabotage by the Partisans symbolically occurred just three days after Hitler's infamous visit to Maribor, which was his only sojourn into Yugoslavia. In 1975, a memorial sculpture was built at the location of the 1941 Partisan bombing (Photo 10). The work was created by native Maribor artist Branko Kocmut and the work is characterized by three carved granite fists pointing towards the sky in a manner of symbolic resistance. There is a gold-colored engraved inscription on the front of the monument which reads in English as: "Maribor communists and the SKOJ burned two German cars on April 29th, 1941, initiating the first rebellious action against Nazi occupiers".

Photo 10: A contemporary view of the monument site at Volkmer's Crossing in Maribor [source]

Kiric Maribor

Ceremonial events are still held here at this monument every April 29th to commemorate this historical event. The exact coordinates of this memorial site are N46°33'36.0", E15°38'49.9".

Boris Kidrič Monument:

Just across from the main train station in Maribor is a memorial sculpture which is dedicated to Slovene Partisan leader and organizer Boris Kidrič (Slides 1 - 3). Raised in a small village east of Maribor, Kidrič was a student of socialism even at a young age. Even at the age of 17 he was sent to prison in Maribor for communist activities. In the 1930s he became involved with the Communist Party of Slovenia and when Nazi occupation began in 1941, Kidrič was one of the primary organizers of Slovenia's resistance forces. After 1945 and the establishment of Yugoslavia, he was appointed as the first president of the government of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. Upon the death of Kidrič in 1953, the square in front of the train station, which was formerly called Zrinjski Square, was renamed as Boris Kidrič Square (Trg Borisa Kidriča). Then, when the 10 year anniversary of the death of Kidrič arrived in 1963, a memorial sculpture was built in his honor by Slovene sculptor Stojan Batič.

Boris Kidrič Monument

1/7

Boris Kidrič Monument - Slideshow

The arrangement of this monument is a set of bronze figures in a circle at the base of the sculpture holding up eight poles, in the middle of which is suspended a huge roughly hewn rectangular stone block with the face of Boris Kidrič carved into the front of it. The whole work stands at a height of roughly 10m tall. Historical photos of the monument can be seen in Slides 4 - 7. The Boris Kidrič Monument (Spomenik Borisu Kidriču) at Boris Kidrič Square is located along Partisan Road (Partizanska cesta), with the exact coordinates for it being N46°33'42.8", E15°39'23.8".

Railway

Monument to Fallen Railway Workers:

In front of the Maribor Train Station (just across the street from the formerly mentioned Boris Kidrič Monument) is situated an often overlooked memorial sculpture that is dedicated to the fallen railway workers who perished during WWII (Photo 11). During the war, railway workers were one of the many groups who volunteered in great numbers for the Partisan movement and sources relate that exactly 39 railway workers from the Maribor station died during the course of this struggle against fascist occupation. Unveiled on April 14th, 1962 to a crowd of over 2,000 people, this work was created by Slavko Tihec [profile page], whom himself came from a family of railway workers. The monument consists of three thin metal fins roughly 6m tall that all connect at the mid-section. These fins represent train lines and the connection is meant to illustrate their crossing-point, all combining into an arrangement meant to symbolize the ultimate struggle and sacrifice of railway workers united against oppression.

Photo 11: Monument to Fallen Railway Workers in Maribor [source]

Forma Viva

While this monument currently sits in good condition and appears well maintained, I was not able to find any information indicating that commemorative events are still held here. The exact coordinates for this monument site are 46°33'44.0"N, 15°39'27.6"E.

And Additional Sites of Interest:

Maribor National Liberation Museum: Located in the city center of Maribor is the National Liberation Museum, which is housed in a 1890s era villa and was established in May of 1958. The institution contains many exhibits about the 19th and 20th century history of the NE Slovenian region, as well as information about the region's WWII/NOB history and heritage. The official website of the museum can be found at THIS link, while its exact coordinates are N46°33'45.9", E15°38'52.8".

Photo 11: The Forma Viva work at Mestni Park by Slavko Tihec

IMG_4374_maribor_mestni_park_skuptura_kr

Slavko Tihec's Forma Viva sculpture at Mestni Park: Situated within Mestni Park in Maribor, just north of the city center, is a sculptural work by Slavko Tihec (the creator of the Liberation Monument) which is titled "Rolled Up Ball" (Zakotaljena krogla) (Photo 11). This work, which was created in 1973 as part of the Yugoslav-era 'Forma Viva' public art project in Maribor, is composed of a roughly 3m tall concrete sphere with elaborate geometric texturing. For a listing of the dozens of other Forma Viva works in Maribor, see THIS link. The exact coordinates for this sculpture by Tihec are N46°33'50.9", E15°38'55.2".
Maribor Hostages Memorial: On the west wall of the Maribor Higher Court building is a large plaque that bears the names of the 661 people who were killed while being held at this building as hostages by the German Wehrmacht occupiers during WWII. This monument, designed by local Maribor architect Jaroslav Černigoj, is in good condition and is regularly commemorated. A photo of the monument, along with more info about it, can be found at THIS link, while its exact coordinates are N46°33'30.0", E15°39'05.6".

Monument to Fallen Atheletes: Placed in front of the Ljudski Vrt football stadium just a few hundred meters northwest of the city center of Maribor is the monument dedicated to the memory of fallen sports players who perished during WWII (Photo 12). This work was unveiled in 1983 and was created by Slovene sculptor Viktor Gojkovič, along with architect Bogdan Reichenberg. The circular pedestal of the monument contains the names of over 45 athletes who were members of the Slovenian Sports Association of Maribor. The memorial sculpture itself consists of a flat bronze metal female figure who appears to be diving into the air. Stacked versions of the form impart the impression of movement through space. The work is in good condition and is regularly commemorated. The exact coordinates of this work are N46°33'49.0", E15°38'24.5".

Photo 12: Photo of the Monument to Fallen Athletes: Credit: Ano Nimni

Northern

Photo 13: Monument to the Fighters of the Northern Border

Monument to the Fighters of the Northern Border: Situated within Mestni Park at the northern edge of Maribor is a WWI memorial sculpture that is titled "Monument to the Fighters of the Northern Border" (Photo 13). Created in 1958 by Slovene sculptor Drago Tršar [profile page], this work consists of a thick stone slab standing on the green lawn of the park. The south facing side of the slab carved to show a scene of armed Slovene fighters with famous commander Rudolf Maister at the center (with the mustache), who was integral in securing Maribor in November of 1918 as part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia during the final days of WWI. This monument's creation in 1958 marked the 40th anniversary of this event. On the north side of this slab is an inscription referencing these events. The exact coordinates of this work are N46°33'47.1", E15°38'54.0".

Monument to Miloš Zidanšek in Maribor: On the south side of the Drava River in front of the 2nd Gymnasium of Maribor, sitting within the greenspace of Miloš Zidanšek Square, is the Monument to Miloš Zidanšek (Photo 14). This work, which stands as a roughly 5m tall concrete abstract sculpture, was created in 1970 by Slovene sculptor Vlasta Zorko (wife of sculptor Slavko Tihec [profile page]) as part of the city's Forma Viva sculpture symposium [more info HERE]. Her expressive memorial sculpture is dedicated to Miloš Zidanšek, who was a Slovene Partisan fighter and commander who perished in 1942 during WWII and was subsequently designated as a National Hero by the government of Yugoslavia in 1951. The memorial sits in good condition and is well maintained by the city. The exact coordinates of this work are N46°32'57.3", E15°38'41.2".

Photo 14: Monument to Miloš Zidanšek in Maribor [source]

Direct Maribor

Forma Viva, Maribor, Slovenia-3 [Janez Boklja, The Atomic Age, 1973] (mariborart.si) at Pr

Photo 15: The "The Atomic Age" by Janez Boljka [source]

"The Atomic Age" Sculpture in Maribor: Right within the city center of Maribor, just across from Rakušev Trg, is the impressive sculpture titled "Atomska doba/The Atomic Age" (Photo 15). Hung between the 3rd & 5th floors of the brutalist "Jemčev Vrt" residential building at Prešernova Ulica 10a [architect Borut Pečenko, 1972-1975], the sculpture was completed in 1973 by Slovene sculptor Janez Boljka and was installed as part of that year's Forma Viva Sculpture Symposium in Maribor. At roughly 9m x 5m, the concrete sculpture depicts what is a sort of molecular arrangement of atomic spheres and rods that dramaticly protrude outwards almost 2m from the facade of the building. It is certainly among the most exciting of all of Maribor's Forma Viva works. The exact coorinates for this site are N46°33'44.4", E15°39'06.6".

Directions:

Finding the Liberation Monument in Maribor is a relatively easy endeavor. The spomenik complex where it is located is set right at Maribor's city center. It lies just north of Slovenksa Ulica, in the center of Freedom Square (Trg Svobode), just in front of Maribor Castle (Grad Maribor). Parking can be made anywhere nearby that is convenient for you, which, depending on current traffic conditions, may be easy or difficult. I would suggest around the perimeter of Memorial Park Josipa Jurčiča, just north of Freedom Square. Coordinates for it are N46°33'42.0", E15°38'57.4". See a good look at the spomenik location with Google StreetView here.

Click to open in Google Maps in new window

Historica Maribor

Historical Images:

Maribor spomenik (1980s)

A historic view from 1980s era of the monument at the spomenik complex in Maribor, Slovenia.

Maribor spomenik (1980s)

A historic view from 1980s era of the monument at the spomenik complex in Maribor, Slovenia.

Maribor spomenik (1980s)

A historic view from 1980s era of the monument at the spomenik complex in Maribor, Slovenia.

Maribor spomenik (1980s)

A historic view from 1980s era of the monument at the spomenik complex in Maribor, Slovenia.

1/9

Slideshow

Selected Sources and More Information:

-Slovenian Wiki article: "Spomenik osvoboditve, Maribor"

-English Wiki article: "Slovene Lands in World War II"

-English Wiki article: "Maribor"

-Symbols of Recent History article: "MARIBOR - Monument NOB"

-Slovenia.info article: "NOB (National Liberation) monument"

-Milan Filipčič book: "Bili so uporni: zaprti, izgnani, ubiti na suženjskem delu"

-Večer article: "Pritegnil, osvojil in preživel čas"

-Erik Vodenik paper: "Maribor EPK 2012: Hiša kulture na Trgu svobode" [PDF]

-Maribor 24 article: "FOTO: V Ljubljani oskrunili spomenike NOB, katere spomenike imamo v Mariboru?"

-"Dialogi" magazine: "Spomenik NOB v Mariboru" [PDF]

Comments:

Please feel free to leave a message if you have any comments, if you have any questions, if you have corrections or if you have any additional information or insight you feel might be appropriate or pertinent to this spomenik's profile page.