TIGR

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TIGR is also an acronym for The Institute for Genomic Research

TIGR, abbreviation for Trst (Trieste), Istra (Istria), Gorica (Gorizia) and Reka (Rijeka (Fiume)), was the first antifascist national-defensive organization in Europe, consisting of Slovenians in Slovenian region of Primorje (Primorski Slovenci). It was active between 1927 and 1941. Many members of this organization were connected with Yugoslavian and British intelligence services and many of them were military trained. The organization wasn't invited to join the OF (Liberty front) of the Slovenian nation in 1941, but many members of TIGR later in 1943, after the capitulation of Italy, joined Slovenian partisan's brigades, specially the Oversea brigades (Prekomorske brigade).

In 1930 the Italian fascist police discovered some TIGR's cells and four members (Ferdo Bidovec, Fran Marušič, Zvonimir Miloš and Alojzij Valenčič) were sentenced and executed at Bazovica (Basovizza). When Mussolini visited Kobarid (Caporetto) in 1938, some members of TIGR planned an attempt on his life, which did not succeed. In 1941 nine members of TIGR were condemned for war-espionage and terrorism, five of them (Pinko Tomažič, Viktor Bobek, Ivan Ivančič, Simon Kos and Ivan Vadnal) were also executed in Villa Opicina (Opčine). Although the organization stopped to operate later, the Communist Party of Slovenia (KPS) constantly very carefully monitored over the actions of some of TIGR's individual members.

In 1997 on a behalf of the 50th anniversary of annexation of Primorje to the mainlaind of Slovenia, the organization TIGR was awarded by the president of Slovenia Milan Kučan the Golden Honourable Mark of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia (Zlati častni znak svobode republike Slovenije).