Deportation of Slovenes to Serbia During the Second World War

Did this have to happen? To make Lower Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola German again, Hitler organized the deportation of racially unclean and politically suspicious elements in May 1941. The goal was to emigrate the entire Slovenian intelligentsia, as well as those who had signs of someone else's blood. About 6,500 Slovenes and maybe more, were deported by train in three groups to Serbia. Refugee centres have been set up in almost every city or town. The Serbian population received them nicely, but the lack of food, beds and material resources for their basic existence made their stay difficult. Although there were many educated people among the deportees, they could not find employment and during the employment, they had to submit a confirmation that no one in the family was Jewish or Roma. The children of the deported Slovenes continued their education in Serbian schools, but during the classes, they had organized Slovene language classes. The difficult years of the war were spent in uncertainty, poverty and a constant desire to return to their homeland. After the end of the Second World War, many Slovenes returned home. That was the end of their forced deportation.