Heroes of Inspiration – Faces of an Occupied City

At a time when the world seems to have ceased making sense, we turn more and more often to hope and inspiration.

“The Nazi occupation of the Slovenian region of Štajerska in the spring of 1941 was the worst affliction possible to Slovenians,” noted Dr Irena Mavrič Žižek. Indeed, the spring 1941 was extremely tough on Slovenians. Fearsome were news about the occupying force coming from the north, leaving behind them only devastation, introduction of curfew, deprivation of freedom of movement, ban on using the mother tongue, closure of Slovenian offices, extortionof intellectuals, priests, cultural workers, etc.

During the convulsions, stories were unfolding across the city, featuring striking individuals. They advertised their presence with their humanity and courage, which at the time could be a matter of life and death. We wish to present some excerpts from the lives of people who during World War II were able to overcome the political and ideological gaps and bring to the foreground the man with the need for freedom and love.

The year 2020 seems to be putting us to the test again. We might end up writing new stories that will serve as an inspiration to the generations to come and to mark as out as citizens, Slovenians and humans in general.

We will be documenting the good and the bad.