VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA MILITARY HISTORY

Številka/Number 1 (17), Letnik/Volume 11/2010 VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA MILITARY HISTORY

Številka/Number 1 (17), Letnik/Volume 11/2010

MILITARY HISTORY • 1 128 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA Vojaška prisega slovenskih upornikov, prostovoljcev in vojakov

Military Oath of Slovenian Insurgents, Volunteers and Soldiers • M a r i j an F. Kranj c generalmajor v pokoju

Kratek vojaškozgodovinski opis A brief military and historical description Prisega, predvsem vojaška, je obvezno slo- An oath, particularly a military oath, is an ob- vesno dejanje vsakega vojaka in častnika ob ligatory solemn (formal) act taken by every soldier sprejetju (vstopu) v vojsko, ki izraža zlasti zve- and officer at enlistment and expresses loyalty (to stobo (domovini, vladarju, poveljniku). Zato the homeland, the ruler, the commander). For this imajo prisege poleg simbolične (zunanje, jav- reason, oaths, in addition to their symbolic mean- ne) tudi t. i. notranjo podobo, ki se izraža kot ing (external, public), also have an inner meaning moralna (politično-ideološka), pravna (kazen- expressed as a moral (political and ideological), sko-disciplinska) in še kakšna zaveza (pisna legal (criminal and disciplinary) and some other ali ustna) in pomen (tajna, krvna, navidezna commitment (written or oral) and meaning (secret, in podobno). Seveda so tudi izjeme. blood, virtual and similar). Of course, there are also Ko sem zbiral podatke za knjigo Slovenska exceptions. vojaška inteligenca (Grosuplje, 2005), sem na- As I was collecting data for the book Slovenska letel na zanimive primerke vojaške prisege slo- vojaška inteligenca (‘Slovenian Military Intelligence’, venskih (kmečkih) upornikov, prostovoljcev, Grosuplje, 2005), I came upon interesting examples predvsem pa vojakov, ki so zvesto služili voj- of military oaths taken by Slovenian (peasant) in- sko različnim cesarjem, kraljem, fürerjem in surgents, volunteers and particularly soldiers who maršalom. Prisegali so pred križem in Bogom, had loyally served under various emperors, kings, pred mečem in tujo (nacistično) zastavo, pred fuehrers and marshals. They swore before the cross slovensko in internacionalno (sovjetsko, špan- and God, before the sword and a foreign (Nazi) flag, sko) zastavo, nazadnje pa prisegli tudi DOMO- before Slovenian and international (Soviet, Spanish) VINI kot pripadniki Slovenske vojske. flags in order to finally be able to swear to their Od osamosvojitvene vojne junija 1991 smo HOMELAND as members of the Slovenian Armed brali številna novinarska poročila o tem slo- Forces. vesnem dejanju, ki je, tako pravijo, enkratno From the Slovenian Independence War in June v življenju vsakega državljana (vojaka). Takole 1991 onwards we have been reading numerous jour- je novinarka Marjeta Borštnik aprila 2002 po- nalistic reports on this solemn act which is, as is ročala z Vrhnike: said, a unique act in the life of every citizen (soldier). Marjeta Borštnik reported from Vrhnika in April Slovesna zaprisega vojakov 2002: V torek, 30. aprila, je na Vrhniki, na nogo- metnem igrišču pri OŠ Ivana Cankarja, po- “Soldiers’ Solemn Oath tekala slovesna zaprisega vojakov. Zvestobo The soldiers’ solemn oath took place on Tuesday, domovini je zapriseglo 400 vojakov vrhniške 30 April, in Vrhnika, on the soccer field of the Ivan vojašnice, 352. UBP… Slovesnosti se je med Cankar Primary School. Four hundred soldiers

MILITARY HISTORY • 129 from the Vrhnika Military Post, the 352nd Infantry Training Battalion and others swore loyalty to their homeland. Among other guests, the ceremony was attended by ..., while the guest of honour was Frigate Captain Ljubo Poles, Commander of the 52nd Brigade, part of which is also the 352nd Infantry Training Battalion. The head of the ceremony was Major Ljubo Pajič while the commander of the ceremony was the Commander of the 352nd Infantry Training Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Marko Preložnik. In line with protocol, the ceremony was also attended by the Company of Honour of the Slovenian Armed Forces. Visitors saw and heard a performance given by the Military Wind Orchestra. The ceremony was attended by a large number of people – parents, rela- tives, friends, acquaintances and others.”

Article 49 of the Defence Act of the Republic of Slovenia (the oath) states that whoever first begins military service must take the following oath:

“I solemnly swear that I will defend the independ- ence, sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity Diploma o prisegi v teritorialni obrambi Slovenije. of my homeland, the Republic of Slovenia, and to Slovenian Territorial Defence oath certificate. conscientiously and responsibly perform my duties for its defence.” drugimi gosti udeležil tudi …, slavnostni gost pa je bil kapitan fregate Ljubo Poles, povelj- Why the journalistic “soldiers’ solemn oath” or nik 52. brigade, katere del je 352. UBP. Vodja just a (solemn) “oath” officially? The Dictionary of slovesnosti je bil major Ljubo Pajič, poveljnik Slovene Literary Language (SSKJ, Ljubljana, 2003) slovesnosti pa poveljnik 352. UBP, podpolkov- does not list this phrase, as the word oath/swearing- nik Marko Preložnik. Kot določa protokol, se in is generally used in the “swearing-in of witness- je slovesnosti udeležila tudi častna četa slo- es” in court, except in the meaning of “the soldiers venske vojske, zaigral je tudi vojaški pihalni have already been sworn”. The same dictionary only orkester. Slovesnosti se je udeležilo zelo veliko lists the “oath to the homeland”, while the internet ljudi – staršev, sorodnikov, prijateljev in znan- dictionary offers “military oath”, the old-fashioned cev …« form “military pledge” and even “military vow” which is better suited for a priestly (monastic) vow. Zakon o obrambi RS namreč v 49. členu The Military Dictionary (Ljubljana, 2002) also does (prisega) določa: kdor prvič nastopi vojaško not list the word “oath”, but it does list a “solemn službo, mora dati prisego, ki se glasi: oath”, a “military oath” and a “military pledge”. The Encyclopaedia of War (Belgrade, 1967), pages 325- »Slovesno prisegam, da bom branil samo- 326, lists only “solemn oath” or “military oath” (Slo. stojnost, neodvisnost, svobodo in ozemeljsko vojaška prisega, Fr. terment militaire, Ital. giuramen- celovitost svoje domovine Republike Slovenije to militare, Ger. Fahneneid, Rus. voeniaja prisjaga). ter vestno in odgovorno izvrševal dolžnosti SSKJ therefore does not include the phrase “sol- pri njeni obrambi.« emn oath” but only a “solemn pledge” or in simpler terms a “military oath”. Similarly, this is recom- Zakaj novinarska »slovesna zaprisega vo- mended by the Military Dictionary. Military “offi- jakov« oz. uradno samo (slovesna) »prisega«? cials” in the MoD have done things their own way. I Slovar SSKJ (Ljubljana, 2003) te besedne zve- suggest we stay with the term “military oath”. ze ne pozna, ker gre predvsem za »zaprisego If we agree with the (official) opinion that priče« pred sodiščem, razen v pomenu »vojaki Slovenian military tradition reaches all the way back

130 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA so že zapriseženi«. Isti slovar vsebuje le »prise- to Carinthia, then the oath taken by the Dukes of go domovini«, internetni pa »vojaško prisego«, Carinthia (also military leaders) acquires a symbolic zastarelo obliko »vojaška zakletev«, pa celo meaning as well. This oath is first mentioned in 630 »vojaško zaobljubo«, ki bolj ustreza duhovni- AD, when Duke Valuk took an oath at the Prince’s ški (redovniški) zaobljubi. Tudi Vojaški slovar Stone. Based on accounts, this is more of a judicial (Ljubljana, 2002) ne pozna »zaprisege«, navaja oath (“Juramentum Sclouonicum”), although I do pa »slovesno prisego«, prav tako pa še »voja- not doubt that soldiers also gave military oaths to the ško« prisego in »vojaško zakletev«. V Vojni en- Duke of Carinthia. I did not find any written records ciklopediji (Beograd, 1967) je na str. 325–326 and sources on this topic, not even in the pages of samo: »slovesna zaobljuba ali vojaška prisega« various patriotic societies and associations, such as (ang. military oath, fr. terment militaire, ital. Hervardi, Črni panterji (Black Panthers) and others. giuramento militare, nem. Fahneneid, rus. vo- Since Slovenian soldiers served in non-native ar- eniaja prisjaga). mies or, as insurgents and volunteers, fought against V SSKJ torej ni »slovesne prisege«, temveč foreign armies, it is interesting to make a sort of a je le »slovesna zaobljuba« ali pa bolj preprosto military and historical description of when, to whom, »vojaška prisega«. Podobno priporoča Vojaški in what numbers and on which occasions these sol- slovar. Vojaški »uradniki« na Mors so pač na- diers took oaths, and what would the consequences redili po svoje! Predlagam, da ostanemo pri of not fulfilling the taken military oaths be. »vojaški prisegi« … All of us who have had to take a military oath Če pritrdimo mnenju, tudi uradnemu, da have committed to sacrificing our lives for the wel- slovenska vojaška tradicija sega vse do Ka- fare of our homeland. We were also aware of the fact rantanije, je vsekakor simboličnega pomena that breaking the military oath in war time would tudi prisega karantanskih knezov (hkrati tudi result in the penalty of death. However, we were not vojskovodij), ki se prvič omenja leta 630 ob familiar with the examples of collective punishments prisegi kneza Valuka pri knežjem kamnu. Po carried out by commanders. Commanders of Roman opisih sodeč gre bolj za nekakšno sodno zaob- legions, in the event the legion withdrew from the ljubo (»Juramentum Sclouonicum«), čeprav ne combat line, beheaded every tenth soldier after the dvomim o tem, da so vojščaki karantanskemu battle. It is said that after such an exemplary pun- knezu prisegli tudi vojaško. Zapisov in virov ishment the legion never again retreated from the o tem nisem našel, niti na straneh različnih battlefield but fought to the last man. Personally, I domoljubnih društev in združenj, kot so Her- was most shocked by the decision of a Serbian com- vardi, Črni panterji in podobni. mander in the First Balkan War in 1912 when he Ker so slovenski vojščaki služili v tujih voj- ordered the entire infantry regiment shot after the skah ali pa so se kot uporniki in prostovoljci battle for withdrawing from enemy attack. bojevali proti njim, je vsekakor zanimivo na- rediti nekakšen vojaškozgodovinski opis, kdaj Peasant Insurgents (1515) in komu so prisegali, v kolikšnem številu in ob katerih priložnostih, pa tudi kakšne bi bile po- I find it acceptable to include peasant insurgents sledice, če dane vojaške prisege ne bi izpolnili. who were armed and fought in groups similar to Vsi, ki smo opravili vojaško prisego, smo se military troops and had their own leaders – com- morali namreč tudi obvezati, da bomo žrtvo- manders (Matija Gubec and others) among soldiers, vali življenje za dobro svoje domovine. Vedeli as they set out to “declare war on the noblemen”. smo tudi, da nas v vojnem obdobju čaka smr- Along with the outward symbols they bore in battles tna kazen, če bi prelomili vojaško prisego. Ni- (flags, crosses and similar), they also had to take an smo pa poznali primerov skupinskih kazni, ki oath. According to some sources (Slovenian lands in so jih izvrševali poveljniki. Tako je poveljnik the 15th and 16th centuries, the internet), the oath of rimske legije, če je legija odstopila z bojne črte, peasant insurgents who entered the Peasant Union po boju obglavil vsakega desetega vojščaka. was worded as follows: Po takšni svarilni kazni menda legija ni nikoli več odstopila z bojišča, temveč se je bojevala “By this sword I swear, in the presence of the Trinity do zadnjega moža! Najbolj pa me je presunila and God’s holy anger, to enter the Peasant Union. I odločitev srbskega poveljnika v prvi balkanski will not give any money, socage or crops to the noble- vojni leta 1912. Po bitki je ukazal postreliti men, only the emperor’s tax. When brought news by

MILITARY HISTORY • 131 celoten pehotni polk, ki se je umaknil pred na- padom sovražnika!

Kmečki uporniki – puntarji (1515) Zdi se mi sprejemljivo, da tudi kmečke upornike (puntarje), ki so bili oboroženi in so se bojevali v skupinah, podobnih vojaškim, ter so imeli svoje vodje – poveljnike (Matija Gubec in drugi), štejemo k vojakom, saj so se nameni- li v »vojsko nad gospodo«. Poleg zunanjih sim- bolov, ki so jih nosili v bojih (zastave, križi in podobno), so tudi prisegali. Po nekaterih virih (Slovenske dežele v 15. in 16. stoletju, splet) se je prisega kmetov – puntarjev ob vstopu v Kmečko zvezo glasila takole:

»Pred troedinim bogom in sveto Božjo jezo prisegam pri tem meču, da stopam v Kmečko zvezo. Gospodi ne priznam nobenega denarja, ne tlake in ne bere, le davek za cesarja. Za sta- ro pravdo in puntarsko svobodo, ko sel mi glas prinese, bom šel v vojsko nad gospodo.«

Iz te prisege nedvomno izhaja, da se naši kmečki predniki – puntarji niso bojevali proti državi in cesarju, temveč proti lokalnim mo- gočnežem (graščakom), h katerim so morali The first Slovenian language oath – to Napoleon, 1811 na tlako in jim dajati bero. Šlo pa je vsekakor (ARS, Ortnek Manor Archives, No. 764, fascicle 31) za pravičen upor in boj, ker so bili tudi cilji zelo jasni – boj za staro pravdo (priznane pra- vice), in kar je za nas posebno zanimivo, tudi the messenger, I will rise and fight against the noble- boj za »puntarsko« svobodo. To je tudi pome- men for old justice and the insurgents’ freedom.” nilo, da se je izročilo prenašalo tudi na priho- dnje rodove, saj se sicer ne bi uprli zavojeval- The mentioned oath undoubtedly shows that our cem, okupatorju. peasant ancestors (insurgents) did not fight against the country and emperor but local persons in power Ilirski polk francoske vojske (1811) (lords of castles) for whom they had to perform so- cage service and to whom they had to give a portion Francoska zasedba in ustanovitev Ilirskih of their crops. This was by all means a just revolt and provinc je imela tudi pozitivne učinke, kar je fight whose objectives were just as clear: fight for old bolj ali manj znano iz leksikonov in splošne justice (the granted rights) and, what is of special zgodovine. Manj pa je znano, da so kranjski interest to us, fight for the freedom of “insurgents”. vojaki pred vstopom v »ilirski polk« prisegali This tradition must have been passed on to the fol- v slovenskem jeziku, in to, da je bilo v ome- lowing generations; otherwise, people would later njenem polku tudi nekaj častnikov in podča- not have resisted the invaders, the occupier. stnikov iz Ilirskih provinc, ki so vojakom v tej enoviti slovenski enoti verjetno poveljevali v “jeziku dežele”, v slovenščini. Illyrian Regiment of the French Army (1811) Ob genealoških raziskavah rodovine An- dolšek – Andoljšek sem v Arhivu Slovenije French occupation and the establishment of the podrobno pregledal graščinske arhive in ur- Illyrian Provinces also had positive effects, which barje, predvsem ribniške, ortneške in turjaške are more or less known from various lexicons and

132 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA general history. It is, however, less known that Carniolan soldiers, before entering the “Illyrian regi- ment”, swore allegiance in the Slovenian language and that the mentioned regiment included several of- ficers and non-commissioned officers from Illyrian Provinces who probably commanded the soldiers in this homogeneous Slovenian unit in the “language of the land”, that is in the Slovenian language. When conducting genealogical research of the Andolšek – Andoljšek family, I thoroughly examined the castle archives and land registers in the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, in particular documents of the Ribnica, Ortnek and Turjak noblemen. I was most pleased when, along with other files from the Ortnek castle archives, I found a military and a police file. It was also a pleasant surprise to come upon a handwritten military oath in the Slovenian language from the time of the Illyrian Provinces in 1811. The attached photocopy of a military oath to the French Emperor Napoleon, dated 13 August 1811, from the Sodražica recruiting area (ARS - Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Ortnek Manor Archives, No. 764, Written documents-fascicle 31) contains the first military oath in the Slovenian language:

“Jest persheshem podloshnost tem postavam tega Prva prisega v slovenskem jeziku – Napoleonu, 1811 zessarstva, inu Svestoba Zessarjou.” (AS. Arhiv graščine Ortnek. Štev. 764, fasc. 31) English translation: “I swear obedience to the laws of this empire and gosposke. Najbolj sem bil vesel, ko sem v or- loyalty to the Emperor.” tneškem graščinskem arhivu poleg drugih Illiterate recruits signed with an “x”. našel tudi vojaški in policijski dosje. Prijetno Among them was Andres ANDOLSHEG (Andrej pa sem bil presenečen, ko sem našel rokopis Andolšek), born on 15 January 1784 at Schukou, vojaške prisege v slovenskem jeziku iz obdobja house no. 1 (Žukovo, above Velike Poljane), who re- Ilirskih provinc 1811. turned safely from Russia and married Neža Prijatelj Iz priložene fotokopije protokola vojaške from Vrh, house no. 1. It is not known when exactly prisege francoskemu cesarju Napoleonu z dne he returned from the Russian expedition but judging 13. 8. 1811 v nabornem okolišu Sodražica (AS, by the births of his two children (Neža, 29 October Arhiv graščine Ortnek, štev. 764, Spisi–fasc. 1813, and Marija, 23 January 1816) it was probably 31) je razvidna tudi prva vojaška prisega v slo- in the beginning of 1813. venskem jeziku, in sicer: It is interesting to mention that some recruits (I have only been tracking those with the last name “Jest persheshem podloshnost tem postavam Andolšek) did not report to the recruiting board tega zessarstva, inu Svestoba Zessarjou.” the following year (1812). By lucky coincidence I have discovered that many young men from this Nepismeni naborniki so namesto podpisa list, including the Andolšek boys, left their homes na dokumentu naredili križec. and probably illegally moved to places outside the Tudi Andres ANDOLSHEG (Andrej Andol- Illyrian Provinces. The first was Gregor Andolšek šek), rojen 15. 1. 1784 na Schukou 1 (Žukovo, from Velike Poljane, house no. 9, who, together with nad Velikimi Poljanami), ki se je iz Rusije sreč- his wife Neža Peterlin who was from the same vil- no vrnil domov in se poročil z Nežo Prijatelj lage, left for the village Češnjevek, house no. 19,

MILITARY HISTORY • 133 iz Vrha 1. Kdaj se je vrnil z ruskega pohoda, by Trebnje as early as 1810. The second “deserter” ni natančno znano, toda iz podatkov o rojstvu was Andrej’s brother Štefan, from Žukovo, born on dveh otrok (Neže 29. 10. 1813 in Marije 23. 1. 16 November 1788, who married Marija Duller 1816) lahko sklepamo, da je bilo to v začetku from Češnjevek, house no. 13, on 15 May 1811 and leta 1813. moved to live with her. Štefan was already on the Zanimivo je tudi, da se nekateri naborniki list for the 1811 recruitment year, but he avoided (sledil sem samo tistim s priimkom Andolšek) military duty in the French Army by marriage. He leto pozneje (1812) niso več oglasili naborni was followed by his younger brother Johan, born komisiji. Po srečnem naključju sem odkril, da on 25 August 1793, who left Žukovo in 1812 and so številni mladeniči s tega seznama, med nji- married Ana Krašovec from Sevnica, house no. mi tudi Andolškovi fantje, zapustili domačije 131. Similar was done by the Andolšek ancestors in verjetno ilegalno odšli v kraje zunaj Ilirskih from Boštanj. They all had a reason for leaving the provinc. Prvi je to storil Gregor Andolšek iz Ve- Illyrian Provinces and thus became the first mili- likih Poljan 9 in skupaj z ženo Nežo Peterlin tary deserters from this area. iz iste vasi že 1810 “odšel” v vasico Češnjevek 19 pri Trebnjem. Kot drugi je “dezertiral” An- Volunteers in Guerrilla Detachments (in drejev brat Štefan iz Žukovega, rojen 16. 11. Serbia, 1903) 1788, ki se je 15. 5. 1811 priženil k Mariji Dul- ler v Češnjevek štev. 13. Bil je namreč že na Presumably, a military oath in Serbia was already seznamu za naborno leto 1811, vendar se je referred to at the time of Emperor Dušan in 1334 and tako izognil obveznosti v francoski vojski. Sle- continued to be mentioned until the establishment of dil mu je mlajši brat Johan, rojen 25. 8. 1793, the regular Serbian Army in 1836. The subject mat- ki je 1812 zapustil Žukovo in se poročil z Ano ter of the oath of course differed based on whether it Krašovec v Sevnico 131. Podobno so storili was given to princes, captains of bands of bandits or Andolškovi predniki iz Boštanja. Prav vsi so dukes of guerrilla insurgents. However, it was always že vedeli, zakaj so zapustili Ilirske province. taken in the presence of an Orthodox priest (Prota), Tako smo dobili tudi prve vojaške dezerterje iz with the left hand placed on the bible and the right Ilirskih provinc. hand holding up three fingers, swearing loyalty to the prince, the duke and the homeland, Serbia. Prostovoljci četniških odredov Slovenian volunteers who were accepted in guer- (v Srbiji, 1903) rilla volunteer detachments (“Dobrovoljci”) took the same oath. The ceremony was conducted by an Vojaška prisega v Srbiji je menda omenjana Orthodox priest; also present was the commander of že v obdobju cesarja Dušana leta 1334 pa vse the guerrilla detachment. A white tablecloth was laid do ustanovitve redne srbske vojske leta 1836. on the table in the middle of the room. The table held Vsebina se je seveda razlikovala glede na to, a bible, silver cross on the right side and crossed re- ali so prisegali knezi, hajduški harambaše ali volver and dagger (Kama) on the left side. The mas- vojvode četniških upornikov. Vedno pa so jo ter of the house brought a loaf of bread and set it on izrekali v navzočnosti pravoslavnega duhovni- the upper side of the bible. A priest began praying ka (prote), z levo roko na evangeliju in s tremi and invited the persons present to put three fingers dvignjenimi prsti desnice za zvestobo knezu, on the bible or silver cross. All the others placed three vojvodi in domovini, Srbiji. fingers on the shoulders of their comrades. Then the Slovenski prostovoljci, sprejeti v četniške priest (Prota) pronounced the oath loudly, while »dobrovoljske odrede«, so prisegali enako. Ce- those present repeated after him: remonial je vodil pravoslavni duhovnik, nav- zoč je bil tudi poveljnik četniškega odreda. Na “Vo imja Oca i Sina i Svjatoga Duha, amin! Ja, sredi sobe so mizo pregrnili z belim prtom. (ime i prezime), zakljinjem se u Gospoda Boga i Nanjo so položili evangelij, na desno stran Gospoda Sina Isusa Hrista i Gospoda Duha Svetoga, srebrn križ, na levo pa prekrižana revolver in zaklinjem se u hleb ovaj i revolver da ću tačno bodalo (kamo). Gospodar je prinesel hlebec i savesno i bezuslovno ispunjavati sve naredbe kruha in ga postavil na zgornjo stran evange- Centralnog odbora koje mi se budu dale, a koje idu lija. Duhovnik je začel molitev, potem je nav- u korist našeg oslobođenja i ujedinjenja sa majkom zoče pozval, naj tri sklenjene prste položijo Srbijom, a pod upravom odbora. Ako bi se namerno

134 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA na evangelij ali pa srebrni križ. Vsi drugi so ogrešio o datu zakletvu da me Bog, krst, ime, slava položili tri prste na ramena svojih tovarišev. i hleb kazne, a nož i revolver kaznu izvrše. Amin!” Duhovnik (prota) je glasno izgovarjal prisego, Everyone crossed themselves, kissed the bible, sil- navzoči pa so jo glasno ponavljali: ver cross and crossed revolver and dagger (Kama). The Serbian guerrillas were joined by about ten »Vo imja Oca i Sina i Svjatoga Duha, amin! Ja, Slovenian volunteers who also took the oath. This (ime i prezime), zakljinjem se u Gospoda Boga is the English translation of this guerrilla and vol- i Gospoda Sina Isusa Hrista i Gospoda Duha unteer oath: Svetoga, zaklinjem se u hleb ovaj i revolver da ću tačno i savesno i bezuslovno ispunjavati sve “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, naredbe Centralnog odbora koje mi se budu Amen. I, (name and surname), swear by the Lord dale, a koje idu u korist našeg oslobođenja i God, the Lord and Son Jesus Christ and the Lord ujedinjenja sa majkom Srbijom, a pod upravom Holy Spirit, by this bread and revolver, to exactly, odbora. Ako bi se namerno ogrešio o datu za- honestly and unconditionally execute all orders of kletvu da me Bog, krst, ime, slava i hleb kazne, the Central Committee, which I will receive and a nož i revolver kaznu izvrše. Amin!« which will benefit the liberation and unification with mother Serbia, under the administration of the Potem so se vsi prekrižali in poljubljali Committee. Should I deliberately break the given evangelij, srebrni križ in revolver, prekrižan s promise, I may be punished by God, the cross, hon- kamo (bodalom). Srbskim četnikom se je pri- our and bread, and the punishment be implemented družilo in priseglo približno deset slovenskih with a knife and a revolver. Amen.” »dobrovoljcev«. Slovenski prevod te četniške in prostovoljske prisege je takšen: Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Army (1616–1918) »V imenu Očeta, Sina in svetega Duha, amen! Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri gospodu The retired Imperial-Royal Major Andrej Komel Bogu, gospodu sinu Jezusu Kristusu in gospodu Edler von Sočebran published a booklet in 1889 in svetem Duhu, prisegam pri tem kruhu in revol- Klagenfurt, titled Eid und Kriegs-Artikel (The Oath verju, da bom točno, pošteno in brezpogojno and Articles of War). However, in his monograph on izvrševal vse ukaze Centralnega odbora, ki mi Komel, Dr. Tomo Korošec does not include a transla- bodo dani, in ki bodo koristili osvoboditvi in tion of this oath. združitvi z materjo Srbijo, pod upravo odbora. I have asked him for a brochure and attached here Če bi namerno prekršil dano prisego, naj me a copy of the front cover and the German text of the kaznujejo Bog, križ, čast in kruh, z nožem in oath. The Slovenian translation, presented by Major revolverjem pa naj se izvrši kazen. Amen!« Komel, is written out below, as the copy was too bad to attach. The oath from 1880 is worded as follows: Avstrijska in avstro-ogrsko vojska (1616–1918) Prisega “Naši vojaki naj Nam Frančišku Jožefu Prvemu, po Cesarsko-kraljevi major v pokoju Andrej božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, Apostolskemu Komel plemeniti Sočebran je 1889 v Celovcu kralju ogerskemu, kralju češkemu, dalmatinskemu, izdal knjižico z naslovom Prisega in vojni čle- hrvatskemu, slavonskemu, gališkemu, vladimir- ni (Eid und Kriegs – Artikel), vendar dr. Tomo skemu in ilirskemu, nadvojvodi avstrijskemu, Korošec v svoji monografiji o Komelu ne navaja velikemu vojvodi krakovskemu, vojvodi lorenskemu, prevoda te prisege. Prosil sem ga za brošuro; salcburškemu, štirskemu, koroškemu, kranjskemu, predstavljam kopijo njene naslovnice in nem- bukovinskemu, gornje- in spodnje-sleškemu, velike- ško besedilo prisege. Kopija slovenskega pre- mu knezu erdeljskemu, mejnemu grofu moravske- voda, ki ga je vzporedno podal major Komel, mu, pokneženemu grofu habsburškemu in tirolske- pa je slaba, zato posredujem izpisek. Prisega iz mu itd., itd., prisežejo prisego s temi besedami: leta 1880 se glasi takole: Prisegamo Bogu Vsegamogočnemu z očitno prisego, Prisega da bodemo Njegovemu Apostolskemu Veličanstvu, »Naši vojaki naj Nam Frančišku Jožefu našemu presvilemu vladarju in gospodu,

MILITARY HISTORY • 135 Prvemu, po božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, Apostolskemu kralju ogerskemu, kralju češke- mu, dalmatinskemu, hrvatskemu, slavonske- mu, gališkemu, vladimirskemu in ilirskemu, nadvojvodi avstrijskemu, velikemu vojvodi krakovskemu, vojvodi lorenskemu, salcbur- škemu, štirskemu, koroškemu, kranjskemu, bukovinskemu, gornje- in spodnje-sleškemu, velikemu knezu erdeljskemu, mejnemu grofu moravskemu, pokneženemu grofu habsburške- mu in tirolskemu itd., itd., prisežejo prisego s temi besedami:

Prisegamo Bogu Vsegamogočnemu z očitno prisego, da bodemo Njegovemu Apostolskemu Veličanstvu, našemu presvilemu vladarju in gospodu, Frančišku Jožefu Prvemu, po božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, kralju če- škemu itd., in Apostolskemu kralju ogerskemu, zvesti in pokorni, da bodemo presvitlega cesarja, generale in sploh vse svoje predposta- vljene in višje poslušali, jih častili in branili, njih zapovedim in poveljem v vsakteri službi pokorščino skazovali, da se bodemo zoper vsakega sovražnika kteregakoli in kjerkoli Nje- govega cesarskega Veličanstva volja ukaže, na vodi in na suhem, po dnevi in po noči, v bojih, Austro-Hungarian Army oath, 1880 naskokih, spopadih in v vsakoršnem početju, (Major Andrej Komel – Sočebran, translation) z jedno besedo, povsod, vsak čas in o vsaki priliki junaško in možato bojevali, da ne bo- demo svojih čet, svojih bander, zastav in topov Frančišku Jožefu Prvemu, nikakor in nikdar zapustili, da se ne bodemo po božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, kralju nikoli udajali ni v najmanjšo sporazumljenje češkemu itd., in Apostolskemu kralju ogerskemu, s sovražnikom, ampak da se bodemo vsegdar zvesti in pokorni, da bodemo presvitlega cesarja, vedli tako, kakor vojni zakoni govore in kakor generale in sploh vse svoje predpostavljene in višje se spodobi pravim vojakom ter da hočemo na poslušali, jih častili in branili, njih zapovedim in ta način častno živeti in umreti. Tako nam Bog poveljem v vsakteri službi pokorščino skazovali, pomagaj. Amen!« da se bodemo zoper vsakega sovražnika kterega- koli in kjerkoli Njegovega cesarskega Veličanstva V nadaljevanju so navedeni vojni členi, v volja ukaže, na vodi in na suhem, po dnevi in po katerih so ob morebitnem »prelomu podred- noči, v bojih, naskokih, spopadih in v vsakoršnem be« naštete tudi kazni – od »smrtne kazni z početju, z jedno besedo, povsod, vsak čas in o vsaki ustreljenjem«, »hudodelstva z ječo do desetih priliki junaško in možato bojevali, da ne bodemo let ali kot prekrški z ostrim zaporom do še- svojih čet, svojih bander, zastav in topov nikakor in stih mesecev …«. Število slovenskih vojakov nikdar zapustili, da se ne bodemo nikoli udajali ni in častnikov staro-avstrijske in avstro-ogrske v najmanjšo sporazumljenje s sovražnikom, ampak vojske je znano le v odstotkih (0,6 odstotka vo- da se bodemo vsegdar vedli tako, kakor vojni zakoni jakov, 12 odstotkov kopenskih in 16 odstotkov govore in kakor se spodobi pravim vojakom ter da pomorskih častnikov), vemo pa, da je v vojni hočemo na ta način častno živeti in umreti. Tako mornarici služilo približno 50.000 mornarjev. nam Bog pomagaj. Amen!”

136 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA English translation:

The Oath “May our soldiers take an oath to Franz Joseph I, by the grace of God Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria, Illyria, Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Krakow, Duke of Lorraine, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, the Bukovina, Upper and Lower Silesia, Grand Prince of Transylvania, Margrave of Moravia, Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, etc., etc., with these words:

We swear by God Almighty to be loyal and obedient to His Apostolic Majesty, our Noble Prince and Lord, Franz Joseph I, by the grace of God Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, etc., and Apostolic King of Hungary; to listen to, honour and defend the Noble Emperor, generals and all our superiors; obey their com- mands and orders in any service; to fight heroically and courageously against any enemy, wherever and whenever so ordered by His Imperial Majesty, on water and on land, by day and by night, in battles, attacks, engagements and in any act; thus any- where, anytime and at every opportunity. We swear not to abandon our troops, banners, flags and cannons in any way or at any time; to never enter Prisega v avstro-ogrski vojski, 1880 (Major Andrej Komel – Sočebran, prevod) into any agreements with the enemy, but to always behave in line with the rules of war and as befits true soldiers and thus live and die with honour. So Prostovoljci Vojske kraljevine Srbije God help us. Amen.” (1912–1913) In continuation, “articles of war” are stated, list- Številni slovenski prostovoljci, predvsem ing punishments in the event of “breaking an or- zdravniki, so pohiteli na pomoč srbski vojski der” – from “the punishment of death by shooting”, v prvi in drugi balkanski vojni. Vsi so morali “crimes resulting in up to ten years of imprisonment” izreči in podpisati prisego prostovoljcev (VZA, to “offences resulting in up to six months of close ar- Srbska vojska, P-17, Š–148, F–1, d–25). Ta se ni rest”, etc. The number of Slovenian soldiers and of- veliko razlikovala od navadne vojaške prisege ficers in the Old Austrian and the Austro-Hungarian pred pravoslavnim duhovnikom, ki jo je overo- Army is only known in percent (0.6 percent of sol- vil poveljnik vojaške enote. diers, 12 percent of land and 16 percent of naval V izvirniku se je glasila takole: officers); however, it is known that approximately 50,000 sailors served in the navy. »Ja, dobrovoljac (ime i prezime), zaklinjem se Bogu svemogučim da ću Vrhovnom zapove- Volunteers in the Army of the Kingdom of dniku sve zemaljske oružane sile Kralju Srbije Petru Prvom svagda i u svim prilikama biti Serbia (1912–1913) veran, svom dušom odan i poslušan; da ću za- Numerous Slovenian volunteers, particularly doc- povesti svojih pretpostavljenih starešina slušati tors, rushed to assist the Serbian Army in the time i verno izvršavati; da ću Kralja i Otadžbinu of the First and Second Balkan Wars. They all had junački braniti i vojničku zastavu nigde neću to take and sign a volunteer oath (Military History izneveriti. Tako mi Bog pomogao! Archives, Serbian Army, P-17, Š–148, F–1, d–25)

MILITARY HISTORY • 137 Potpis … which was very similar to a normal military oath Zakletvu izvršio sveštenik … taken before an Orthodox priest and verified by a Overava komandir …« military unit commander. This is the original text of the oath: V slovenskem prevodu bi se »Prisega prosto- voljcev« glasila takole: “Ja, dobrovoljac (ime i prezime), zaklinjem se Bogu svemogučim da ću Vrhovnom zapovedniku sve »Jaz, prostovoljec (ime in priimek), prisegam zemaljske oružane sile Kralju Srbije Petru Prvom pred vsemogočnim Bogom, da bom vrhovnemu svagda i u svim prilikama biti veran, svom dušom poveljniku oboroženih sil, kralju Petru Prvemu, odan i poslušan; da ću zapovesti svojih pretpostav- vedno in povsod zvest, z vso dušo privržen in ljenih starešina slušati i verno izvršavati; da ću poslušen; da bom poslušal in zvesto izvrševal Kralja i Otadžbinu junački braniti i vojničku za- zapovedi svojih nadrejenih starešin; da bom stavu nigde neću izneveriti. Tako mi Bog pomogao! pogumno branil kralja in domovino in ne bom nikoli oskrunil vojaške zastave. Tako mi Bog Potpis … pomagaj!« Zakletvu izvršio sveštenik … Overava komandir …” Podpis … Prisego opravil duhovnik … English translation of the volunteer oath: Potrjuje poveljnik …« “I, volunteer (name and surname), swear before V Slovenski vojaški inteligenci, str. 332, sem Almighty God to be at all times and in all places našel natančno število slovenskih prostovolj- loyal, deeply devoted and obedient to the Supreme cev (55). Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, King Peter I; to listen to and faithfully fulfil orders given Prostovoljci Vojske kraljevine Srbije by my superiors; to heroically defend the King and (1914–1918) the homeland and never to desecrate the military flag. So help me God! Številni ujetniki avstro-ogrske vojske, tudi Slovenci, so v ruskih taboriščih vse od leta Signature … 1916 kot prostovoljci množično vstopali v srb- The oath carried out by priest … sko vojsko. Predstavniki te so jim ponudili v Verified by commander …” podpis »Dobrovoljačko izjavo« (VZI Beograd, Arhiv Srbske vojske, P-3/a, Š–26, F–5. d–3), ki I state the exact number of Slovenian volunteers se je v izvirniku glasila: (55) in the book Slovenska vojaška inteligenca, p. 332.

»Želim da stupim od svoje volje kao dobrovoljac Volunteers in the Army of the Kingdom of u redove Srpske vojske za vreme trajanje ovog Serbia (1914–1918) rata i izjavljujem: da mi je poznato da ću od strane Austrijanaca Numerous prisoners of the Austro-Hungarian biti smatran za izdajicu ako me njihove trupe Army, including Slovenians, who were placed in uhvate; Russian POW camps, massively began to enter the da od dana stupanja u dobrovoljce prestajem Serbian Army as volunteers, beginning in 1916. biti ratni zarobljenik, i Representatives of the Serbian Army gave them da pristajem da služim tamo gde me Vrhovna the following volunteer statement to sign (Military komanda rasporedi. History Institute Belgrade, Serbian Army Archives, P-3/a, Š–26, F–5. d–3), which, in the original, read Potpis (ime i prezime, čin i odakle je) as follows: Datum, mesto i potpis dva svedoka«. “Želim da stupim od svoje volje kao dobrovoljac u V slovenskem prevodu bi se ta »Izjava pro- redove Srpske vojske za vreme trajanje ovog rata i stovoljca« glasila takole: izjavljujem:

138 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA »Med to vojno želim prostovoljno vstopiti v da mi je poznato da ću od strane Austrijanaca biti Srbsko vojsko in izjavljam: smatran za izdajicu ako me njihove trupe uhvate; razumem, da me bodo Avstrijci imeli za izdajal- da od dana stupanja u dobrovoljce prestajem biti ra- ca, če me ujamejo; tni zarobljenik, i da od dneva pristopa k prostovoljcem ne bom da pristajem da služim tamo gde me Vrhovna ko- več vojni ujetnik; manda rasporedi. da bom služil vojaško službo, kamor me bo raz- poredilo Vrhovno poveljstvo. Potpis (ime i prezime, čin i odakle je) Datum, mesto i potpis dva svedoka.” Podpis (ime in priimek, čin, bivališče) Datum, kraj in podpis dveh prič«. English translation of this volunteer statement: “I wish to enter the Serbian Army voluntarily dur- Zaradi manj znanega ozadja in zapleta, po- ing this war and declare the following: vezanega z željo panslovanskih prostovoljcev, I understand the Austrians will treat me as traitor in da bi se v srbski vojski bojevali za jugoslovan- the event of capture. ske ideale, so številni prostovoljci, tudi Sloven- From the day of entering the volunteer detachment, I ci, zavrnili vojaško prisego srbski vojski in zah- am no longer a prisoner of war. tevali prisego še nevzpostavljeni jugoslovanski I will perform my military service wherever deployed vojski. Nekaj podatkov sem že navedel v knjigi by the Supreme Command. Slovenska vojaška inteligenca (str. 335–337). Za kaj je pravzaprav šlo? Signature (name and surname, rank, place of Pripadniki srbske vojske so pridobili največ residence) prostovoljcev med ruskimi ujetniki v Romuniji. Date, place and signature of two witnesses” Tudi ujeti avstro-ogrski vojaki (Slovenci) so se množično prijavljali med prostovoljce (dobro- Due to the unfamiliar background and complica- voljce) srbske vojske. Izstopali so preporodovci tions linked to the wish of the Pan-Slavic volunteers in člani sokolske organizacije. Po hudih bojih to fight for Yugoslav ideals in the Serbian Army, in človeških izgubah dobrovoljskih enot v Do- many volunteers, including the Slovenians, rejected brudži je prostovoljsko gibanje zastalo. K temu the military oath to the Serbian Army and demanded so veliko pripomogli tudi t. i. disidenti, ki naj to take an oath to the not yet formed Yugoslav Army. bi pod vplivom avstro-ogrske obveščevalne I have already stated some information about this službe agitirali proti prostovoljskemu gibanju in the book Slovenska vojaška inteligenca (p. 335– ter postavljali različne pogoje in zahteve (za 337). What was really the issue? Jugoslavijo, proti Srbiji). Očitno je šlo za or- Members of the Serbian Army obtained most ganizirano akcijo proti velikosrbskim težnjam volunteers from among the Russian prisoners in vladajočih krogov okrog Pašića in proti poni- Romania. The captured Austro-Hungarian soldiers ževalnemu obnašanju nekaterih srbskih ča- (Slovenians) also massively entered the volunteer de- stnikov in podčastnikov. tachments (“Dobrovoljci”) of the Serbian Army. The Tudi srbski poveljnik dobrovoljskega kor- most numerous among them were revival representa- pusa, ki je dobro poznal notranje razmere in tives (“Preporodovci”) and members of the Sokol odnose, je predlagal srbski vladi, da se korpus organisation. After severe battles and loses in the preimenuje v »jugoslovanskega«, vendar so za- volunteer units in Dobrudja, the volunteer movement vrnili njegov predlog. Zato je 21. 3. 1917 sku- came to a halt. The dissidents contributed much pina hrvaških in slovenskih častnikov (stotniki to this, as they, under the influence of the Austro- Pavle Golia, Stanko Lapajne, Ernest Sorčan, D. Hungarian intelligence service, agitated against the Rustja, T. Bedenk, M. Juvan in V. Španger) po- volunteer movement and set various conditions and slala takšno izjavo: demands (for Yugoslavia, against Serbia). It was obviously an organised action against the Greater »Mi, dobrovoljci, zlasti Hrvati in Slovenci, Serbian aspirations of the ruling circles around Pašič ki smo vstopili v srbsko dobrovoljsko vojsko, and against the humiliating attitude of some Serbian smo, žal, doživeli v korpusu veliko razočara- officers and non-commissioned officers. nje. Želeli smo svobodo, našli pa suženjstvo, A Serbian commander of the volunteer corps, who ponižanje in nasilje, ki prekaša celo tisto, was well familiar with the internal conditions and

MILITARY HISTORY • 139 pred katerim smo bežali iz Avstrije. Še nikoli relations, suggested the Serbian government rename v življenju nismo bili tako brezpravni, kakor the corps into “Yugoslav” corps, but his proposal smo zdaj v srbskem dobrovoljskem korpusu was denied. This was the reason for the following kot borci za svobodo. Morali smo biti molčeče statement, submitted by a group of Croatian and priče najbolj neverjetnih zločinov nad našimi Slovenian officers (Captains Pavle Golia, Stanko rojaki. Če smo načenjali naša narodnostna Lapajne, Ernest Sorčan, D. Rustja, T. Bedenk, M. vprašanja, zaradi katerih smo se pravzaprav Juvan and V. Špangeron) on 21 March 1917: zapisali v korpus, so nam očitali separatizem, vohunstvo in podobno. Če naj bi naš korpus “We, volunteers, particularly Croatians and predstavljal pomanjšano sliko prihodnje Jugo- Slovenians, who have entered the Serbian volunteer slavije, tedaj naj nas Bog obvaruje takšne svo- army, have, unfortunately, experienced great disap- bode, kajti prešli bi iz enega jarma v drugega, pointment in the corps. We longed for freedom but še hujšega … Najbrž nas bodo kmalu aretirali found slavery, humiliation and violence surpassing ter odpeljali nekam daleč v Rusijo in nihče ne the one we escaped from in Austria. We have never bo več izvedel za naša življenja in požrtvo- in our lives been so deprived of our rights as we are valnost, za našo pripravljenost žrtvovati se za now, in the Serbian volunteer corps, as freedom slovensko stvar …«. fighters. We were forced to be silent witnesses of the most unbelievable crimes committed on our fellow Med disidenti so bili še: M. Gorup, G. Pekle, countrymen. If we brought up questions of nation- J. Kotnik, J. Župančič, C. Cirman, S. Jeras, J. ality, on account of which we actually entered the Velnar, J. Urbančič, S. Lapajne, M. Gnezda, J. corps, we were reproached for separatism, espionage Štefančič, J. Rožman, J. Bergoč, verjetno pa and similar. If this corps is to be an image of the tudi Jaka Avšič. Zanimivo je, da je večina di- future Yugoslavia, then God protect us from such sidentov junija 1917 prestopila v rusko carsko freedom, for we would go from one bondage to an- vojsko, potem pa oktobra istega leta v enote other, even worse. We will probably soon be arrested Rdeče garde. Disidentsko problematiko bi bilo and taken somewhere far into Russia, and nobody smiselno podrobneje obdelati, tako na podla- will ever know of our lives and self-sacrifice, of our gi ohranjenih arhivov srbske in avstro-ogrske willingness to sacrifice our lives for the Slovenian vojske kot tudi »disidentskega« arhiva, ki ga je cause …” v Ljubljano prinesel dr. J. Kotnik (in ga menda hranijo v ljubljanskem Zgodovinskem arhivu). The following persons were also among the dissi- Srbski dobrovoljski korpus je potem razpadel, dents: M. Gorup, G. Pekle, J. Kotnik, J. Župančič, C. saj ga je zapustilo približno 13.000 prostovolj- Cirman, S. Jeras, J. Velnar, J. Urbančič, S. Lapajne, cev, tudi veliko Slovencev. Večino disidentov so M. Gnezda, J. Štefančič, J. Rožman, J. Bergoč, and ruske oblasti poslale v protirevolucionarne eno- probably also Jaka Avšič. It is interesting to note that te, številni pa so potem zbežali v Rdečo gardo. most dissidents joined the Russian Tsarist Army in Od 567 Slovencev jih je maja 1917 ostalo v June 1917, and then the Red Guard units in October srbski vojski samo 234. Del disidentskih zahtev 1917. The issue of dissidents is worth more detailed je bil izpolnjen šele na solunski fronti. Tako so handling, both on the basis of preserved archives of po ukazu prestolonaslednika Aleksandra Ka- the Serbian and Austro-Hungarian armies as well as rađorđevića 29. decembra 1917 preimenovali on the basis of the “dissident” archives brought to Vardarsko divizijo v Jugoslovansko, vendar je Ljubljana by Dr. J. Kotnik (supposedly located in the srbsko Vrhovno poveljstvo vztrajalo, da mora- Historical Archives Ljubljana). jo vsi slovenski (in drugi) prostovoljci postati The Serbian volunteer corps later disintegrated, srbski državljani in priseči srbskemu kralju. as approximately 13,000 volunteers left, among Kljub posamičnim odporom je večina to sto- them many Slovenians. The Russian authorities sent rila, saj so bili na pragu domovine. Tako se je most dissidents to counter-revolutionary units, and na solunski fronti bojevalo 194 slovenskih pro- many then escaped to the Red Guard. stovoljcev, nekateri od njih (21) so sodelovali From among 567 Slovenians, only 234 were still tudi v bojih za severno mejo pod poveljstvom in the Serbian Army in May 1917. Certain dissi- generala Rudolfa Maistra. dent requirements were not fulfilled until the time Podobno usodo so doživeli pripadniki t. i. of the Macedonian Front. By order of Crown Prince Pivkovega bataljona (italijanski ujetniki), ki Aleksandar Karađorđević, Vardar Division was

140 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA niso hoteli postati srbski državljani in priseči renamed Yugoslav Division on 29 December 1917; zvestobo srbskemu kralju, zato se jih je od 123 however, the Serbian Supreme Command insisted samo 7 udeležilo bojev na solunski fronti. Ve- that all Slovenian (and other) volunteers become čina se je iz Boke Kotorske vrnila v Slovenijo. Serbian citizens and swear allegiance to the Serbian king. Despite some resistance, most volunteers did so, Prostovoljci Rdeče armade (1917–1918 as they were close to their homeland. 194 Slovenian in 1948–1952) volunteers thus fought at the Macedonian Front, some of whom (21) also participated in the battle for Nisem našel podatka o tem, kako so slo- the Northern Border under the command of General venski prostovoljci (približno 135) v burnih Rudolf Maister. letih 1917/1918 prisegali ob vstopanju v enote A similar destiny awaited members of the so- Rdeče armade ali pa nasprotne, Belogardejske called Pivko Battalion (Italian captives) who refused vojske. Nekateri posamezniki navajajo, da so to become Serbian citizens and swear loyalty to the prisegali zvestobo svojim neposrednim povelj- Serbian king. Of 123 members, only 7 participated nikom. Znano je, da je po oktobrski revoluci- in battles at the Macedonian Front and from the Bay ji Vseruski centralni izvršni komite sovjetov of Kotor, most returned to Slovenia. 22. 4. 1918 predpisal t. i. »slovesno obljubo«, s katero je vsak pripadnik Rdeče armade, ko- Volunteers in the Red Army (1917–1918 lektivno ali posamezno, pred delavskim razre- and 1948–1952) dom Rusije in vsem svetom obljubil zvestobo revoluciji, ljudstvu in sovjetski oblasti, s čimer I found no information regarding the manner je bil hkrati izražen njen razredni (revolucio- in which Slovenian volunteers (approximately 135) narni) značaj. Šele leta 1922 je bilo sprejeto took the oath in the turbulent years of 1917/1918 besedilo vojaške prisege, ki so ga pripadniki when entering the Red Army units or the opposing Rdeče armade izrekali skupaj na prvomajski White Guard army. Some individuals state they paradi, pozneje pa tudi potrjevali s podpisom swore loyalty to their immediate commanders. It is na seznamih novih rekrutov. known that, after the October Revolution, the All- Po resoluciji informbiroja (1948) so morali Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets im- slovenski častniki (dezerterji iz JLA), bilo jih je posed the so-called “solemn oath” on 22 April 1918. devet, pred sprejetjem v Rdečo armado podpi- Each member of the Red Army, either collectively or sati vojaško prisego. individually, swore loyalty to the revolution, the peo- ple and the Soviet authority, in front of the Russian Slovenska vojska (1918) working class and the entire world, thus also mani- festing the class (revolutionary) nature of the oath. Major oz. general Rudolf Maister je moral The words to the military oath, which members of glede prisege ločeno obravnavati tri skupine: the Red Army pronounced collectively at the First slovenske častnike, s katerimi se je skrivaj do- May Parade and later also confirmed by signing the govarjal za skupno delovanje in ki so prisegali list of new recruits, were only adopted in 1922. zvestobo (obljubljali molčečnost!) njemu oseb- After the Informbiro resolution (1948), nine no, posamično ali v manjših skupinah; prve Slovenian officers (Yugoslav People’s Army desert- skupine slovenskih in liških (srbskih) vojakov ers) had to sign a military oath before entering the avstro-ogrske vojske (četa kapetana Marko- Red Army. vića), ki so se prek Maribora (Šentilja) vračali domov, pa jih je bilo treba za nekaj časa zadr- Slovenian Armed Forces (1918) žati v Mariboru (bolj pomembno kot prisega je bilo plačilo, saj domoljubni nagovori niso prišli Major or General Rudolf Maister had to deal v poštev); tretja skupina pa so bili mobilizira- with three groups of people in regards to the oath: ni štajerski vojaki, razvrščeni v mariborski in Slovenian officers with whom he secretly made ar- celjski polk ter druge enote pred takojšnjim rangements for joint operations and who swore odhodom na koroško fronto. Tako naj bi 21. loyalty (secrecy!) to him personally, either individu- 11. 1918 ob 11.30 uri prisegel Mariborski peš- ally or in small groups; the first groups of Slovenian polk, v postroju, slovenski domovini in svojim and Serbian (from Lika) soldiers of the Austro- poveljnikom, seveda pred Bogom. Hungarian Army (company of Captain Marković)

MILITARY HISTORY • 141 Uporniki tajne domoljubne organizacije who were returning to their homes via Maribor na Primorskem – TIGR (1925–1941) (Šentilj) and had to be held in Maribor for some time (more important than the oath was payment, Mira Cencič, avtorica knjige TIGR (Ljubljana, as patriotic speeches were out of the question); and 1997) na str. 91 navaja tudi eno od prvih priseg the third group, mobilised soldiers from Styria, de- pripadnikov ilegalne domoljubne organizacije ployed to Maribor and Celje regiments as well as TIGR, verjetno leta 1925, ki je bila takšna: other units, who were immediately leaving for the Carinthian Front. Maribor Infantry Regiment thus »Na svojo čast in čast svoje družine prisegam took the oath to the Slovenian homeland and their pred Bogom, da bom storil vse kar je v mojih commanders, before God, standing on parade, on 21 močeh za osvoboditev Julijske krajine, ki mora November 1918 at 11:30. biti združena z Jugoslavijo.« Insurgents of the Secret Patriotic Pozneje, jeseni 1930, po vdoru fašistične po- Organisation in the Primorska Region licije in prvih smrtnih obsodbah članov orga- (Slovenian Littoral) – TIGR (1925–1941) nizacije, so vodilni za vse novince sprejeli zelo kratko prisego: Mira Cencič, author of the book TIGR (Ljubljana, 1997) mentions, on page 91, one of the first oaths »Raje smrt kot izdajstvo!« taken by members of the illegal patriotic organisa- tion TIGR around 1925. The words to the oath were Danes je tudi zgodovinsko priznano, da so the following: bili prav tigrovci (Danilo Zelen in drugi) med prvimi partizanskimi borci, pripadniki NOV “On my honour and the honour of my family, I Slovenije. Največ tigrovcev se je znašlo v bri- swear before God to do everything in my power tanskem ujetništvu, potem pa so se pridružili to free Venezia Giulia which must be annexed to različnim obveščevalno-diverzantskim skupi- Yugoslavia”. nam padalcev in tudi enotam Jugoslovanske vojske zunaj domovine, kar so partizani obrav- Later, in the autumn of 1930, after the invasion navali kot izdajstvo. Število tigrovcev ni ugo- of the fascist police and the first death sentences of tovljeno. organisation members, the leaders adopted a very short oath for all novices: Prostovoljci španske republikanske armade (1936–1939) “Better death than treason!” Po nekaterih izjavah španskih prostovoljcev Today it is also a historical fact that members of je mogoče sklepati, da so podpisovali sezname the TIGR organisation – Danilo Zelen and others – pod prisego v španskem jeziku, kjer pa so bile were among the first partisan fighters, members of nacionalne enote homogene (slovenske čete the People’s Liberation Army of Slovenia. Most TIGR Ivana Cankarja, Matije Gubca), so poveljniki members fell into British captivity and then joined izvajali tudi javno prisego v slovenskem jezi- various intelligence and sabotage groups of para- ku. Vseh slovenskih »špancev« je bilo 533, od troopers as well as Yugoslav Army units outside the teh se jih je le 22 vrnilo v domovino. homeland, which partisans considered treason. The number of TIGR members is unknown. Vojska SHS – kraljevine Jugoslavije (1919–1941) Volunteers in the Spanish Republican Army (1936–1939) Vojaki – rekruti so vojaško prisego izrekali skupinsko, v postroju (po verski pripadnosti), Based on the statements of some Spanish volun- pred duhovniki vseh verskih skupnosti (Mile teers it is possible to conclude that they had to sign Bjelajac, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije, Beograd, lists below an oath written in the Spanish language; 1994 –fotografija iz Sarajeva, 1928, podča- however, where there were homogeneous national stniška šola – razvrstitev gojencev po verski units (Slovenian Ivan Cankar and Matija Gubec com- pripadnosti: pravoslavci, katoliki, judje in panies), commanders also implemented a public oath

142 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA Podčastniška šola VKJ v Sarajevu, 1928– razvrstitev po verski VKJ Non-Commissioned Officer School in Sarajevo, 1928 pripadnosti arrangement in accordance with the religious affiliation muslimani), besedilo pa je bilo predpisano v in the Slovenian language. There were 533 Slovenian Pravilu službe. Zvestobo so izrekali kralju in “Spaniards”; however, only 22 of them returned to domovini, seveda s sklicevanjem na boga. Ča- the homeland. stniki in podčastniki so podpisovali pisno pri- sego z datumom podpisa, ki so jo shranili v Army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and kadrovski mapi. Vojaška prisega v srbščini se Slovenes (SHS) – the Kingdom of Yugoslavia je glasila takole: (1919–1941) »Ja, (ime i prezime), zaklinjem se svemogučim Soldiers – recruits took the military oath collec- Bogom, da ću Vrhovnom zapovedniku sve vojne tively, on parade (according to their religious affili- sile, Kralju Jugoslavije Petru Drugom, svagda ation), before priests of all religious denominations i u svim prilikama biti veran, svom dušom (Mile Bjelajac, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije, Belgrade, odan i poslušan, da ću se za Kralja i Otadžbinu 1994 – a photograph from Sarajevo, 1928, Non- junački boriti, da vojničku zakletvu nigde i Commissioned Officer School – arrangement of stu- nikada neću izneveriti i da ću sve zapovedi svih dents according to their religious affiliation: pretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati i verno izvršavati. Tako mi Bog pomagao!« “Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim), while Slovenski prevod bi bil takšen: the words themselves were prescribed by the Rules of Service. Loyalty was sworn to the king and the »Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri vsemogoč- homeland, of course by appealing to God. Officers nem Bogu, da bom vrhovnemu poveljniku obo- and non-commissioned officers signed a written roženih sil, kralju Jugoslavije Petru Drugemu, oath, with the date of the signature, which was vedno in v vseh okoliščinah zvest, z vso dušo kept in the personnel file. The military oath in the predan in pokoren, da se bom pogumno bojeval Serbian language was worded as follows: “Ja, (ime za kralja in domovino, da nikoli in nikjer ne i prezime), zaklinjem se svemogučim Bogom, da bom prelomil vojaške prisege in da bom ubogal ću Vrhovnom zapovedniku sve vojne sile, Kralju vse ukaze nadrejenih starešin in jih zvesto izvr- Jugoslavije Petru Drugom, svagda i u svim prilika- ševal. Tako mi Bog pomagaj!« ma biti veran, svom dušom odan i poslušan, da ću se za Kralja i Otadžbinu junački boriti, da vojničku Slovenski rekrutni kontingent je štel pribli- zakletvu nigde i nikada neću izneveriti i da ću sve žno 7.000 vojakov na leto, zato lahko sklepa- zapovedi svih pretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati i mo, da je v obdobju 1920–1941 v VKJ služilo verno izvršavati. Tako mi Bog pomagao!” 150.000 vojakov, do 2.000 podčastnikov in ča- stnikov ter 21 generalov – admiralov.

MILITARY HISTORY • 143 Mobiliziranci v italijansko vojsko English translation: (1927–1943) “I, (name and surname), swear by God Almighty, Menil sem, da je bila vojaška prisega sloven- to be always and in all circumstances loyal, deeply skih mobilizirancev v italijansko vojsko v ob- devoted and obedient to the Supreme Commander dobju 1927–1943 precej različna, odvisna od of the Armed Forces, King of Yugoslavia, Peter II; narodnosti posameznih vojakov, posebno še, to heroically fight for the King and the homeland; ker je šlo za imperialno vojsko (agresija na Eti- to never and nowhere break the military oath; and opijo, Albanijo, Jugoslavijo itn.), vendar smo iz to obey and faithfully fulfil all orders given by my zgodovinske pisarne oddelka za splošne zade- superiors. So help me God!” ve Vrhovnega vojaškega poveljstva v Rimu, s posredovanjem prof. dr. Jožeta Pirjevca, janu- As the Slovenian recruitment contingent num- arja 2008 dobili (Knjiga I., Disciplinske obve- bered approximately 7,000 soldiers annually, we znosti – Generalne obveznosti vsakega vojaka, may assume that in the period from 1920 to 1941 Vojaška prisega) skoraj enaka besedila iz treh approximately 150,000 soldiers, up to 2,000 non- različnih obdobij leta 1873, 1942 in 1952 (brez commissioned officers and officers and 21 gener- omembe kralja), ki se v italijanščini glasijo: als/admirals served in the Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (VKJ). »Giuro d'èssere fedele al Re ed ai suoi Reali successori, di osservare lealmente lo Statuto e Soldiers mobilised to the Italian Army le altre leggi dello Stato, e di adempire tutti (1927–1943) i doveri del mio stato, al solo scopo del bene inseparabile del Re e della Patria.« I thought the military oath of the Slovenian sol- diers mobilised to the Italian Army in the period Prevod v slovenščino je takšen: from 1927 to 1943, particularly with regard to the fact that this was an Imperial Army (aggression on »Prisegam, da bom zvest kralju in njegovim Ethiopia, Albania, Yugoslavia, etc.), would differ naslednikom, da bom pošteno izvrševal odred- according to the nationality of soldiers. However, be ustave in drugih državnih zakonov in izpol- in January 2008, with the help of Prof. Dr. Jože njeval vse obveznosti do moje države, z edinim Pirjevec, I obtained almost identical texts (Book I, namenom zvesto služiti kralju in domovini.« Disciplinary Requirements – General Responsibilities of Every Soldier, Military Oath) from three different Nezanesljive primorske rojake so pošiljali v periods (1873, 1942 and 1952 – the text from the delavske bataljone ali pa v enote na kašnem last period includes no mention of the King) from the otoku – številni so namreč preprosto dezer- Supreme Military Command, Department of General tirali. Italijanskih mobilizirancev naj bi bilo Affairs, of the Historical Office in Rome. The texts in približno 70.000, številni od njih pa so v letih the Italian language are worded as follows: 1941–1943 kot ujetniki zahodnih sil v Afriki prestopili v NOV (prekomorske enote), del tudi “Giuro d’èssere fedele al Re ed ai suoi Reali succes- v Jugoslovansko vojsko zunaj domovine. Nekaj sori, di osservare lealmente lo Statuto e le altre leggi Primorcev se je po letu 1941 pridružilo tudi dello Stato, e di adempire tutti i doveri del mio sta- grškim in albanskim partizanom. to, al solo scopo del bene inseparabile del Re e della V nasprotju z navadnimi vojaki, ki niso pri- Patria”. segali pred Bogom, so italijanski fašisti (od mladeži do posebnih enot – črnosrajčnikov) In the English language the content is the following: prisegali zvestobo svojemu ideološkemu vodji “I pledge loyalty to the King and his descendants. I duceju – Benitu Mussoliniju tudi pred Bogom, swear to dutifully implement constitutional orders z besedami: and other state laws and fulfil all obligations to my country, with the single intention of loyally serving »Nel nome d'Iddio e dell'Italia, giuro di esegui- the King and the homeland.” re gli ordini del Duce e di servire, con tutte le mie forze e, se è necessario, con mio sangue,la Unreliable fellow countrymen from the Primorska causa della rivoluzione fascista«. region, many of whom simply deserted, were sent to

144 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA V slovenskem prevodi se to glasi takole: working battalions or to units on islands. There were approximately 70,000 mobilised Italians, many of »V božjem imenu in imenu Italije prisegam, da whom joined the People’s Liberation Army (overseas bom sledil ukazom duceja in služil, z vsemi svo- units) during 1941 and 1943, as prisoners of the jimi močmi in če bo treba tudi s krvjo, za dobro Western Forces in Africa, while some of them also fašistične revolucije.« joined the Yugoslav Army outside the homeland. Some soldiers from the Primorska region joined the V obdobju STO so naborniki podpisovali ne- Greek or Albanian partisans after 1941. kakšne »bele pole« z besedilom prisege, ven- In contrast to regular soldiers who did not swear dar vsebine ne poznajo (menda so celo rekru- before God, Italian fascists (from youngsters to spe- tirani kot prostovoljci?), kar bi bilo zanimivo cial units – Blackshirts) swore loyalty to their ideo- podrobneje razjasniti. logical leader Il Duce – Benito Mussolini also before God, using the following words: “Nel nome d’Iddio e Mobiliziranci v nemško vojsko – dell’Italia, giuro di eseguire gli ordini del Duce e di Wehrmacht (1942–1945) servire, con tutte le mie forze e, se è necessario, con mio sangue,la causa della rivoluzione fascista”. Sredi leta 1935 so v nemški vojski – Wehrma- The English translation is worded as follows: “In chtu sprejeli takšno besedilo vojaške prisege: God’s name and in the name of Italy I swear to fol- low the orders of Il Duce and to serve, with all my »Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, dass strength and, if need be, with my blood, for the wel- ich dem Führer des Deutschen Reiches und fare of the fascist revolution.” Volkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber der In the time of the Free Territory of Trieste, recruits Wehrmacht, unbedingten Gehorsam leisten und had to sign certain “white sheets” with the text of the als tapferer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für oath; however, they were not familiar with the con- diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen.« tents (whether they were recruited as volunteers is not clear), which would be interesting to clarify further. Besedilo je menda sestavil Adolf Hitler osebno. Do leta 1944 so vojaki pri prisegi levo Soldiers mobilised to the German Army – roko položili na meč, desno pa dvignili v »Hi- tlerjev« pozdrav. Po tem letu (atentat na Hi- Wehrmacht (1942–1945) tlerja) so z levo roko držali nemško državno In the middle of 1935, the Germany Army – zastavo. Slovenskih mobilizirancev naj bi bilo Wehrmacht adopted the following words to the približno 30.000. military oath: “Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heili- Slovenski mobiliziranci v Wehrmacht v ob- gen Eid, dass ich dem Führer des Deutschen Reiches dobju 1942–1945 so nemško besedilo prisege und Volkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber der dobili na listku in so se ga morali naučiti na Wehrmacht, unbedingten Gehorsam leisten und als pamet. V prevodu se prisega glasi takole: tapferer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für diesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen.” »Pred Bogom slovesno prisegam, da bom brezpogojno ubogal voditelja nemške države in The text was presumably composed by Adolf naroda, Adolfa Hitlerja, vrhovnega poveljnika Hitler himself. Until 1944, soldiers put their left nemške vojske, in kot pogumen vojak sem vsak hand on a sword while taking the oath and raised trenutek pripravljen dati tudi svoje življenj.« their right hand in the “Heil Hitler” salutation. After that year (in which there was an attempt on Hitler’s Prostovoljci v nemške enote SS – life), they held a German national flag in their left Schutzstaffel (1942–1945) hand. Presumably, there were approximately 30,000 soldiers mobilised from Slovenia. Sicer redki slovenski prostovoljci v nemške Slovenians mobilised to the German Wehrmacht enote SS (Schutzstaffel), ki so bile pod nepo- during 1942 and 1945 received a piece of paper with srednim poveljstvom Heinricha Himmlerja, the words of the oath and had to learn the text by reichsführerja, glavnega vodje SS in nemških heart. In English the oath was worded as follows: varnostnih služb ter armadnega generala SS, so prisegali s temi besedami: »Ich schwöre Adolf

MILITARY HISTORY • 145 Hitler unerschütterliche Treue. Ich schwöre ihm “I solemnly swear before God to unconditionally und den Führern, die er mir bestimmt, unbe- obey the leader of the German country and peo- dingten Gehorsam. Adolf Hitler: Sieg Heil!« ple, Adolf Hitler, the Supreme Commander of the German Army, and, as a brave soldier, to also lay V slovenskem prevodu bi bila prisega takšna: down my life at any moment.”

»Adolfu Hitlerju prisegam neomajno zvestobo. Volunteers in German SS units – Njemu in vodji odločno prisegam brezpogojno Schutzstaffel (1942–1945) pokorščino. Adolf Hitler: živela zmaga!« Rare Slovenian volunteers in German SS units Kakšna je bila nemška različica ob domo- (Schutzstaffel), which were under direct command branski prisegi, si lahko samo mislimo! Mo- of Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer, the main leader goče je celo ohranjena v zaseženih nemških of the SS and German security services, and the SS arhivih ali pa je bila razkrita ob procesu proti army general, took the following oath: SS-generalu Rösenerju leta 1946 pred ljubljan- skim vojaškim sodiščem. Število slovenskih “Ich schwöre Adolf Hitler unerschütterliche Treue. Ich pripadnikov enot SS ni znano, po nekaterih schwöre ihm und den Führern, die er mir bestimmt, ocenah jih je bilo približno 120. Osebno sem unbedingten Gehorsam. Adolf Hitler: Sieg Heil!” (kot otrok) poznal dva. The English translation of the oath is the Mobiliziranci v madžarsko vojsko following: (1942–1945) “I pledge firm loyalty to Adolf Hitler and uncondi- Približno 5.000 slovenskih mobilizirancev tional obedience to him and the leader appointed to v madžarski okupacijski coni v Prekmurju v me. Adolf Hitler: Hail to Victory!” obdobju 1942–1945 je ob vstopu v madžarsko vojsko takole prisegalo v madžarskem jezi- We can only imagine what the German Home ku (po virih Pokrajinske študijske knjižnice v Guard variant of the oath was like! It may even be Murski Soboti, 2007): preserved in confiscated German archives or has been revealed during the trial against the SS General Slovenski prevod te prisege se glasi: Rösener in 1946 before the Ljubljana Military Court. The number of Slovenian SS unit members is un- »Pri vsemogočnem Bogu prisegamo, da bomo known; however, it is estimated that there were zvesti in pokorni VRHOVNEMU POVELJNI- about 120. As a child, I knew two of them personally. KU, veličastnemu vitezu Nagybanyai HORTY MIKLOSU, zakonito izbranemu voditelju, Ma- Soldiers mobilised to the Hungarian Army džarski in njeni ustavi, ter da se bomo pokora- (1942–1945) vali vsem zakonom te države. Prisegamo, da bomo pokorni generalom When joining the Hungarian Army during 1942 madžarske vojske, drugim predstojnikom in and 1945, approximately 5,000 Slovenians mobi- nadrejenim, da jih bomo spoštovali in varovali lised in the Hungarian occupation zone in Prekmurje ter zvesto izpolnjevali vse njihove zapovedi in took the following military oath in the Hungarian ukaze; z vsem svojim znanjem in močmi bomo language (according to the documents from the skrbeli za podrejene ter jim s svojim zgledom Murska Sobota Regional and Study Library, 2007): pomagali, da bodo v vseh okoliščinah pošteno opravili svoje dolžnosti. This is the English translation of the oath: Prisegamo, da se bomo za našo sveto domo- vino proti vsem sovražnikom, notranjim in “We swear by God Almighty to be loyal and obedi- zunanjim, vedno in povsod viteško in moško ent to the SUPREME COMMANDER, the Grand bojevali, četudi za ceno svoje krvi in življe- Knight Nagybanya HORTY MIKLOS, the legitimate- nja. Svojih čet, zastav, topov in drugih bojnih ly elected leader, to Hungary and its constitution sredstev ne bomo izgubili ter s sovražnikom and to obey all the laws of this country. nikoli ne bomo sklepali nobenih sporazumov; We swear obedience to the generals of the

146 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA Madžarska kvislinška vojska, 1941 Hungarian Quisling Army, 1941 (prevod znanca iz Murske Sobote) (translation by an acquaintance from Murska Sobota) ne bomo vstopili v službo nobene protinarodne, Hungarian Army and to all other superiors, we protidomovinske ali kakršne koli druge struje, promise to respect and protect them and to loyally ki poskuša spodkopati disciplino naše vojske ali fulfil all their commands and orders. We will use all drugih oboroženih sil; nismo in ne bomo člani our knowledge and strength to care for the subordi- nobene tajne združbe; zvesto bomo varovali vse nates and be an example to them by honestly fulfill- službene skrivnosti. ing our duties, regardless of the situation. V skladu s členi vojaškega zakonika in upošte- We swear to always and in every place fight gal- vajoč vojaške zakone se bomo vedno obnašali lantly and manly for our sacred homeland, against kot strumni vojaki in dobri patrioti ter tako all enemies, internal and external, even at the price pošteno živeli in umirali. Naj nam Bog poma- of our own blood and life. We will not forsake our ga. Amen!« troops, flags, guns and other combat resources and will never enter into any agreements with the enemy. We will not join the service of any anti- Slovensko domobranstvo (1941–1945) national, anti-homeland or any other movement Pripadniki slovenskega domobranstva so trying to undermine the discipline of our army or Hitlerju prisegli dvakrat! Ker je ta prisega že other armed forces. We are not and will not become dovolj spolitizirana, dodajam samo nekaj manj members of any secret society. We will loyally pro- znanih podrobnosti. tect all official secrets.

MILITARY HISTORY • 147 Dr. Stanko Kociper, osebni tajnik in zet di- In accordance with the articles of the military code vizijskega generala Leona Rupnika, generalne- and in line with the military laws, we will always ga inšpektorja Slovenskega domobranstva, je behave as strong soldiers and good patriots and v svoji knjigi (Kar sem živel, Ljubljana, 1996, thus live and die honestly. So God help us. Amen!” str. 189–197 v poglavju In iz ozadja) zapisal, da je pobuda za domobransko prisego prišla Slovenian Home Guard (1941–1945) iz Organizacijskega štaba (poveljnika podpol- kovnika Krenerja ali pa podpolkovnika Ernesta Members of the Slovenian Home Guard actually Peterlina, ki je pogosto zahajal k SS-generalu swore to Hitler twice! As this oath has already been Erwinu Rösenerju), da je general Rupnik pri politicised to a great extent, I will only add several SS-generalu Rösenerju zares omilil celotno less known details. besedilo prisege, pozneje pa samo dopisal del Dr. Stanko Kociper, personal secretary and son-in- stavka »... proti komunistom in njihovim zave- law of the Division General Leon Rupnik, Inspector znikom.« Ker je bil Rupnikov sin, stotnik Vuk, General of the Slovenian Home Guard, wrote in his proti vsakršni prisegi Nemcem – častniki so book (Kar sem živel, Ljubljana, 1996, pp. 189–197, in bili pač še vedno vezani na prisego jugoslo- the chapter titled In iz ozadja) that the initiative for vanskemu kralju Petru I. –, ga je oče nazadnje the Home Guard oath came from the Organisational vendarle prepričal, da je kralj zbežal, narod pa Staff (Commander Lieutenant Colonel Krener or prepustil Nemcem in »komunistom«. General Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Peterlin who often visited Rupnik je dosegel le to, da je na vladni palači SS General Erwin Rösener) and that General Rupnik poleg nemške plapolala tudi slovenska zastava. in fact softened the entire text of the oath composed by In še nekaj nam je zaupal Kociper: samo on in SS General Rösener and later only added the part of general Rupnik sta vedela za nemški načrt, da the sentence saying “ ... against communists and their bi iz jedra domobranskih enot vzpostavili tudi allies”. Rupnik’s son, Captain Vuk, was against any slovensko enoto SS, zato pa je SS-general Röse- oath given to the Germans – officers were still bound ner vztrajal pri besedilu domobranske prisege, by the oath given to the Yugoslav King Peter I – but ki je izražala tudi zvestobo Adolfu Hitlerju! his father finally managed to convince him that the Prisega, javno objavljena v tedanjih častni- king had escaped and left the nation to the Germans kih Jutro in Slovenec, leta 1944 in 1945, se je and the “communists”. The only thing General Rupnik glasila: managed to achieve was having a Slovenian flag fluttering next to the German flag on the govern- »Prisegam pri Vsemogočnem Bogu, da bom ment building. There is one more thing that Kociper zvest, hraber in svojim nadrejenim pokoren, da revealed: only him and General Rupnik knew about bom v skupnem boju z nemško oboroženo silo, the German plan of forming a Slovenian SS unit from stoječo pod poveljstvom Vodje Velike Nemčije, the core of the Home Guard units. For this reason, SS SS-četami in policijo proti banditom in komu- General Rösener insisted on the words of the Home nizmu, kakor tudi njegovim zaveznikom, svoje Guard oath expressing loyalty to Adolf Hitler! dolžnosti vestno izpolnjeval za svojo slovensko The oath was publicly announced in the newspa- domovino, kot del svobodne Evrope. Za ta boj pers Jutro and Slovenec in 1944 and 1945 and was sem pripravljen žrtvovati tudi svoje življenje. worded as follows: Tako mi Bog pomagaj.« “I swear by God Almighty to be loyal, brave and Iz besedila prisege nedvoumno izhaja, da so obedient to my superiors; to stand in common strug- domobranci kot del SS-čet in policije prisegli gle with the German armed forces, standing under zvestobo Adolfu Hitlerju – vodji velike Nem- the command of the leader of Greater Germany, SS čije, za boj proti partizanom (banditom) in troops and the Police against bandits and com- komunizmu ter njihovim zaveznikom, sicer za munism and their allies; this duty I will carry out »svojo slovensko domovino« (in tudi pred slo- conscientiously for my Slovenian homeland as part vensko in nemško zastavo) kot »del svobodne of a free Europe. For this struggle I am also willing Evrope«, seveda po nacističnem vzorcu (arij- to sacrifice my life. So help me God.” sko čiste, če bodo tudi Slovenci sodelovali v SS -enotah). Po mojem mnenju je glavni poudarek The words of the oath undoubtedly show that v delu, ki govori, da so domobranci (pomožni) members of the Home Guard, as part of SS troops

148 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA del »SS-čet in policije«. To pomeni, da ne gre and the Police, swore loyalty to Adolf Hitler – leader za vojsko, temveč za (pomožne) SS in policij- of Greater Germany – in the struggle against parti- ske enote. In iz prisege enot SS smo tudi vide- sans (bandits) and communism and their allies; as li, da so zvestobo izrekali neposredno Hitlerju, it is, for “their Slovenian homeland” (and also before kar so storili tudi slovenski domobranci. the Slovenian and German flags) and as “part of a Privrženci domobranstva še vedno potvar- free Europe”, but in accordance with the Nazi mod- jajo omenjeno besedilo (Samo Hubad, Večno el (pure Aryan if Slovenians also participate in SS podtikanje, Demokracija, novembra 2002), saj units)! In my opinion, the main emphasis lies in the trdijo, da so prisegli »na slovensko zastavo in part saying that members of the Home Guard are an slovenski narod«, izpustili pa so tisti najbolj (auxiliary) part of “SS troops and the Police”, mean- kompromitirajoči del, ki govori o skupnem ing that the Home Guard was not an army but an boju s »SS-četami in policijo« in celo Rupnikov (auxiliary) SS and Police unit! Also, from the oath osebni pripis »komunizmu kakor tudi njego- of SS units we have seen that soldiers swore loyal- vim zaveznikom«, na to mesto pa so naknadno ty to Hitler directly, which was also the case with vstavljene besede »na slovenskem ozemlju«. Slovenian Home Guard members. Tako se zgodovine ne da ponarejati … Adherents of the Home Guard still falsify the Res je samo to, kar je osebna zasluga gene- above mentioned text (Samo Hubad, Večno pod- rala Rupnika, da so domobranci prisegali tudi tikanje, Demokracija, November 2002), claiming ob slovenski zastavi in himni Naprej zastave that Home Guard members swore “to the Slovenian slave! Vendar – tudi ob nemški zastavi in hi- flag and the Slovenian nation”; they leave out the mni ter nemškem meču! most compromising part regarding joint combat with Zgodovinarji in pričevalci so zbrali tudi “SS troops and the Police”, and even Rupnik’s per- druge dokaze o pravem pomenu domobranske sonally added phrase “communism and their allies”, prisege. Gre predvsem za govor SS-generala with the words “in the Slovenian territory” subse- Rösenerja pred prisego domobrancev 20. apri- quently added in this place. This, however, is not the la 1944, na Hitlerjev rojstni dan. Tedaj je pou- way to rewrite history. daril, da je on osebno dne 24. 9. 1943 ukazal The only truth is in the personal merit of General ustanoviti Slovensko domobranstvo iz belo- Rupnik who saw to Home Guard members also swear- gardističnih legionarjev, da so jih Nemci izuri- ing to the Slovenian flag and the anthem Naprej za- li, oblekli in oborožili (ter plačevali) za skupen stave slave (Forward, Flag of Glory)! However, the boj proti komunizmu in banditom (Slovenec, soldiers also swore allegiance to the German flag, the 21. 4. 1944). Drugič so domobranci prisegli German anthem and the German sword! 30. januarja 1945, na obletnico nacističnega prevzema oblasti v Nemčiji. Historians and witnesses have gathered other Ne gre pozabiti, da je SS-general Rösener evidence regarding the real meaning of the Home 1. 2. 1944 zapisal: »Slovensko domobranstvo Guard oath. This includes especially the speech of je deželna formacija, kar pomeni iz Slovencev SS General Rösener before the taking of the oath by na italijanskem bojnem območju vzpostavlje- Slovenian Home Guard members on 20 April 1944, na enota, ki mora izvajati čisto policijske na- on Hitler’s birthday, during which he emphasised loge. Slovensko domobranstvo smo ustanovi- that on 24 September 1943, he personally ordered li na osnovi odredbe vrhovnega komisarja v the establishment of the Slovenian Home Guard, operacijski coni Jadransko primorje. Te enote made up of White Guard legionnaires whom the so plačane iz sredstev vrhovnega komisarja Germans trained, clothed and armed (as well as oz. naravnost iz italijanskih državnih sred- paid) for joint combat against communism and the stev. Vrhovni šef tega Slovenskega domobran- bandits (Slovenec, 21 April 1944). Home Guard stva je vsakokratni višji vodja SS in policije.« members swore for the second time on 30 January Domobranci so bili tudi sodno podrejeni SS, 1945, at the anniversary of the Nazi takeover of vrhovni poveljnik SS in policije je bil reichsfü- power in Germany. hrer Heinrich Himmler. Torej ni šlo za nobeno It should not be forgotten that on 1 February vzporedno slovensko »narodno« vojsko, tem- 1944 SS General Rösener wrote: “Slovenian Home več za pomožne SS in policijske enote. Vsem Guard is a provincial formation, a unit formed of je navsezadnje tudi dobro znano, da domo- Slovenians in the Italian combat area, whose duty branski poveljniki niso mogli niti samostojno is implementing pure police tasks. Slovenian Home

MILITARY HISTORY • 149 Domobranska prisega, Ljubljana, 1944 Home Guard oath, Ljubljana, 1944 poveljevati v bojih proti partizanom, če ni bilo Guard was established on the basis of the order by poleg nemškega inštruktorja. Izjema so bili the Supreme Commissioner in the operational zone le odločilni boji za preboj prek Drave, da bi Adriatic Coast. These units receive payment from dosegli cono (ujetništvo) britanskih enot na the resources of the Supreme Commissioner or di- Koroškem. rectly from Italian state resources. Supreme Head of Po prisegi so domobranci v vojašnici pod- the Slovenian Home Guard is the current superior pisali še tako izjavo v nemščini (erklärung) in leader of the SS and the Police”. Home Guard mem- slovenščini: bers were also legally subordinate to the SS, while the Supreme Commander of the SS and the Police was »Sem prostovoljno pristopil v Slov. Domobran- Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. The Home Guard stvo, v boj in uničenje komunizma, kateri was thus not a parallel Slovenian “national” army je moji deželi že toliko gorja prinesel in celo but an auxiliary SS and police unit. And finally, we Evropo ogrozil. are all well familiar with the fact that Home Guard Moja trdna volja je, z vsemi mojimi močmi, v commanders could not autonomously command in zadovoljstvo moje dežele in Evrope, bojevati combats against the partisans, less a German in- se pod nemškim vodstvom, in za to tudi moje structor was present. The only exception regards de- življenje postaviti. cisive combats for the breakthrough across the Drava To obvezo sem danes s sveto prisego potrdil. River in order to reach the zone (captivity) of British Sem bil o dolžnostih in pravicah v službenem, units in the Carinthia region. disciplinarnem in gospodarskem oziru poučen. After taking the oath, Home Guard members Podpis:… « had to sign the following statement in the German (Erklärung!) and Slovenian languages: Vsebino prisege je dopolnjeval tudi obred. Nemški vojak je držal meč, na katerega so do- “I have voluntarily entered the Slovenian Home Guard mobranci položili levico, tri prste desnice pa to combat and destroy communism which has brought so dvignili in ponavljali slovenski del prisege, much sorrow to my country and endangered entire ki ga je izgovarjal njihov »pomožni« poveljnik Europe. – podpolkovnik Krener. Pred tem je nemški vo- It is my strong will to fight under German leadership jak prebral prisego v nemščini. with all my strength, to the satisfaction of my country

150 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA Ob prvi prisegi so bili navzoči (glej fotogra- and Europe, and to lay down my life for this cause. fijo): nemški generalni konzul Müller, hrvaški I have confirmed this commitment on this day by konzul Salih Baljić, SS-Ortsgruppenführer taking a sacred oath. Grubitz, SS-Standartenführer Schimmelpfe- I have been informed of my duties and rights as nig, podpolkovnik Balke kot zvezni častnik regards the official, disciplinary and economic Wehrmachta, SS-generalporočnik in višji aspects. Signature: … “ vodja SS Erwin Rösener ter divizijski general The ceremony itself also bore witness to the con- Leon Rupnik, predsednik Ljubljanske pokraji- tents of the oath. A German soldier held a sword on ne. which Home Guard members laid their left hands; Kot zanimivost še navajam, da nemški ča- they raised three fingers on their right hands and re- stniki niso prišli na ljubljanski stadion oz. peated the Slovenian part of the oath pronounced by na kraj prisege šele po opravljeni maši ško- their “auxiliary” commander – Lieutenant Colonel fa Gregorija Rožmana zaradi taktičnih ali Krener. Beforehand, a German soldier read the oath drugih razlogov (ali nasprotno, da se je škof in the German language. Rožman »umaknil« iz posebnih »političnih« The following people were present at the first razlogov). Nič od tega ni res! Šlo je preprosto oath-taking (see the photograph): German Consul za to, da so častili le germansko božanstvo General Müller, Croatian Consul Salih Baljić, SS- Julla in niso hoteli biti navzoči pri krščan- Ortsgruppenführer Grubitz, SS-Standartenführer skem bogoslužju. Schimmelpfenig, Lieutenant Colonel Balke as a In še zadnji dokaz, komu so bili domobran- Wehrmacht federal officer, SS-Lieutenant General ci neposredno podrejeni. Ob drugi prisegi, and SS superior leader Erwin Rösener, and Division januarja 1945, je SS-general Rösener osebno General Leon Rupnik, president of the Province of prebral ukaz, s katerim je povišal poveljnika Ljubljana. Slovenskega domobranstva podpolkovnika It is interesting to note that German officers Franca Krenerja v čin polkovnika, stotnika only came to the Ljubljana stadium, the place of the Vuka Rupnika v čin majorja, 44 častnikov v oath, after the end of mass which was conducted by višje čine, 3 podnarednike v narednike, 50 Bishop Gregorij Rožman, supposedly on the grounds kaplarjev v podnarednike in 70 domobrancev of tactical and other reasons (or just the opposite, v kaplarje. Vsem je tudi osebno podelil pisne that bishop Rožman “withdrew” for special “politi- ukaze – listine. Razdelil pa je tudi več odli- cal” reasons). However, none of this is true! The rea- kovanj in značk za ranjence. Tako sta železni son is simply the fact that they only worshipped the križec II. razreda prejela major Vuk Rupnik in German deity Julla and did not wish to be present at stotnik Drago Furlan. a Christian service. And here is the last piece of evidence regarding the Slovensko četništvo (Plava garda) issue of whom Home Guard members were directly – Jugoslovanska vojska v domovini subordinate to. During the second oath-taking, in (1941–1945) January 1945, SS General Rösener personally read the order for the promotion of the Slovenian Home Kapetan Uroš Šušterič, nedavno razglašeni Guard commander, Lieutenant Colonel Franc Krener, četniški vojvoda »Triglavski«, ni mogel veri- to the rank of Colonel, Captain Vuk Rupnik to the ficirati spodaj navedene prisege pripadnikov rank of Major, 44 officers to higher ranks, 3 sub-ser- JVvD, ker so v nekaterih krajih nekdanje Jugo- geants to the ranks of sergeants, 50 corporals to the slavije in enotah poveljniki četniški korpusov ranks of sub-sergeants and 70 Home Guard members spoštovali tudi tradicionalne običaje. Ob vsaki to the ranks of corporals. He also presented all of prisegi so pravoslavni duhovniki blagoslavlja- them with written orders - documents. He distribut- li zaprisežene borce in starešine. Prisega se je ed several decorations and badges for the wounded. glasila: »Ja, (čin, ime i prezime), zaklinjem se The Iron Cross II. Class was awarded to Major Vuk svemogućim Bogom, da ću Vrhovnom Zapove- Rupnik and Captain Drago Furlan. dniku sve vojne sile, Kralju Jugoslavije Petru II., svagda i u svim prilikama, biti veran, svom du- Slovenian Chetniks (Blue Guard) – Yugoslav šom odan i poslušan; da ću se za Kralja i Otadž- Army in the Homeland (1941–1945) binu junački boriti; da Vojničku zastavu nigde i nikad neću izneveriti i da ću zapovesti svih Captain Uroš Šušterič, recently proclaimed Chetnik

MILITARY HISTORY • 151 Duke “of Triglav”, could not verify the below men- tioned oath of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland (YAH) members, as in some units and parts of the former Yugoslavia Chetnik corps commanders also respected traditional practices. For every oath, Orthodox priests would bless the sworn fighters and superiors. The oath was worded as follows:

“Ja, (čin, ime i prezime), zaklinjem se svemogućim Bogom, da ću Vrhovnom Zapovedniku sve vojne sile, Kralju Jugoslavije Petru II., svagda i u svim prilikama, biti veran, svom dušom odan i poslušan; da ću se za Kralja i Otadžbinu junački boriti; da Vojničku zastavu nigde i nikad neću izneveriti i da ću zapovesti svih pretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati i verno izvršavati. Tako mi Bog pomogao!”

The English translation of the oath:

“I, (rank, name and surname), swear by God Almighty, to be at all times and in every circum- stance loyal, deeply devoted and obedient to the Supreme Commander of all armed forces, King Peter II; to heroically fight for the King and the home- Prisega Slovenske narodne vojske, 1945 (Arhiv VZI Beograd, štev. 1/1-6, S-27) land; to nowhere and never desecrate the military Slovenian National Army oath, 1945 flag and to obey and faithfully execute orders of all (Military History Institute Archives, Belgrade, No. 1/1-6, S-27) superiors. So help me God!”

This Chetnik oath was taken by members of the pretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati i verno iz- Slovenian Chetniks (Blue Guard members), either vršavati. Tako mi Bog pomogao!« individually (officers) or collectively (non-commis- sioned officers and soldiers), presumably also in the V slovenskem prevodu bi se prisega glasila presence of curates (Catholic). My estimate is that takole: the oath was taken by approximately 800 YAH mem- bers in Slovenia. »Jaz, (čin, ime in priimek), prisegam pri vse- Styria chetniks (Katja Zupanič, Četništvo na mogočnem Bogu, da bom vrhovnemu poveljni- Štajerskem, Maribor, 2004, p. 80) took the oath col- ku vseh oboroženih sil kralju Petru Drugemu lectively. On the night of 28 June 1944, on St. Vitus’ vedno in v vseh okoliščinah zvest, z vso dušo Day, they gathered in the woods of Metava near St. vdan in poslušen; da se bom pogumno bojeval Peter, one hundred of them who “... by the unfurled za kralja in domovino; da nikjer in nikdar ne Yugoslav flag and by God, swore to King Peter II”. On bom onečastil vojaške zastave ter da bom ubo- this occasion everyone received Yugoslav cockades, gal in zvesto izvrševal ukaze vseh nadrejenih officers larger ones, combatants smaller. Their ille- starešin. Tako mi Bog pomagaj!« gal fight was accompanied by the slogan: “Do not To četniško prisego so pripadniki slovenskih expose precious human lives to a futile combat with četnikov (plavogardistov) izrekali posamično the Germans or the partisans”. During his speech, (častniki) ali skupinsko (podčastniki in voja- commander Zmagoslav said that “Chetnik move- ki), menda tudi ob navzočnosti kuratov (ka- ment in Styria operates in the most difficult terrain, toliških). Ocenjujem, da je to prisego izreklo namely within the borders of the German Reich”. In približno 800 pripadnikov JVvD – v Sloveniji. spirit, he united Styria Chetniks with the Chetniks in Štajerski četniki (Katja Zupanič, Četništvo Croatia and Serbia. He urged them to patiently wait na Štajerskem, Maribor, 2004, str. 80) so prise- for the great moment and cried out: “Forward, Flag gli skupinsko. Ponoči 28. junija 1944, na Vidov of Glory! To battle, heroic blood! For the benefit of

152 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA dan, so se zbrali v gozdu v Metavi pri Sv. Pe- the Fatherland, let the rifle speak!” tru, njih sto, ki so »… ob razviti jugoslovanski It is interesting to note that this oath was also zastavi pri Bogu prisegli kralju Petru II. Ob tej partially adopted by officers of the Slovenian Home priliki so vsi prejeli jugoslovanske kokarde, ofi- Guard who still believed they were bound by the oath cirji večje, borci manjše. Njihov ilegalni boj je to the Supreme Commander – King Peter II. spremljalo geslo: »Ne izpostavljal dragocenih človeških življenj v neplodnem boju z Nemci On the basis of the contents of the Chetnik oath I ali partizani. V govoru je poveljnik Zmagoslav estimate that it was also acceptable to the so-called dejal, da »ima četništvo na Štajerskem najtežji part of the “Slovenian underground movement”, as it teren, ker delujejo v mejah nemškega Reicha. V contains no elements of collaboration with the occu- duhu jih je združil s četniki na Hrvaškem in v pier or combat against the partisans. However, it is Srbiji. Pozval jih je na čakanje za veliki trenutek also true that the contents of the oath cannot always in zavpil: »Naprej zastave slave! Na boj junaška reflect the actual situation in a certain area and at kri! Za blagor očetnjave, naj puška govori!« a certain time. As it was, the Italians and Germans were also secretly supporting the Chetniks. Zanimivo je, da so to prisego delno sprejeli tudi častniki Slovenskega domobranstva, ki so Slovenian National Army (1944–1945) še vedno menili, da jih zavezuje prisega vrhov- nemu poveljniku – kralju Petru II. By order number 39, classified as top secret, dat- Menim, da je bila četniška prisega tudi za- ed 25 April 1944, the then acting commander of the radi vsebine sprejemljiva za t. i. del »sloven- Yugoslav Army in Slovenia, General Račič, in fact a ske ilegale«, saj v njej ni nobenih elementov Brigadier General Vladimir Vauhnik, began forming kolaboracije z okupatorjem ali boja proti par- the so-called Slovenian National Army. tizanom. Seveda pa vsebina prisege ne more Article 10 of the signed Decree of the National vedno odražati dejanskih razmer na določe- Committee for Slovenia on the establishment of the nem terenu in v nekem obdobju. Tudi Italijani Slovenian National Army, dated 21 January 1945, in Nemci so namreč prikrito podpirali četnike. reads as follows: “Members of the Slovenian National Army swear loyalty to the King and the Slovenian Slovenska narodna vojska nation.” (1944–1945) Article 5 of the Decree on the Regulation of the Slovenian National Army, dated 5 April 1945 (Military V ukazu štev. 39, strogo zaupno, z dne 25. History Institute Archives, Belgrade, No. 1/1 6, Š–274), aprila 1944, je tedanji v. d. poveljnika Jugoslo- also includes an oath which is worded as follows: vanske vojske v Sloveniji, general Račič, v re- snici brigadni general Vladimir Vauhnik, začel “I, (name and surname), swear by God Almighty oblikovati t. i. Slovensko narodno vojsko. to be obedient to the Supreme Commander of the V podpisani uredbi Narodnega odbora za Slovenian National Army, King Peter II; to be loyal Slovenijo o ustanovitvi Slovenske narodne voj- and deeply devoted to the Slovenian nation; to ske z dne 21. 1. 1945 je v 10. členu zapisano: heroically fight for the Slovenian nation, all that is »Pripadniki Slovenske narodne vojske priseže- sacred to it, and for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia; to jo zvestobo kralju in slovenskemu narodu.« nowhere and never betray the military flag and to V uredbi o ureditvi Slovenske narodne voj- obey and loyally fulfil commands of all superiors ske z dne 5. aprila 1945 (Arhiv VZI, Beograd, appointed by the National Committee for Slovenia. štev. 1/1 6, Š–274), člen 5, je navedena tudi So help me God Almighty!” prisega, ki naj bi se glasila takole: Although the Slovenian National Army was estab- »Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri vsemo- lished on 5 May 1945, it seems that the mentioned gočnem Bogu, da bom Vrhovnemu poveljniku oath was not taken by any of the members of the slovenske narodne vojske kralju Petru II. poslu- Slovenian Home Guard which was supposed to con- šen, slovenskemu narodu pa zvest in iz vse duše stitute the core of this envisioned “army”. We only vdan, da se bom za slovenski narod in njegove know that in the middle of April 1945, soldiers of the svetinje ter kraljevino Jugoslavijo junaško Styria Chetnik detachment received identity cards boril, da se ne bom nikjer in nikoli izneveril as members of the Slovenian Army of the Yugoslav

MILITARY HISTORY • 153 vojaški zastavi ter da bom poslušal in zvesto Army in the Homeland, a sample of which was izpolnjeval zapovedi vseh od narodnega odbora given to me in May 2006 by the still living Chetnik za Slovenijo postavljenih nadrejenih starešin. Sergeant “Rado” (see facsimile). Naj mi pri tem pomaga Vsemogočni Bog!« Partisan Army – National Liberation Army Čeprav je bila Slovenska narodna vojska (NLA) and Partisan Detachments (PD) of ustanovljena 5. 5. 1945, se zdi, da navedene Slovenia (1941–1945) prisege ni izrekel noben pripadnik Slovenske- ga domobranstva, ki naj bi sestavljalo jedro te The partisan military oath expressed loyalty to zamišljene »vojske«. Vemo samo, da so sredi the nation and the homeland in the struggle against aprila 1945 vojaki štajerskega četniškega odre- the occupier and national traitors. There were two da dobili izkaznice pripadnikov Slovenske ar- official variants, while different places also included made Jugoslovanske vojske v domovini, katere their own special additions to the oath. primerek mi je maja 2006 posredoval še živeči The first variant was published right at the be- četniški narednik »Rado« (glej faksimile). ginning of the revolt against the occupier, in the Supreme Command Bulletin of the NLA and PD of Partizanska vojska – NOV in PO Yugoslavia, number 2, dated 19 August 1941: Slovenije (1941–1945) “Mi, narodni partizani Jugoslavije, latili smo se oružja za nemilosrdnu borbu protiv krvoločnih Partizanska vojaška prisega je pravzaprav neprijatelja koji porobiše našu zemlju i istrebljuju izražala zvestobo narodu in domovini v boju naše narode. U ime slobode i pravde našeg naroda, proti okupatorju in domačim izdajalcem. Ura- zaklinjemo se da ćemo disciplinovano, uporno i dno sta obstojali dve različici, v različnih kra- neustrašivo, ne štedeći svoje krvi i živote, voditi jih pa je imela tudi posebne dodatke. borbu do potpunog uništenja fašističkog osvajača i Prva različica je bila objavljena takoj na za- svih narodnih izdajnika”. četku upora proti okupatorju v biltenu Vrhov- nega štaba NOV in POJ štev. 2 z dne 19. 8. 1941: English translation:

»Mi, narodni partizani Jugoslavije, latili smo “We, national partisans of Yugoslavia, have taken se oružja za nemilosrdnu borbu protiv krvo- up arms in an inexorable struggle against the ločnih neprijatelja koji porobiše našu zemlju i bloodthirsty enemy who has enslaved our homeland istrebljuju naše narode. U ime slobode i pravde and plans to exterminate our peoples. In the name našeg naroda, zaklinjemo se da ćemo disci- of freedom and justice of our nation, we swear to plinovano, uporno i neustrašivo, ne štedeći fight in a disciplined manner, with perseverance svoje krvi i živote, voditi borbu do potpunog and courage, sacrificing our own blood and lives, uništenja fašističkog osvajača i svih narodnih until complete destruction of the fascist conqueror izdajnika«. and all national traitors.”

V prevodu bi se glasila takole: Later, in March 1942 and May 1943, the Supreme Command made slight changes to the military oath, »Mi, ljudski partizani Jugoslavije, smo prijeli but the first four components remained – nation, za orožje za neizprosen boj proti krvoločnemu homeland, occupier and national traitors. This parti- sovražniku, ki je zasužnjil našo domovino san oath thus includes no mention of socialist revolu- in namerava iztrebiti naše narode. V imenu tion or party, and especially no reference to commu- svobode in pravice našega naroda prisegamo, nism. As estimated by the General Staff of the Yugoslav da se bomo bojevali disciplinirano, vztrajno in People’s Army, the Yugoslav Army numbered approxi- pogumno, žrtvujoč tudi svojo kri in življenje,vse mately 800,000 soldiers - partisans in May 1945, do popolnega uničenja fašističnega osvajalca in meaning that, also taking into account those killed in vseh narodnih izdajalcev.« action, this oath was taken by about a million mem- bers of all nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia. Pozneje, marca 1942 in maja 1943, je VŠ malce spremenil to vojaško prisego, vendar so Article 6 of the “Partisan Act” (National Libera- prve štiri sestavine ostale – narod, domovina, tion War in Slovenia 1941-1945, Ljubljana, 1978)

154 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA okupator in domači izdajalci. V tej partizanski prescribed the following “partisan oath”: prisegi ni nobene socialistične revolucije ali “I, partisan of the Liberation People’s Army of the partije, še manj pa komunizma. Po ocenah GŠ Slovenian nation, fighting alongside the famous JLA je maja 1945 JA štela približno 800.000 Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army of the Soviet borcev – partizanov. To pomeni, če upošteva- Union and all other freedom fighting nations, for mo tudi padle, da je to partizansko prisego the liberation and unification of the Slovenian na- izreklo približno milijon pripadnikov vseh na- tion, for brotherhood and peace among nations and rodov in narodnosti Jugoslavije! people, for better future of the working people, Po čl. 6 »partizanskega zakona« (Narodno- swear, osvobodilna vojna na Slovenskem 1941–1945, before my nation and fellow combatants, to dedicate Ljubljana, 1978) je bila določena ta »partizan- all my strength and capabilities to the liberation ska prisega«: cause of the Slovenian nation, the working people and all the progressive and freedom-loving human- »Jaz, partizan osvobodilne ljudske armade ity in the holy war against the fascist oppressors slovenskega naroda, ki se ob boku slavne De- and barbarians; lavske-Kmečke-Rdeče Armade Sovjetske Zveze not to leave the partisan ranks which I have joined ter vseh ostalih za svobodo se borečih narodov, voluntarily and consciously and not to lay down my borim za osvoboditev in združitev slovenske- arms until complete fulfilment of the great libera- ga naroda, za bratstvo in mir med narodi in tion cause of the Slovenian nation. I swear to defend med ljudmi, za srečnejšo bodočnost delovnega the honour and inviolability of the partisan flag ljudstva, with my blood in the struggle for this great libera- prisegam tion cause and, if necessary, to also sacrifice my life. pred svojim narodom in svojimi sobojevniki: da To the fight for freedom!” bom oddal vse svoje sile in vse svoje sposobnosti osvobodilni stvari slovenskega naroda, delov- The below-cited variant which I have taken from nega ljudstva ter vsega naprednega in svobodo- the Slovenian Wikipedia (Lešnik D. & Tomc G., Rdeče ljubnega človeštva v sveti vojni proti fašističnim in Črno, Ljubljana, 1995) is similar, while both differ tlačiteljem in barbarom; from the Yugoslav variant. da ne bom zapustil partizanskih vrst, v katere sem prostovoljno in zavestno vstopil in ne od- “I, partisan of the Liberation People’s Army of the ložil orožja do popolnega uresničenja velikega Slovenian nation, fighting alongside the famous osvobodilnega cilja slovenskega naroda. Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army of the Soviet Prisegam, da bom v boju za te velike osvobodil- Union and all other freedom fighting nations, for ne cilje s svojo krvjo branil čast in nedotaklji- the liberation and unification of the Slovenian vost naše partizanske zastave in da bom, če bo nation, for brotherhood and peace among nations to potrebno, žrtvoval tudi svoje življenje. and people, for better future of the working people, Za svobodo v boj!« swear before my nation and fellow combatants to dedicate all my strength and capabilities to the lib- Različica, ki sem jo povzel po slovenski Wi- eration cause of the Slovenian nation, the working kipediji (Lešnik D. & Tomc G., Rdeče in Črno, people and all the progressive humanity in the holy Ljubljana, 1995), je podobna, obe pa se razli- war against the fascist oppressors and barbarians; kujeta od jugoslovanske. Glasila se je takole: I swear not to leave the partisan ranks which I have joined voluntarily and consciously and not to lay »Jaz, partizan osvobodilne ljudske armade down my arms until complete victory over the fas- slovenskega naroda, ki se ob boku slavne De- cist occupiers and complete fulfilment of the great lavske-Kmečke-Rdeče Armade Sovjetske Zveze liberation cause of the Slovenian nation. I swear to ter vseh ostalih za svobodo se borečih narodov, defend the honour and inviolability of the partisan borim za osvoboditev in združitev slovenskega flag with my blood for this great liberation cause naroda, za bratstvo in mir med narodi in med and, if necessary, to also sacrifice my life. ljudmi, za srečnejšo bodočnost delovnega ljud- To the fight for freedom!” stva, prisegam pred svojim narodom in svojimi sobojevniki, da bom oddal vse svoje sile in vse This is, as usual, a Slovenian peculiarity. svoje sposobnosti osvobodilni stvari slovenskega

MILITARY HISTORY • 155 naroda, delovnega ljudstva in vsega napre- Yugoslav Army (YA) – Yugoslav People’s dnega človeštva v sveti vojni proti fašističnim Army (YPA) tlačiteljem in barbarom, da ne bom zapustil partizanskih vrst, v katere sem prostovoljno in Immediately after the liberation in 1945, the YPA zavestno vstopil, in ne da bi odložil orožja do military oath or solemn vow changed frequently. popolne zmage nad fašističnimi okupatorji, do With the YPA Act, 1965 (Military Encyclopaedia, 9, popolnega uresničenja velikega osvobodilnega Belgrade, 1962), the following oath was adopted: cilja slovenskega naroda. Prisegam, da bom za te velike osvobodilne cilje s svojo krvjo branil “Ja, (rođeno ime i prezime) svečano se obavezujem, čast in nedotakljivost naše partizanske zasta- da ću verno služiti svom narodu, da ću braniti svoju ve in da bom, če bo to potrebno, žrtvoval tudi otadžbinu Socijalističku Federativnu Republiku svoje življenje. Za svobodo v boj!« Jugoslaviju, da ću čuvati bratstvo i jedinstvo naših naroda i ugled Jugoslovenske narodne armije i da Slovenska posebnost torej, kot ponavadi. ću savesno izvršavati naređenja mojih starešina. Uvek ću biti spreman da se borim za slobodu i čast JA – JLA otadžbine, ne žaleći da u toj borbi dam i svoj život”.

Takoj po osvoboditvi leta 1945 so vojaško The English translation of this solemn vow was prisego ali slovesno zaobljubo JLA pogosto worded as follows: spreminjali. Z zakonom o JLA, 1965 (Vojna enciklopedija, 9, Beograd, 1962) je bila spre- “I, (birth name and surname), solemnly swear to jeta ta prisega: loyally serve my nation, defend my Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, preserve the brotherhood »Ja, (rođeno ime i prezime) svečano se obave- and unity of our peoples and the reputation of the zujem, da ću verno služiti svom narodu, da ću Yugoslav People’s Army, and loyally execute my braniti svoju otadžbinu Socijalističku Federativ- superiors’ orders. I will always be willing to fight for nu Republiku Jugoslaviju, da ću čuvati bratstvo the freedom and honour of my homeland and will i jedinstvo naših naroda i ugled Jugoslovenske not hesitate to lay down my life in this fight.” narodne armije i da ću savesno izvršavati na- ređenja mojih starešina. Uvek ću biti spreman The last variant of the solemn vow, adopted after da se borim za slobodu i čast otadžbine, ne 1974, reads as follows: žaleći da u toj borbi dam i svoj život.«. “Ja, (rodjeno i porodično ime) svečano se obavezu- V prevodu se je slovesna zaobljuba glasila jem, da ću braniti nezavisnost, ustavni poredak, takole: nepovredivost i celovitost Sociajalističke Federativne Republike Jugoslavije i da ću čuvati i razvijati »Jaz, (rojstno ime in priimek), slovesno oblju- bratstvo i jedinstvo naših naroda i narodnosti. bljam, da bom zvesto služil svojemu narodu, Uvek ću savesno i discplinovano izvršavati obaveze i da bom branil svojo Socialistično Federativno dužnosti branioca svoje samoupravne socijalističke Republiko Jugoslavijo, da bom varoval bratstvo domovine i biti spreman, da se borim za njenu in enotnost naših narodov in ugled Jugoslovan- slobodu i čast, ne žaleći da u toj borbi dam i svoj ske ljudske armade in da bom predano izvrše- život”. val ukaze starešin. Vedno se bom pripravljen bojevati za svobodo in čast svoje domovine, in English translation: ne bom obžaloval, da v tem boju dam tudi svoje življenje.« “I, (name and surname), solemnly swear to defend the independence, the constitutional structure and Zadnja različica slovesno zaobljube, sprejeta the integrity of the Socialist Federal Republic of po letu 1974, pa je taka: Yugoslavia, and to preserve and promote brother- hood and unity of our nations and nationalities. »Ja, (rodjeno i porodično ime) svečano se oba- I will always strictly and in a disciplined manner vezujem, da ću braniti nezavisnost, ustavni po- execute the obligations and duties as defender of redak, nepovredivost i celovitost Sociajalističke my self-governing socialist homeland and fight for

156 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA Federativne Republike Jugoslavije i da ću čuva- ti i razvijati bratstvo i jedinstvo naših naroda i narodnosti. Uvek ću savesno i discplinovano izvršavati obaveze i dužnosti branioca svoje samoupravne socijalističke domovine i biti spreman, da se borim za njenu slobodu i čast, ne žaleći da u toj borbi dam i svoj život«.

V prevodu se glasi takole:

»Jaz, (ime in priimek) slovesno obljubljam, da bom branil neodvisnost, ustavni ustroj, neokr- njenost in celovitost Socialistične Federativne Republike Jugoslavije in da bom varoval in razvijal bratstvo in enotnost naših narodov in narodnosti. Vedno bom dosledno in disciplinira- no izvrševal obveze in dolžnosti branilca svoje samoupravne socialistične domovine in se bom bojeval za njeno svobodo in čast, ter ne bom ob- žaloval, da v tej boju dam tudi svoje življenje.«

S pravili službe JLA so leta 1957 predpisali slovesnost, na katero so bili povabljeni starši, sorodniki in prijatelji vojakov. Vojakom so po- deljevali tudi listino »slovesne zaobljube« (glej primerek) z navedbo datuma in kraja prisege. Gojenci vojaških akademij smo slovesno za- obljubo podali skupinsko, po šolanju pa smo Diploma o svečani prisegi v JLA podpisali še pisno zaobljubo (prisego), ki so YPA solemn oath certificate jo hranili v dosjeju kadrovskih podatkov. Do- bro se spomnim, da me je ob podpisovanju oz. its freedom and honour, and will not hesitate to lay branju zadnjega stavka o »darovanju« življenja down my life in this fight.” spreletel nekakšen srh. The YPA Service Regulation from 1957 prescribes Ljudska milica a solemn ceremony to which parents, relatives and friends of soldiers were also invited. In the end, sol- Za primerjavo med prisego vojakov in pri- diers also received a “solemn oath” document (see padnikov policije (tudi domobrancev) navajam the copy), with the date and location of the oath- prisego slovenskih miličnikov iz leta 1946, ki taking. Students of military academies took a solemn jo je v 45. členu predpisoval Zakon o ljudski oath collectively and, after completing their studies, milici (Uradni službeni list RS, 1946). Glasila signed a written oath which was kept in the person- se je takole: nel file. I still remember that I shuddered as I was signing the oath and reading the last sentence of »Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri svoji časti “laying down” my life! in življenju, da bom svojo službo opravljal po zakonih in ukazih nadrejenih starešin vestno, National Militia požrtvovalno in nepristransko; da bom disci- pliniran in da bom brezpogojno izvrševal ukaze For comparison of the oath of soldiers and po- nadrejenih starešin; da bom varoval uradne lice members (also Home Guard members) I cite the tajnosti in da bom na vsakem mestu varoval oath of Slovenian militiamen from 1946, prescribed ugled ljudske milice. Prisegam, da bom budno by Article 45 of the National Militia Act (Official varoval pridobitve narodnoosvobodilnega boja Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, 1946). The oath in ustavni red, ljudsko oblast ter bratstvo in was worded as follows:

MILITARY HISTORY • 157 enotnost naših narodov, da bom zvesto izpol- “I, (name and surname), swear by my honour njeval naloge za okrepitev in razvoj teh prido- and life to loyally, self-sacrificially and impartially bitev in da bom do zadnjega diha zvest narodu perform my service in line with the laws and orders in svoji domovini Federativni ljudski republiki of my superiors; to unconditionally and in a disci- Jugoslaviji. Če prekršim to svojo slovesno prise- plined manner execute my superiors’ orders; to pro- go, naj me zadene neusmiljena kazen vojaške- tect official secrets and the reputation of the national ga zakona, splošno sovraštvo in prezir naših militia at any time and place. I swear to be alert narodov in prekletstvo domovine.« in protecting the gains of the national liberation struggle, the constitutional order, national author- Neobvezen sklep ity and the brotherhood and unity of our nations; to loyally execute tasks for the reinforcement and de- Ob koncu tega zgodovinskega opisa, kdaj, velopment of these gains and to remain loyal to my komu in kaj so slovenski uporniki, prostovoljci nation and homeland, the Federal People’s Republic in vojaki prisegali ali (za)obljubljali, ne bom of Yugoslavia, to the last breath. Should I break this delal nobene znanstvene analize niti primer- solemn oath, I may be ruthlessly punished by mili- jave, kaj je katera vojaška prisega pomenila v tary law, endure general hatred and contempt of our življenju vojaka oz. vojske. Zlasti ne želim raz- nations and be cursed by my homeland.” pravljati o posledicah neizpolnjevanja prisege ali hujših kršitev. Ker naj bi vsaka prekršitev Optional Conclusion vojaške prisege pomenila tudi smrtno obsodbo – v prisegi AOV je bilo to tudi neposredno pou- In the conclusion of this historical description of darjeno –, sem se odločil, da ta opis končam z when, to whom and with what words the Slovenian izkušnjo najstarejše vojske na svetu, dva tisoč insurgents, volunteers and soldiers swore or prom- let stare cerkvene »vojske«. ised, I will not conduct any scientific analysis or mutual comparison of the significance a certain Priznani slovenski teolog, dr. Jožef Korošak military oath had in the life of a soldier or army. I – pater Bruno, mi je odgovoril takole: particularly do not wish to discuss the consequences »Načelno naj bi veljalo, da se redovne in of non-compliance with an oath or its serious viola- duhovniške zaobljube ne morejo primerjati s tion. As every violation of a military oath resulted in prisegami ali zaobljubami vojakov. a death sentence – the oath of the Austro-Hungarian Army is very explicit in this regard – I have decided Bog je edini, ki lahko zahteva, da mu žr- to conclude this description with the experience of tvujemo tudi naše življenje. V vseh stoletjih the oldest army in the world, the two thousand year človeštva pa so se vedno našli številni vladarji, old church “army”. od faraonov do različnih partijskih šefov, ki The renowned Slovenian theologian, Dr. Jožef so si domišljali, da jim je Bog podelil oblast Korošak – Father Bruno, gave the following razpolagati z življenjem drugih, ki z različnimi statement: vrstami priseg izjavijo, da so pripravljeni zanje “As a principle, monastic and ecclesiastical vows ali za njihove ideologije žrtvovati tudi svoje ži- may not be compared to oaths and promises of vljenje, sprejemati sankcije in podobno. soldiers. Kristus je jasno prepovedal vsake vrste pri- God is the only one who can demand that we sege. V evangeliju po Mateju 5, 34.37 je reče- sacrifice our lives to him. In the course of centuries, no: »Jaz pa vam pravim: sploh ne prisegajte!« there were numerous rulers, from pharaohs to vari- in po Jakobu 5, 12: » Predvsem pa, moji bratje, ous party leaders, who believed God had given them ne prisegajte, ne pri nebu ne pri zemlji, ne s the authority to dispose with the lives of others who kako drugo prisego.« had to take various oaths to state they are willing to sacrifice their own lives for these leaders and their Bodoči vojaški ordinariat SV bo verjetno ideologies, to accept punishments and so on. moral zahtevati ukinitev »slovesne prisege« v Christ has clearly forbidden all kinds of oaths. In Slovenski vojski. V poklicni vojski je prisega le Matthew 5:34-37 it is written: ‘But I say unto you, lepotni dodatek in spomin na nekdanje prave swear not at all!’ and in James 5:12: ‘But above all vojaške prisege. things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath’.

158 • VOJAŠKA ZGODOVINA Osnovni viri The future military ordinariate of the Slovenian Armed Forces will probably have to demand the abo- ARS – ortneški graščinski arhiv, Ljubljana lition of the ‘solemn oath’ in the Slovenian Armed Bjelajac, dr. Mile, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije, Be- Forces. In a professional army, the oath is merely an ograd, 1994 ornament and a memory of onetime real military Kociper, dr. Stanko, Kar sem živel, Ljubljana, oaths.” 1996 Kranjc, F. Marijan, Slovenska vojaška inteligen- Basic Bibliography: ca, Grosuplje, 2005 NOV na Slovenskem 1941–1945, Ljubljana, - ARS (Archives of the Republic of Slovenia) – 1978 ortneški graščinski arhiv (Ortnek Castle Archives), Stato Maggiore dell'esercito, Reparto Affari Ljubljana Generali – Ufficio Storico, Roma, 13. 12. - Bjelajac, Dr. Mile, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije (Army 2007 – REGOLAMNETO DI DISCIPLINA of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes/ MILITARE, 1942 – Giuramento Yugoslavia), Belgrade, 1994 Vojaškozgodovinski arhiv (inštitut), Beograd - Kociper, Dr. Stanko, Kar sem živel (What I Have Vojna enciklopedija, Beograd, 1967 Lived), Ljubljana, 1996 www.Wikipedija različnih držav – vojaška - Kranjc, F. Marijan, Slovenska vojaška inteligen- prisega ca (Slovenian Military Intelligence), Grosuplje, 2005 - NOV na Slovenskem 1941–1945 (People’s Liberation Army in Slovenia 1941-1945), Ljubljana, 1978 - Stato Maggiore dell’esercito, Reparto Affari Generali – Ufficio Storico, Roma, 13 December 2007 – REGOLAMNETO DI DISCIPLINA MILITARE, 1942 - Giuramento - Vojaškozgodovinski arhiv (inštitut) (Military History Institute Archives), Belgrade - Vojna enciklopedija (War Encyclopaedia), Belgrade, 1967 - www.wikipedia of various countries – vojaška prisega (military oath)

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