Between Myth and Truth

One of the most important events that took place in Slovenia during the Second World War was undoubtedly the Battle of Dražgoše, fought in January 1942 between the Partisan Cankar Battalion and the German occupying forces. Whereas the course and aftermath of the battle itself have never been disputed, a few important details related to it have for decades remained the subject of debate. Based on the analysis of the most influential historiographical works on the Battle of Dražgoše, the article will demonstrate how the knowledge about the battle—primarily regarding the questions of what German units participated in it and what losses they suffered—has changed over decades as well as how historiographical works also began to be used for political purposes. The aim of the article is to show the importance of (military and war) historiography for the constant striving to find the truth about historical events, regardless of the mythological aura around them.