Die Slowenen als Flüchtlinge im Ersten Weltkrieg

Abstract

The outbreak of World War I smashed the Slovenes, as also other nations, in the devastating circle of a modern industrialized war. Since the early months of the war the Slovenian population has been confronted with the issue of war refugees. In September 1914, the first refugees from Galicia entered the Slovenian territory. Although many of them helped on the fields and during the harvest season the Slovenes often disliked the newcomers. In the middle of 1915, the refugees left the Slovenian territory and went back home. Almost at the same time, with the Italian war declaration to Austria-Hungary, a part of the Slovenes became refugees during World War I. Those of them who could afford it stayed in the Hinterland of the front (Carniola, Styria). Others came under state protection and were transported to refugee camps and colonies. Similar to the Galician refugees, the Slovenian refugees were also not welcomed with open arms. In order to help the refugees from the south, a special committee was created in July 1915. The so called Hilfskomitee für Flüchtlinge aus dem Süden tried to help the refugees to get a job and to live a more or less normal life. The main refugee camps for Slovenes were located in Bruck an der Leitha, Steinklamm and Gmünd. The situation for the refugees changed at the end of 1917 when the alliance between the Austro-Hungarian and German army forced the Italian army to withdraw to the river Piava. This then allowed the Slovenian refugees a slow, but difficult return to their homes.