Battle of Turjak Castle

Battle of Turjak Castle
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia
Taken in 1907
Date 19 September 1943 Location Turjak Castle, Lower Carniola, Slovenia 45°52′36″N 14°36′28″E / 45.8767°N 14.6079°E / 45.8767; 14.6079Coordinates: 45°52′36″N 14°36′28″E / 45.8767°N 14.6079°E / 45.8767; 14.6079 Result Partisan victory
Belligerents
Slovene Partisans	Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia
Strength
Prešeren Brigade	Several
Casualties and losses
unknown	500 taken prisoner

The Battle of Turjak Castle (Slovene: bitka za Turjak) on 19 September 1943 was an encounter between the Slovene Partisans who were the armed wing of the pro-Allies Liberation Front of the Slovene People, against the pro-Axis Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia, during the latter half of World War II.^[1]

During September and October 1943 the capitulation of Italian forces in Yugoslavia led to a rise in partisan activities as the partisans claimed back lands and seized weapons.^[2] One such incident was when the Prešeren Brigade seized the castle from the Militia's sentries, capturing 500 enemy soldiers and wrecking most of the castle. It took five days for the partisans to seize the whole castle, but amongst the prisoners were a number of high-ranking officers who would later face trial.^[2]

Location and layout

The castle sits in a triangular shape above the village with its east side facing downwards. At each of the three corners there are fighting towers, with two of then facing west^[3] towards the village on the hill. Between the towers were residential spaces and troop quarters.^[4]

The castle is first mentioned in history books in 1220, but historians estimate that it was built in the 10th or 11th century. An earthquake in 1511 led to its reconstruction into the form it took during the battle. The damage sustained in 1943 is still being repaired to this day.

Footnotes

References

• Tomasevich, Jozo (2001). War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: Occupation and Collaboration. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3615-2.