WW2 history: Slovenia's oversea brigades
The soldiers of the Slovenian Oversea brigades were mainly soldiers who fought before in the Italian army. One has to keep in mind that today's Primorska region was part of Italy until the capitulation of Mussolini in 1943. The Slovenians living on the coast suffered surpression from Italian side, they even started a revolt during the time of occupation.
The Slovene soldiers in the Italian army were spread across whole Europe, even in Africa they were to be found. After the capitulation, they started to support the Allies and the partisan movement. As oversea soldiers, they also worked for British secret services and contributed to the victory of the Allies. Though experienced soldiers and partisans, the fighters of the Oversea Brigades were not recognized as "real" partisans in post-war Yugoslavia.
The whole story of the "Prekomorci" is told in the Museum of Contemporary History in Ljubljana's Tivoli Park. Interviews with former soldiers, maps, film material, photos and equipment of the soldiers are also part of the informative exhibit, which will be on display until May.
