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4: CASE STUDY 1: THE ITALIAN/SLOVENIAN BORDER
Trade across border was of importance to both sides and was encouraged to
some degree as it helped keep these border areas economically active. Trade
was, however, regulated and as such the border crossings had an important
function both for controlling people and goods. It was therefore important
that the infrastructure functioned in a way to allow for smooth day to day
running of the border.
Looking at the material remains in the landscape helps us to understand
how this border has changed over time. Through these observations it
becomes clear that although the military character of the border itself was
severely toned down, for example barbed wire was removed in many areas
and replaced by fences in urban areas and mines completely removed, the
surveillance was still high. It was higher on the Yugoslavian side but patrol
paths also found on the Italian side, such as on Mount Sabotino/Sabotin,
show a high presence also from the Italian side. What is interesting here is
that we can see the different layers of history so clearly and that they mix
more than one might have expected. The lengthy use of Mount Sabotino/
Sabotin is demonstrated in the different remains found here but also in the
way that remains are reused again and again. Like the monastery on top of
the mountain which was not only used by the monks but also by fighting
troops during the First World War and again by Yugoslavian soldiers
during the Cold War period and tourists today. Now partly restored it is a
place that has been reactivated again and again over the centuries.
For people who did not have the possibility of crossing the border
legally, other routes had to be found. Due to the border here being more
permeable many people chose this route to get to the west. Due to the less
militarised character of this border during its latter history it did become
a route for people from other parts of Eastern Europe to cross over to the
West. In many countries in the Eastern bloc it was often fairly easy to get a
visa to travel to Yugoslavia, being a socialist country and not seen as part
of the West. The less militarised border here, compared to for example the
inner German border or the border between former Czechoslovakia and
Austria, made it easier to cross. A ski resort near the village of Bovec was,
for example nicknamed the Czech Doors, as many people from Czechoslovakia
were given permission to go on holiday to Yugoslavia, drove here
and took the ski lifts up the mountain and simply skied down on the other
side of the mountain to the Italian ski resort of Sella Nevea. By the end of
the ski season many cars remained, abandoned at the car parks on the
Yugoslavian side (Janez, 2008, pers. comm).
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