VOJAÅ KA ZGODOVINA MILITARY HISTORY - Amis.net

VOJAŠKAZGODOVINAMILITARYHISTORYŠtevilka/Number 1 (17), Letnik/ Volume 11/2010M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 1

128 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

so že zapriseženi«. Isti slovar vsebuje le »prisegodomovini«, internetni pa »vojaško prisego«,zastarelo obliko »vojaška zakletev«, pa celo»vojaško zaobljubo«, ki bolj ustreza duhovniški(redovniški) zaobljubi. Tudi Vojaški slovar(Ljubljana, 2002) ne pozna »zaprisege«, navajapa »slovesno prisego«, prav tako pa še »vojaško«prisego in »vojaško zakletev«. V Vojni enciklopediji(Beograd, 1967) je na str. 325–326samo: »slovesna zaobljuba ali vojaška prisega«(ang. military oath, fr. terment militaire, ital.giuramento militare, nem. Fahneneid, rus. voeniajaprisjaga).V SSKJ torej ni »slovesne prisege«, temvečje le »slovesna zaobljuba« ali pa bolj preprosto»vojaška prisega«. Podobno priporoča Vojaškislovar. Vojaški »uradniki« na Mors so pač naredilipo svoje! Predlagam, da ostanemo pri»vojaški prisegi« …Če pritrdimo mnenju, tudi uradnemu, daslovenska vojaška tradicija sega vse do Karantanije,je vsekakor simboličnega pomenatudi prisega karantanskih knezov (hkrati tudivojskovodij), ki se prvič omenja leta 630 obprisegi kneza Valuka pri knežjem kamnu. Poopisih sodeč gre bolj za nekakšno sodno zaobljubo(»Juramentum Sclouonicum«), čeprav nedvomim o tem, da so vojščaki karantanskemuknezu prisegli tudi vojaško. Zapisov in virovo tem nisem našel, niti na straneh različnihdomoljubnih društev in združenj, kot so Hervardi,Črni panterji in podobni.Ker so slovenski vojščaki služili v tujih vojskahali pa so se kot uporniki in prostovoljcibojevali proti njim, je vsekakor zanimivo nareditinekakšen vojaškozgodovinski opis, kdajin komu so prisegali, v kolikšnem številu in obkaterih priložnostih, pa tudi kakšne bi bile posledice,če dane vojaške prisege ne bi izpolnili.Vsi, ki smo opravili vojaško prisego, smo semorali namreč tudi obvezati, da bomo žrtvovaliživljenje za dobro svoje domovine. Vedelismo tudi, da nas v vojnem obdobju čaka smrtnakazen, če bi prelomili vojaško prisego. Nismopa poznali primerov skupinskih kazni, kiso jih izvrševali poveljniki. Tako je poveljnikrimske legije, če je legija odstopila z bojne črte,po boju obglavil vsakega desetega vojščaka.Po takšni svarilni kazni menda legija ni nikoliveč odstopila z bojišča, temveč se je bojevalado zadnjega moža! Najbolj pa me je presunilaodločitev srbskega poveljnika v prvi balkanskivojni leta 1912. Po bitki je ukazal postrelitito Carinthia, then the oath taken by the Dukes ofCarinthia (also military leaders) acquires a symbolicmeaning as well. This oath is first mentioned in 630AD, when Duke Valuk took an oath at the Prince’sStone. Based on accounts, this is more of a judicialoath (“Juramentum Sclouonicum”), although I donot doubt that soldiers also gave military oaths to theDuke of Carinthia. I did not find any written recordsand sources on this topic, not even in the pages ofvarious patriotic societies and associations, such asHervardi, Črni panterji (Black Panthers) and others.Since Slovenian soldiers served in non-native armiesor, as insurgents and volunteers, fought againstforeign armies, it is interesting to make a sort of amilitary and historical description of when, to whom,in what numbers and on which occasions these soldierstook oaths, and what would the consequencesof not fulfilling the taken military oaths be.All of us who have had to take a military oathhave committed to sacrificing our lives for the welfareof our homeland. We were also aware of the factthat breaking the military oath in war time wouldresult in the penalty of death. However, we were notfamiliar with the examples of collective punishmentscarried out by commanders. Commanders of Romanlegions, in the event the legion withdrew from thecombat line, beheaded every tenth soldier after thebattle. It is said that after such an exemplary punishmentthe legion never again retreated from thebattlefield but fought to the last man. Personally, Iwas most shocked by the decision of a Serbian commanderin the First Balkan War in 1912 when heordered the entire infantry regiment shot after thebattle for withdrawing from enemy attack.Peasant Insurgents (1515)I find it acceptable to include peasant insurgentswho were armed and fought in groups similar tomilitary troops and had their own leaders – commanders(Matija Gubec and others) among soldiers,as they set out to “declare war on the noblemen”.Along with the outward symbols they bore in battles(flags, crosses and similar), they also had to take anoath. According to some sources (Slovenian lands inthe 15 th and 16 th centuries, the internet), the oath ofpeasant insurgents who entered the Peasant Unionwas worded as follows:“By this sword I swear, in the presence of the Trinityand God’s holy anger, to enter the Peasant Union. Iwill not give any money, socage or crops to the noblemen,only the emperor’s tax. When brought news byM I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 131

celoten pehotni polk, ki se je umaknil pred napadomsovražnika!Kmečki uporniki – puntarji (1515)Zdi se mi sprejemljivo, da tudi kmečkeupornike (puntarje), ki so bili oboroženi in sose bojevali v skupinah, podobnih vojaškim, terso imeli svoje vodje – poveljnike (Matija Gubecin drugi), štejemo k vojakom, saj so se nameniliv »vojsko nad gospodo«. Poleg zunanjih simbolov,ki so jih nosili v bojih (zastave, križi inpodobno), so tudi prisegali. Po nekaterih virih(Slovenske dežele v 15. in 16. stoletju, splet)se je prisega kmetov – puntarjev ob vstopu vKmečko zvezo glasila takole:»Pred troedinim bogom in sveto Božjo jezoprisegam pri tem meču, da stopam v Kmečkozvezo. Gospodi ne priznam nobenega denarja,ne tlake in ne bere, le davek za cesarja. Za staropravdo in puntarsko svobodo, ko sel mi glasprinese, bom šel v vojsko nad gospodo.«Iz te prisege nedvomno izhaja, da se našikmečki predniki – puntarji niso bojevali protidržavi in cesarju, temveč proti lokalnim mogočnežem(graščakom), h katerim so moralina tlako in jim dajati bero. Šlo pa je vsekakorza pravičen upor in boj, ker so bili tudi ciljizelo jasni – boj za staro pravdo (priznane pravice),in kar je za nas posebno zanimivo, tudiboj za »puntarsko« svobodo. To je tudi pomenilo,da se je izročilo prenašalo tudi na prihodnjerodove, saj se sicer ne bi uprli zavojevalcem,okupatorju.Ilirski polk francoske vojske (1811)Francoska zasedba in ustanovitev Ilirskihprovinc je imela tudi pozitivne učinke, kar jebolj ali manj znano iz leksikonov in splošnezgodovine. Manj pa je znano, da so kranjskivojaki pred vstopom v »ilirski polk« prisegaliv slovenskem jeziku, in to, da je bilo v omenjenempolku tudi nekaj častnikov in podčastnikoviz Ilirskih provinc, ki so vojakom v tejenoviti slovenski enoti verjetno poveljevali v“jeziku dežele”, v slovenščini.Ob genealoških raziskavah rodovine Andolšek– Andoljšek sem v Arhivu Slovenijepodrobno pregledal graščinske arhive in urbarje,predvsem ribniške, ortneške in turjaškeThe first Slovenian language oath – to Napoleon, 1811(ARS, Ortnek Manor Archives, No. 764, fascicle 31)the messenger, I will rise and fight against the noblemenfor old justice and the insurgents’ freedom.”The mentioned oath undoubtedly shows that ourpeasant ancestors (insurgents) did not fight againstthe country and emperor but local persons in power(lords of castles) for whom they had to perform socageservice and to whom they had to give a portionof their crops. This was by all means a just revolt andfight whose objectives were just as clear: fight for oldjustice (the granted rights) and, what is of specialinterest to us, fight for the freedom of “insurgents”.This tradition must have been passed on to the followinggenerations; otherwise, people would laternot have resisted the invaders, the occupier.Illyrian Regiment of the French Army (1811)French occupation and the establishment of theIllyrian Provinces also had positive effects, whichare more or less known from various lexicons and132 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

general history. It is, however, less known thatCarniolan soldiers, before entering the “Illyrian regiment”,swore allegiance in the Slovenian languageand that the mentioned regiment included several officersand non-commissioned officers from IllyrianProvinces who probably commanded the soldiers inthis homogeneous Slovenian unit in the “language ofthe land”, that is in the Slovenian language.When conducting genealogical research of theAndolšek – Andoljšek family, I thoroughly examinedthe castle archives and land registers in the Archivesof the Republic of Slovenia, in particular documentsof the Ribnica, Ortnek and Turjak noblemen. I wasmost pleased when, along with other files from theOrtnek castle archives, I found a military and apolice file. It was also a pleasant surprise to comeupon a handwritten military oath in the Slovenianlanguage from the time of the Illyrian Provinces in1811.The attached photocopy of a military oath to theFrench Emperor Napoleon, dated 13 August 1811,from the Sodražica recruiting area (ARS - Archivesof the Republic of Slovenia, Ortnek Manor Archives,No. 764, Written documents-fascicle 31) contains thefirst military oath in the Slovenian language:Prva prisega v slovenskem jeziku – Napoleonu, 1811(AS. Arhiv graščine Ortnek. Štev. 764, fasc. 31)gosposke. Najbolj sem bil vesel, ko sem v ortneškemgraščinskem arhivu poleg drugihnašel tudi vojaški in policijski dosje. Prijetnopa sem bil presenečen, ko sem našel rokopisvojaške prisege v slovenskem jeziku iz obdobjaIlirskih provinc 1811.Iz priložene fotokopije protokola vojaškeprisege francoskemu cesarju Napoleonu z dne13. 8. 1811 v nabornem okolišu Sodražica (AS,Arhiv graščine Ortnek, štev. 764, Spisi–fasc.31) je razvidna tudi prva vojaška prisega v slovenskemjeziku, in sicer:“Jest persheshem podloshnost tem postavamtega zessarstva, inu Svestoba Zessarjou.”Nepismeni naborniki so namesto podpisana dokumentu naredili križec.Tudi Andres ANDOLSHEG (Andrej Andolšek),rojen 15. 1. 1784 na Schukou 1 (Žukovo,nad Velikimi Poljanami), ki se je iz Rusije srečnovrnil domov in se poročil z Nežo Prijatelj“Jest persheshem podloshnost tem postavam tegazessarstva, inu Svestoba Zessarjou.”English translation:“I swear obedience to the laws of this empire andloyalty to the Emperor.”Illiterate recruits signed with an “x”.Among them was Andres ANDOLSHEG (AndrejAndolšek), born on 15 January 1784 at Schukou,house no. 1 (Žukovo, above Velike Poljane), who returnedsafely from Russia and married Neža Prijateljfrom Vrh, house no. 1. It is not known when exactlyhe returned from the Russian expedition but judgingby the births of his two children (Neža, 29 October1813, and Marija, 23 January 1816) it was probablyin the beginning of 1813.It is interesting to mention that some recruits (Ihave only been tracking those with the last nameAndolšek) did not report to the recruiting boardthe following year (1812). By lucky coincidence Ihave discovered that many young men from thislist, including the Andolšek boys, left their homesand probably illegally moved to places outside theIllyrian Provinces. The first was Gregor Andolšekfrom Velike Poljane, house no. 9, who, together withhis wife Neža Peterlin who was from the same village,left for the village Češnjevek, house no. 19,M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 133

iz Vrha 1. Kdaj se je vrnil z ruskega pohoda,ni natančno znano, toda iz podatkov o rojstvudveh otrok (Neže 29. 10. 1813 in Marije 23. 1.1816) lahko sklepamo, da je bilo to v začetkuleta 1813.Zanimivo je tudi, da se nekateri naborniki(sledil sem samo tistim s priimkom Andolšek)leto pozneje (1812) niso več oglasili nabornikomisiji. Po srečnem naključju sem odkril, daso številni mladeniči s tega seznama, med njimitudi Andolškovi fantje, zapustili domačijein verjetno ilegalno odšli v kraje zunaj Ilirskihprovinc. Prvi je to storil Gregor Andolšek iz VelikihPoljan 9 in skupaj z ženo Nežo Peterliniz iste vasi že 1810 “odšel” v vasico Češnjevek19 pri Trebnjem. Kot drugi je “dezertiral” Andrejevbrat Štefan iz Žukovega, rojen 16. 11.1788, ki se je 15. 5. 1811 priženil k Mariji Dullerv Češnjevek štev. 13. Bil je namreč že naseznamu za naborno leto 1811, vendar se jetako izognil obveznosti v francoski vojski. Sledilmu je mlajši brat Johan, rojen 25. 8. 1793,ki je 1812 zapustil Žukovo in se poročil z AnoKrašovec v Sevnico 131. Podobno so storiliAndolškovi predniki iz Boštanja. Prav vsi sože vedeli, zakaj so zapustili Ilirske province.Tako smo dobili tudi prve vojaške dezerterje izIlirskih provinc.Prostovoljci četniških odredov(v Srbiji, 1903)Vojaška prisega v Srbiji je menda omenjanaže v obdobju cesarja Dušana leta 1334 pa vsedo ustanovitve redne srbske vojske leta 1836.Vsebina se je seveda razlikovala glede na to,ali so prisegali knezi, hajduški harambaše alivojvode četniških upornikov. Vedno pa so joizrekali v navzočnosti pravoslavnega duhovnika(prote), z levo roko na evangeliju in s tremidvignjenimi prsti desnice za zvestobo knezu,vojvodi in domovini, Srbiji.Slovenski prostovoljci, sprejeti v četniške»dobrovoljske odrede«, so prisegali enako. Ceremonialje vodil pravoslavni duhovnik, navzočje bil tudi poveljnik četniškega odreda. Nasredi sobe so mizo pregrnili z belim prtom.Nanjo so položili evangelij, na desno stransrebrn križ, na levo pa prekrižana revolver inbodalo (kamo). Gospodar je prinesel hlebeckruha in ga postavil na zgornjo stran evangelija.Duhovnik je začel molitev, potem je navzočepozval, naj tri sklenjene prste položijoby Trebnje as early as 1810. The second “deserter”was Andrej’s brother Štefan, from Žukovo, born on16 November 1788, who married Marija Dullerfrom Češnjevek, house no. 13, on 15 May 1811 andmoved to live with her. Štefan was already on thelist for the 1811 recruitment year, but he avoidedmilitary duty in the French Army by marriage. Hewas followed by his younger brother Johan, bornon 25 August 1793, who left Žukovo in 1812 andmarried Ana Krašovec from Sevnica, house no.131. Similar was done by the Andolšek ancestorsfrom Boštanj. They all had a reason for leaving theIllyrian Provinces and thus became the first militarydeserters from this area.Volunteers in Guerrilla Detachments (inSerbia, 1903)Presumably, a military oath in Serbia was alreadyreferred to at the time of Emperor Dušan in 1334 andcontinued to be mentioned until the establishment ofthe regular Serbian Army in 1836. The subject matterof the oath of course differed based on whether itwas given to princes, captains of bands of bandits ordukes of guerrilla insurgents. However, it was alwaystaken in the presence of an Orthodox priest (Prota),with the left hand placed on the bible and the righthand holding up three fingers, swearing loyalty to theprince, the duke and the homeland, Serbia.Slovenian volunteers who were accepted in guerrillavolunteer detachments (“Dobrovoljci”) tookthe same oath. The ceremony was conducted by anOrthodox priest; also present was the commander ofthe guerrilla detachment. A white tablecloth was laidon the table in the middle of the room. The table helda bible, silver cross on the right side and crossed revolverand dagger (Kama) on the left side. The masterof the house brought a loaf of bread and set it onthe upper side of the bible. A priest began prayingand invited the persons present to put three fingerson the bible or silver cross. All the others placed threefingers on the shoulders of their comrades. Then thepriest (Prota) pronounced the oath loudly, whilethose present repeated after him:“Vo imja Oca i Sina i Svjatoga Duha, amin! Ja,(ime i prezime), zakljinjem se u Gospoda Boga iGospoda Sina Isusa Hrista i Gospoda Duha Svetoga,zaklinjem se u hleb ovaj i revolver da ću tačnoi savesno i bezuslovno ispunjavati sve naredbeCentralnog odbora koje mi se budu dale, a koje iduu korist našeg oslobođenja i ujedinjenja sa majkomSrbijom, a pod upravom odbora. Ako bi se namerno134 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

na evangelij ali pa srebrni križ. Vsi drugi sopoložili tri prste na ramena svojih tovarišev.Duhovnik (prota) je glasno izgovarjal prisego,navzoči pa so jo glasno ponavljali:»Vo imja Oca i Sina i Svjatoga Duha, amin! Ja,(ime i prezime), zakljinjem se u Gospoda Bogai Gospoda Sina Isusa Hrista i Gospoda DuhaSvetoga, zaklinjem se u hleb ovaj i revolver daću tačno i savesno i bezuslovno ispunjavati svenaredbe Centralnog odbora koje mi se bududale, a koje idu u korist našeg oslobođenja iujedinjenja sa majkom Srbijom, a pod upravomodbora. Ako bi se namerno ogrešio o datu zakletvuda me Bog, krst, ime, slava i hleb kazne,a nož i revolver kaznu izvrše. Amin!«Potem so se vsi prekrižali in poljubljalievangelij, srebrni križ in revolver, prekrižan skamo (bodalom). Srbskim četnikom se je pridružiloin priseglo približno deset slovenskih»dobrovoljcev«. Slovenski prevod te četniške inprostovoljske prisege je takšen:»V imenu Očeta, Sina in svetega Duha, amen!Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri gospoduBogu, gospodu sinu Jezusu Kristusu in gospodusvetem Duhu, prisegam pri tem kruhu in revolverju,da bom točno, pošteno in brezpogojnoizvrševal vse ukaze Centralnega odbora, ki mibodo dani, in ki bodo koristili osvoboditvi inzdružitvi z materjo Srbijo, pod upravo odbora.Če bi namerno prekršil dano prisego, naj mekaznujejo Bog, križ, čast in kruh, z nožem inrevolverjem pa naj se izvrši kazen. Amen!«Avstrijska in avstro-ogrsko vojska(1616–1918)Cesarsko-kraljevi major v pokoju AndrejKomel plemeniti Sočebran je 1889 v Celovcuizdal knjižico z naslovom Prisega in vojni členi(Eid und Kriegs – Artikel), vendar dr. TomoKorošec v svoji monografiji o Komelu ne navajaprevoda te prisege. Prosil sem ga za brošuro;predstavljam kopijo njene naslovnice in nemškobesedilo prisege. Kopija slovenskega prevoda,ki ga je vzporedno podal major Komel,pa je slaba, zato posredujem izpisek. Prisega izleta 1880 se glasi takole:Prisega»Naši vojaki naj Nam Frančišku Jožefuogrešio o datu zakletvu da me Bog, krst, ime, slavai hleb kazne, a nož i revolver kaznu izvrše. Amin!”Everyone crossed themselves, kissed the bible, silvercross and crossed revolver and dagger (Kama).The Serbian guerrillas were joined by about tenSlovenian volunteers who also took the oath. Thisis the English translation of this guerrilla and volunteeroath:“In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,Amen. I, (name and surname), swear by the LordGod, the Lord and Son Jesus Christ and the LordHoly Spirit, by this bread and revolver, to exactly,honestly and unconditionally execute all orders ofthe Central Committee, which I will receive andwhich will benefit the liberation and unificationwith mother Serbia, under the administration of theCommittee. Should I deliberately break the givenpromise, I may be punished by God, the cross, honourand bread, and the punishment be implementedwith a knife and a revolver. Amen.”Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Army(1616–1918)The retired Imperial-Royal Major Andrej KomelEdler von Sočebran published a booklet in 1889 inKlagenfurt, titled Eid und Kriegs-Artikel (The Oathand Articles of War). However, in his monograph onKomel, Dr. Tomo Korošec does not include a translationof this oath.I have asked him for a brochure and attached herea copy of the front cover and the German text of theoath. The Slovenian translation, presented by MajorKomel, is written out below, as the copy was too badto attach. The oath from 1880 is worded as follows:Prisega“Naši vojaki naj Nam Frančišku Jožefu Prvemu, pobožji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, Apostolskemukralju ogerskemu, kralju češkemu, dalmatinskemu,hrvatskemu, slavonskemu, gališkemu, vladimirskemuin ilirskemu, nadvojvodi avstrijskemu,velikemu vojvodi krakovskemu, vojvodi lorenskemu,salcburškemu, štirskemu, koroškemu, kranjskemu,bukovinskemu, gornje- in spodnje-sleškemu, velikemuknezu erdeljskemu, mejnemu grofu moravskemu,pokneženemu grofu habsburškemu in tirolskemuitd., itd., prisežejo prisego s temi besedami:Prisegamo Bogu Vsegamogočnemu z očitno prisego,da bodemo Njegovemu Apostolskemu Veličanstvu,našemu presvilemu vladarju in gospodu,M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 135

Prvemu, po božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu,Apostolskemu kralju ogerskemu, kralju češkemu,dalmatinskemu, hrvatskemu, slavonskemu,gališkemu, vladimirskemu in ilirskemu,nadvojvodi avstrijskemu, velikemu vojvodikrakovskemu, vojvodi lorenskemu, salcburškemu,štirskemu, koroškemu, kranjskemu,bukovinskemu, gornje- in spodnje-sleškemu,velikemu knezu erdeljskemu, mejnemu grofumoravskemu, pokneženemu grofu habsburškemuin tirolskemu itd., itd., prisežejo prisego stemi besedami:Prisegamo Bogu Vsegamogočnemu z očitnoprisego, da bodemo Njegovemu ApostolskemuVeličanstvu, našemu presvilemu vladarju ingospodu,Frančišku Jožefu Prvemu,po božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, kralju češkemuitd., in Apostolskemu kralju ogerskemu,zvesti in pokorni, da bodemo presvitlegacesarja, generale in sploh vse svoje predpostavljenein višje poslušali, jih častili in branili,njih zapovedim in poveljem v vsakteri službipokorščino skazovali, da se bodemo zopervsakega sovražnika kteregakoli in kjerkoli Njegovegacesarskega Veličanstva volja ukaže, navodi in na suhem, po dnevi in po noči, v bojih,naskokih, spopadih in v vsakoršnem početju,z jedno besedo, povsod, vsak čas in o vsakipriliki junaško in možato bojevali, da ne bodemosvojih čet, svojih bander, zastav in topovnikakor in nikdar zapustili, da se ne bodemonikoli udajali ni v najmanjšo sporazumljenjes sovražnikom, ampak da se bodemo vsegdarvedli tako, kakor vojni zakoni govore in kakorse spodobi pravim vojakom ter da hočemo nata način častno živeti in umreti. Tako nam Bogpomagaj. Amen!«V nadaljevanju so navedeni vojni členi, vkaterih so ob morebitnem »prelomu podredbe«naštete tudi kazni – od »smrtne kazni zustreljenjem«, »hudodelstva z ječo do desetihlet ali kot prekrški z ostrim zaporom do šestihmesecev …«. Število slovenskih vojakovin častnikov staro-avstrijske in avstro-ogrskevojske je znano le v odstotkih (0,6 odstotka vojakov,12 odstotkov kopenskih in 16 odstotkovpomorskih častnikov), vemo pa, da je v vojnimornarici služilo približno 50.000 mornarjev.Austro-Hungarian Army oath, 1880(Major Andrej Komel – Sočebran, translation)Frančišku Jožefu Prvemu,po božji milosti cesarju avstrijskemu, kraljučeškemu itd., in Apostolskemu kralju ogerskemu,zvesti in pokorni, da bodemo presvitlega cesarja,generale in sploh vse svoje predpostavljene in višjeposlušali, jih častili in branili, njih zapovedim inpoveljem v vsakteri službi pokorščino skazovali,da se bodemo zoper vsakega sovražnika kteregakoliin kjerkoli Njegovega cesarskega Veličanstvavolja ukaže, na vodi in na suhem, po dnevi in ponoči, v bojih, naskokih, spopadih in v vsakoršnempočetju, z jedno besedo, povsod, vsak čas in o vsakipriliki junaško in možato bojevali, da ne bodemosvojih čet, svojih bander, zastav in topov nikakor innikdar zapustili, da se ne bodemo nikoli udajali niv najmanjšo sporazumljenje s sovražnikom, ampakda se bodemo vsegdar vedli tako, kakor vojni zakonigovore in kakor se spodobi pravim vojakom ter dahočemo na ta način častno živeti in umreti. Takonam Bog pomagaj. Amen!”136 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

English translation:The Oath“May our soldiers take an oath to Franz Joseph I, bythe grace of God Emperor of Austria, Apostolic Kingof Hungary, King of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia,Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria, Illyria, Archdukeof Austria, Grand Duke of Krakow, Duke ofLorraine, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, theBukovina, Upper and Lower Silesia, Grand Prince ofTransylvania, Margrave of Moravia, Princely Countof Habsburg and Tyrol, etc., etc., with these words:Prisega v avstro-ogrski vojski, 1880(Major Andrej Komel – Sočebran, prevod)Prostovoljci Vojske kraljevine Srbije(1912–1913)Številni slovenski prostovoljci, predvsemzdravniki, so pohiteli na pomoč srbski vojskiv prvi in drugi balkanski vojni. Vsi so moraliizreči in podpisati prisego prostovoljcev (VZA,Srbska vojska, P-17, Š–148, F–1, d–25). Ta se niveliko razlikovala od navadne vojaške prisegepred pravoslavnim duhovnikom, ki jo je overovilpoveljnik vojaške enote.V izvirniku se je glasila takole:»Ja, dobrovoljac (ime i prezime), zaklinjem seBogu svemogučim da ću Vrhovnom zapovednikusve zemaljske oružane sile Kralju SrbijePetru Prvom svagda i u svim prilikama bitiveran, svom dušom odan i poslušan; da ću zapovestisvojih pretpostavljenih starešina slušatii verno izvršavati; da ću Kralja i Otadžbinujunački braniti i vojničku zastavu nigde nećuizneveriti. Tako mi Bog pomogao!We swear by God Almighty to be loyal and obedientto His Apostolic Majesty, our Noble Prince and Lord,Franz Joseph I,by the grace of God Emperor of Austria, King ofBohemia, etc., and Apostolic King of Hungary;to listen to, honour and defend the Noble Emperor,generals and all our superiors; obey their commandsand orders in any service; to fight heroicallyand courageously against any enemy, wherever andwhenever so ordered by His Imperial Majesty, onwater and on land, by day and by night, in battles,attacks, engagements and in any act; thus anywhere,anytime and at every opportunity. We swearnot to abandon our troops, banners, flags andcannons in any way or at any time; to never enterinto any agreements with the enemy, but to alwaysbehave in line with the rules of war and as befitstrue soldiers and thus live and die with honour. SoGod help us. Amen.”In continuation, “articles of war” are stated, listingpunishments in the event of “breaking an order”– from “the punishment of death by shooting”,“crimes resulting in up to ten years of imprisonment”to “offences resulting in up to six months of close arrest”,etc. The number of Slovenian soldiers and officersin the Old Austrian and the Austro-HungarianArmy is only known in percent (0.6 percent of soldiers,12 percent of land and 16 percent of navalofficers); however, it is known that approximately50,000 sailors served in the navy.Volunteers in the Army of the Kingdom ofSerbia (1912–1913)Numerous Slovenian volunteers, particularly doctors,rushed to assist the Serbian Army in the timeof the First and Second Balkan Wars. They all hadto take and sign a volunteer oath (Military HistoryArchives, Serbian Army, P-17, Š–148, F–1, d–25)M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 137

Potpis …Zakletvu izvršio sveštenik …Overava komandir …«V slovenskem prevodu bi se »Prisega prostovoljcev«glasila takole:»Jaz, prostovoljec (ime in priimek), prisegampred vsemogočnim Bogom, da bom vrhovnemupoveljniku oboroženih sil, kralju Petru Prvemu,vedno in povsod zvest, z vso dušo privržen inposlušen; da bom poslušal in zvesto izvrševalzapovedi svojih nadrejenih starešin; da bompogumno branil kralja in domovino in ne bomnikoli oskrunil vojaške zastave. Tako mi Bogpomagaj!«Podpis …Prisego opravil duhovnik …Potrjuje poveljnik …«V Slovenski vojaški inteligenci, str. 332, semnašel natančno število slovenskih prostovoljcev(55).Prostovoljci Vojske kraljevine Srbije(1914–1918)Številni ujetniki avstro-ogrske vojske, tudiSlovenci, so v ruskih taboriščih vse od leta1916 kot prostovoljci množično vstopali v srbskovojsko. Predstavniki te so jim ponudili vpodpis »Dobrovoljačko izjavo« (VZI Beograd,Arhiv Srbske vojske, P-3/a, Š–26, F–5. d–3), kise je v izvirniku glasila:»Želim da stupim od svoje volje kao dobrovoljacu redove Srpske vojske za vreme trajanje ovograta i izjavljujem:da mi je poznato da ću od strane Austrijanacabiti smatran za izdajicu ako me njihove trupeuhvate;da od dana stupanja u dobrovoljce prestajembiti ratni zarobljenik, ida pristajem da služim tamo gde me Vrhovnakomanda rasporedi.Potpis (ime i prezime, čin i odakle je)Datum, mesto i potpis dva svedoka«.V slovenskem prevodu bi se ta »Izjava prostovoljca«glasila takole:which was very similar to a normal military oathtaken before an Orthodox priest and verified by amilitary unit commander. This is the original textof the oath:“Ja, dobrovoljac (ime i prezime), zaklinjem se Bogusvemogučim da ću Vrhovnom zapovedniku svezemaljske oružane sile Kralju Srbije Petru Prvomsvagda i u svim prilikama biti veran, svom dušomodan i poslušan; da ću zapovesti svojih pretpostavljenihstarešina slušati i verno izvršavati; da ćuKralja i Otadžbinu junački braniti i vojničku zastavunigde neću izneveriti. Tako mi Bog pomogao!Potpis …Zakletvu izvršio sveštenik …Overava komandir …”English translation of the volunteer oath:“I, volunteer (name and surname), swear beforeAlmighty God to be at all times and in all placesloyal, deeply devoted and obedient to the SupremeCommander of the Serbian Armed Forces, KingPeter I; to listen to and faithfully fulfil orders givenby my superiors; to heroically defend the King andthe homeland and never to desecrate the militaryflag. So help me God!Signature …The oath carried out by priest …Verified by commander …”I state the exact number of Slovenian volunteers(55) in the book Slovenska vojaška inteligenca, p. 332.Volunteers in the Army of the Kingdom ofSerbia (1914–1918)Numerous prisoners of the Austro-HungarianArmy, including Slovenians, who were placed inRussian POW camps, massively began to enter theSerbian Army as volunteers, beginning in 1916.Representatives of the Serbian Army gave themthe following volunteer statement to sign (MilitaryHistory Institute Belgrade, Serbian Army Archives,P-3/a, Š–26, F–5. d–3), which, in the original, readas follows:“Želim da stupim od svoje volje kao dobrovoljac uredove Srpske vojske za vreme trajanje ovog rata iizjavljujem:138 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

»Med to vojno želim prostovoljno vstopiti vSrbsko vojsko in izjavljam:razumem, da me bodo Avstrijci imeli za izdajalca,če me ujamejo;da od dneva pristopa k prostovoljcem ne bomveč vojni ujetnik;da bom služil vojaško službo, kamor me bo razporediloVrhovno poveljstvo.Podpis (ime in priimek, čin, bivališče)Datum, kraj in podpis dveh prič«.Zaradi manj znanega ozadja in zapleta, povezanegaz željo panslovanskih prostovoljcev,da bi se v srbski vojski bojevali za jugoslovanskeideale, so številni prostovoljci, tudi Slovenci,zavrnili vojaško prisego srbski vojski in zahtevaliprisego še nevzpostavljeni jugoslovanskivojski. Nekaj podatkov sem že navedel v knjigiSlovenska vojaška inteligenca (str. 335–337).Za kaj je pravzaprav šlo?Pripadniki srbske vojske so pridobili največprostovoljcev med ruskimi ujetniki v Romuniji.Tudi ujeti avstro-ogrski vojaki (Slovenci) so semnožično prijavljali med prostovoljce (dobrovoljce)srbske vojske. Izstopali so preporodovciin člani sokolske organizacije. Po hudih bojihin človeških izgubah dobrovoljskih enot v Dobrudžije prostovoljsko gibanje zastalo. K temuso veliko pripomogli tudi t. i. disidenti, ki najbi pod vplivom avstro-ogrske obveščevalneslužbe agitirali proti prostovoljskemu gibanjuter postavljali različne pogoje in zahteve (zaJugoslavijo, proti Srbiji). Očitno je šlo za organiziranoakcijo proti velikosrbskim težnjamvladajočih krogov okrog Pašića in proti poniževalnemuobnašanju nekaterih srbskih častnikovin podčastnikov.Tudi srbski poveljnik dobrovoljskega korpusa,ki je dobro poznal notranje razmere inodnose, je predlagal srbski vladi, da se korpuspreimenuje v »jugoslovanskega«, vendar so zavrnilinjegov predlog. Zato je 21. 3. 1917 skupinahrvaških in slovenskih častnikov (stotnikiPavle Golia, Stanko Lapajne, Ernest Sorčan, D.Rustja, T. Bedenk, M. Juvan in V. Španger) poslalatakšno izjavo:»Mi, dobrovoljci, zlasti Hrvati in Slovenci,ki smo vstopili v srbsko dobrovoljsko vojsko,smo, žal, doživeli v korpusu veliko razočaranje.Želeli smo svobodo, našli pa suženjstvo,ponižanje in nasilje, ki prekaša celo tisto,da mi je poznato da ću od strane Austrijanaca bitismatran za izdajicu ako me njihove trupe uhvate;da od dana stupanja u dobrovoljce prestajem biti ratnizarobljenik, ida pristajem da služim tamo gde me Vrhovna komandarasporedi.Potpis (ime i prezime, čin i odakle je)Datum, mesto i potpis dva svedoka.”English translation of this volunteer statement:“I wish to enter the Serbian Army voluntarily duringthis war and declare the following:I understand the Austrians will treat me as traitor inthe event of capture.From the day of entering the volunteer detachment, Iam no longer a prisoner of war.I will perform my military service wherever deployedby the Supreme Command.Signature (name and surname, rank, place ofresidence)Date, place and signature of two witnesses”Due to the unfamiliar background and complicationslinked to the wish of the Pan-Slavic volunteersto fight for Yugoslav ideals in the Serbian Army,many volunteers, including the Slovenians, rejectedthe military oath to the Serbian Army and demandedto take an oath to the not yet formed Yugoslav Army.I have already stated some information about thisin the book Slovenska vojaška inteligenca (p. 335–337). What was really the issue?Members of the Serbian Army obtained mostvolunteers from among the Russian prisoners inRomania. The captured Austro-Hungarian soldiers(Slovenians) also massively entered the volunteer detachments(“Dobrovoljci”) of the Serbian Army. Themost numerous among them were revival representatives(“Preporodovci”) and members of the Sokolorganisation. After severe battles and loses in thevolunteer units in Dobrudja, the volunteer movementcame to a halt. The dissidents contributed muchto this, as they, under the influence of the Austro-Hungarian intelligence service, agitated against thevolunteer movement and set various conditions anddemands (for Yugoslavia, against Serbia). It wasobviously an organised action against the GreaterSerbian aspirations of the ruling circles around Pašičand against the humiliating attitude of some Serbianofficers and non-commissioned officers.A Serbian commander of the volunteer corps, whowas well familiar with the internal conditions andM I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 139

pred katerim smo bežali iz Avstrije. Še nikoliv življenju nismo bili tako brezpravni, kakorsmo zdaj v srbskem dobrovoljskem korpusukot borci za svobodo. Morali smo biti molčečepriče najbolj neverjetnih zločinov nad našimirojaki. Če smo načenjali naša narodnostnavprašanja, zaradi katerih smo se pravzapravzapisali v korpus, so nam očitali separatizem,vohunstvo in podobno. Če naj bi naš korpuspredstavljal pomanjšano sliko prihodnje Jugoslavije,tedaj naj nas Bog obvaruje takšne svobode,kajti prešli bi iz enega jarma v drugega,še hujšega … Najbrž nas bodo kmalu aretiraliter odpeljali nekam daleč v Rusijo in nihče nebo več izvedel za naša življenja in požrtvovalnost,za našo pripravljenost žrtvovati se zaslovensko stvar …«.Med disidenti so bili še: M. Gorup, G. Pekle,J. Kotnik, J. Župančič, C. Cirman, S. Jeras, J.Velnar, J. Urbančič, S. Lapajne, M. Gnezda, J.Štefančič, J. Rožman, J. Bergoč, verjetno patudi Jaka Avšič. Zanimivo je, da je večina disidentovjunija 1917 prestopila v rusko carskovojsko, potem pa oktobra istega leta v enoteRdeče garde. Disidentsko problematiko bi bilosmiselno podrobneje obdelati, tako na podlagiohranjenih arhivov srbske in avstro-ogrskevojske kot tudi »disidentskega« arhiva, ki ga jev Ljubljano prinesel dr. J. Kotnik (in ga mendahranijo v ljubljanskem Zgodovinskem arhivu).Srbski dobrovoljski korpus je potem razpadel,saj ga je zapustilo približno 13.000 prostovoljcev,tudi veliko Slovencev. Večino disidentov soruske oblasti poslale v protirevolucionarne enote,številni pa so potem zbežali v Rdečo gardo.Od 567 Slovencev jih je maja 1917 ostalo vsrbski vojski samo 234. Del disidentskih zahtevje bil izpolnjen šele na solunski fronti. Tako sopo ukazu prestolonaslednika Aleksandra Karađorđevića29. decembra 1917 preimenovaliVardarsko divizijo v Jugoslovansko, vendar jesrbsko Vrhovno poveljstvo vztrajalo, da morajovsi slovenski (in drugi) prostovoljci postatisrbski državljani in priseči srbskemu kralju.Kljub posamičnim odporom je večina to storila,saj so bili na pragu domovine. Tako se jena solunski fronti bojevalo 194 slovenskih prostovoljcev,nekateri od njih (21) so sodelovalitudi v bojih za severno mejo pod poveljstvomgenerala Rudolfa Maistra.Podobno usodo so doživeli pripadniki t. i.Pivkovega bataljona (italijanski ujetniki), kirelations, suggested the Serbian government renamethe corps into “Yugoslav” corps, but his proposalwas denied. This was the reason for the followingstatement, submitted by a group of Croatian andSlovenian officers (Captains Pavle Golia, StankoLapajne, Ernest Sorčan, D. Rustja, T. Bedenk, M.Juvan and V. Špangeron) on 21 March 1917:“We, volunteers, particularly Croatians andSlovenians, who have entered the Serbian volunteerarmy, have, unfortunately, experienced great disappointmentin the corps. We longed for freedom butfound slavery, humiliation and violence surpassingthe one we escaped from in Austria. We have neverin our lives been so deprived of our rights as we arenow, in the Serbian volunteer corps, as freedomfighters. We were forced to be silent witnesses of themost unbelievable crimes committed on our fellowcountrymen. If we brought up questions of nationality,on account of which we actually entered thecorps, we were reproached for separatism, espionageand similar. If this corps is to be an image of thefuture Yugoslavia, then God protect us from suchfreedom, for we would go from one bondage to another,even worse. We will probably soon be arrestedand taken somewhere far into Russia, and nobodywill ever know of our lives and self-sacrifice, of ourwillingness to sacrifice our lives for the Sloveniancause …”The following persons were also among the dissidents:M. Gorup, G. Pekle, J. Kotnik, J. Župančič, C.Cirman, S. Jeras, J. Velnar, J. Urbančič, S. Lapajne,M. Gnezda, J. Štefančič, J. Rožman, J. Bergoč, andprobably also Jaka Avšič. It is interesting to note thatmost dissidents joined the Russian Tsarist Army inJune 1917, and then the Red Guard units in October1917. The issue of dissidents is worth more detailedhandling, both on the basis of preserved archives ofthe Serbian and Austro-Hungarian armies as well ason the basis of the “dissident” archives brought toLjubljana by Dr. J. Kotnik (supposedly located in theHistorical Archives Ljubljana).The Serbian volunteer corps later disintegrated,as approximately 13,000 volunteers left, amongthem many Slovenians. The Russian authorities sentmost dissidents to counter-revolutionary units, andmany then escaped to the Red Guard.From among 567 Slovenians, only 234 were stillin the Serbian Army in May 1917. Certain dissidentrequirements were not fulfilled until the timeof the Macedonian Front. By order of Crown PrinceAleksandar Karađorđević, Vardar Division was140 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

niso hoteli postati srbski državljani in prisečizvestobo srbskemu kralju, zato se jih je od 123samo 7 udeležilo bojev na solunski fronti. Večinase je iz Boke Kotorske vrnila v Slovenijo.Prostovoljci Rdeče armade (1917–1918in 1948–1952)Nisem našel podatka o tem, kako so slovenskiprostovoljci (približno 135) v burnihletih 1917/1918 prisegali ob vstopanju v enoteRdeče armade ali pa nasprotne, Belogardejskevojske. Nekateri posamezniki navajajo, da soprisegali zvestobo svojim neposrednim poveljnikom.Znano je, da je po oktobrski revolucijiVseruski centralni izvršni komite sovjetov22. 4. 1918 predpisal t. i. »slovesno obljubo«,s katero je vsak pripadnik Rdeče armade, kolektivnoali posamezno, pred delavskim razredomRusije in vsem svetom obljubil zvestoborevoluciji, ljudstvu in sovjetski oblasti, s čimerje bil hkrati izražen njen razredni (revolucionarni)značaj. Šele leta 1922 je bilo sprejetobesedilo vojaške prisege, ki so ga pripadnikiRdeče armade izrekali skupaj na prvomajskiparadi, pozneje pa tudi potrjevali s podpisomna seznamih novih rekrutov.Po resoluciji informbiroja (1948) so moralislovenski častniki (dezerterji iz JLA), bilo jih jedevet, pred sprejetjem v Rdečo armado podpisativojaško prisego.Slovenska vojska (1918)Major oz. general Rudolf Maister je moralglede prisege ločeno obravnavati tri skupine:slovenske častnike, s katerimi se je skrivaj dogovarjalza skupno delovanje in ki so prisegalizvestobo (obljubljali molčečnost!) njemu osebno,posamično ali v manjših skupinah; prveskupine slovenskih in liških (srbskih) vojakovavstro-ogrske vojske (četa kapetana Markovića),ki so se prek Maribora (Šentilja) vračalidomov, pa jih je bilo treba za nekaj časa zadržativ Mariboru (bolj pomembno kot prisega jebilo plačilo, saj domoljubni nagovori niso prišliv poštev); tretja skupina pa so bili mobiliziraništajerski vojaki, razvrščeni v mariborski inceljski polk ter druge enote pred takojšnjimodhodom na koroško fronto. Tako naj bi 21.11. 1918 ob 11.30 uri prisegel Mariborski pešpolk,v postroju, slovenski domovini in svojimpoveljnikom, seveda pred Bogom.renamed Yugoslav Division on 29 December 1917;however, the Serbian Supreme Command insistedthat all Slovenian (and other) volunteers becomeSerbian citizens and swear allegiance to the Serbianking. Despite some resistance, most volunteers did so,as they were close to their homeland. 194 Slovenianvolunteers thus fought at the Macedonian Front,some of whom (21) also participated in the battle forthe Northern Border under the command of GeneralRudolf Maister.A similar destiny awaited members of the socalledPivko Battalion (Italian captives) who refusedto become Serbian citizens and swear loyalty to theSerbian king. Of 123 members, only 7 participatedin battles at the Macedonian Front and from the Bayof Kotor, most returned to Slovenia.Volunteers in the Red Army (1917–1918and 1948–1952)I found no information regarding the mannerin which Slovenian volunteers (approximately 135)took the oath in the turbulent years of 1917/1918when entering the Red Army units or the opposingWhite Guard army. Some individuals state theyswore loyalty to their immediate commanders. It isknown that, after the October Revolution, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets imposedthe so-called “solemn oath” on 22 April 1918.Each member of the Red Army, either collectively orindividually, swore loyalty to the revolution, the peopleand the Soviet authority, in front of the Russianworking class and the entire world, thus also manifestingthe class (revolutionary) nature of the oath.The words to the military oath, which members ofthe Red Army pronounced collectively at the FirstMay Parade and later also confirmed by signing thelist of new recruits, were only adopted in 1922.After the Informbiro resolution (1948), nineSlovenian officers (Yugoslav People’s Army deserters)had to sign a military oath before entering theRed Army.Slovenian Armed Forces (1918)Major or General Rudolf Maister had to dealwith three groups of people in regards to the oath:Slovenian officers with whom he secretly made arrangementsfor joint operations and who sworeloyalty (secrecy!) to him personally, either individuallyor in small groups; the first groups of Slovenianand Serbian (from Lika) soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Army (company of Captain Marković)M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 141

Uporniki tajne domoljubne organizacijena Primorskem – TIGR (1925–1941)Mira Cencič, avtorica knjige TIGR (Ljubljana,1997) na str. 91 navaja tudi eno od prvih prisegpripadnikov ilegalne domoljubne organizacijeTIGR, verjetno leta 1925, ki je bila takšna:»Na svojo čast in čast svoje družine prisegampred Bogom, da bom storil vse kar je v mojihmočeh za osvoboditev Julijske krajine, ki morabiti združena z Jugoslavijo.«Pozneje, jeseni 1930, po vdoru fašistične policijein prvih smrtnih obsodbah članov organizacije,so vodilni za vse novince sprejeli zelokratko prisego:»Raje smrt kot izdajstvo!«Danes je tudi zgodovinsko priznano, da sobili prav tigrovci (Danilo Zelen in drugi) medprvimi partizanskimi borci, pripadniki NOVSlovenije. Največ tigrovcev se je znašlo v britanskemujetništvu, potem pa so se pridružilirazličnim obveščevalno-diverzantskim skupinampadalcev in tudi enotam Jugoslovanskevojske zunaj domovine, kar so partizani obravnavalikot izdajstvo. Število tigrovcev ni ugotovljeno.Prostovoljci španske republikanskearmade (1936–1939)Po nekaterih izjavah španskih prostovoljcevje mogoče sklepati, da so podpisovali seznamepod prisego v španskem jeziku, kjer pa so bilenacionalne enote homogene (slovenske četeIvana Cankarja, Matije Gubca), so poveljnikiizvajali tudi javno prisego v slovenskem jeziku.Vseh slovenskih »špancev« je bilo 533, odteh se jih je le 22 vrnilo v domovino.Vojska SHS – kraljevine Jugoslavije(1919–1941)Vojaki – rekruti so vojaško prisego izrekaliskupinsko, v postroju (po verski pripadnosti),pred duhovniki vseh verskih skupnosti (MileBjelajac, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije, Beograd,1994 –fotografija iz Sarajeva, 1928, podčastniškašola – razvrstitev gojencev po verskipripadnosti: pravoslavci, katoliki, judje inwho were returning to their homes via Maribor(Šentilj) and had to be held in Maribor for sometime (more important than the oath was payment,as patriotic speeches were out of the question); andthe third group, mobilised soldiers from Styria, deployedto Maribor and Celje regiments as well asother units, who were immediately leaving for theCarinthian Front. Maribor Infantry Regiment thustook the oath to the Slovenian homeland and theircommanders, before God, standing on parade, on 21November 1918 at 11:30.Insurgents of the Secret PatrioticOrganisation in the Primorska Region(Slovenian Littoral) – TIGR (1925–1941)Mira Cencič, author of the book TIGR (Ljubljana,1997) mentions, on page 91, one of the first oathstaken by members of the illegal patriotic organisationTIGR around 1925. The words to the oath werethe following:“On my honour and the honour of my family, Iswear before God to do everything in my powerto free Venezia Giulia which must be annexed toYugoslavia”.Later, in the autumn of 1930, after the invasionof the fascist police and the first death sentences oforganisation members, the leaders adopted a veryshort oath for all novices:“Better death than treason!”Today it is also a historical fact that members ofthe TIGR organisation – Danilo Zelen and others –were among the first partisan fighters, members ofthe People’s Liberation Army of Slovenia. Most TIGRmembers fell into British captivity and then joinedvarious intelligence and sabotage groups of paratroopersas well as Yugoslav Army units outside thehomeland, which partisans considered treason. Thenumber of TIGR members is unknown.Volunteers in the Spanish Republican Army(1936–1939)Based on the statements of some Spanish volunteersit is possible to conclude that they had to signlists below an oath written in the Spanish language;however, where there were homogeneous nationalunits (Slovenian Ivan Cankar and Matija Gubec companies),commanders also implemented a public oath142 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

Podčastniška šola VKJ v Sarajevu, 1928– razvrstitev po verskipripadnostimuslimani), besedilo pa je bilo predpisano vPravilu službe. Zvestobo so izrekali kralju indomovini, seveda s sklicevanjem na boga. Častnikiin podčastniki so podpisovali pisno prisegoz datumom podpisa, ki so jo shranili vkadrovski mapi. Vojaška prisega v srbščini seje glasila takole:»Ja, (ime i prezime), zaklinjem se svemogučimBogom, da ću Vrhovnom zapovedniku sve vojnesile, Kralju Jugoslavije Petru Drugom, svagdai u svim prilikama biti veran, svom dušomodan i poslušan, da ću se za Kralja i Otadžbinujunački boriti, da vojničku zakletvu nigde inikada neću izneveriti i da ću sve zapovedi svihpretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati i vernoizvršavati. Tako mi Bog pomagao!«Slovenski prevod bi bil takšen:»Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri vsemogočnemBogu, da bom vrhovnemu poveljniku oboroženihsil, kralju Jugoslavije Petru Drugemu,vedno in v vseh okoliščinah zvest, z vso dušopredan in pokoren, da se bom pogumno bojevalza kralja in domovino, da nikoli in nikjer nebom prelomil vojaške prisege in da bom ubogalvse ukaze nadrejenih starešin in jih zvesto izvrševal.Tako mi Bog pomagaj!«Slovenski rekrutni kontingent je štel približno7.000 vojakov na leto, zato lahko sklepamo,da je v obdobju 1920–1941 v VKJ služilo150.000 vojakov, do 2.000 podčastnikov in častnikovter 21 generalov – admiralov.VKJ Non-Commissioned Officer School in Sarajevo, 1928arrangement in accordance with the religious affiliationin the Slovenian language. There were 533 Slovenian“Spaniards”; however, only 22 of them returned tothe homeland.Army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats andSlovenes (SHS) – the Kingdom of Yugoslavia(1919–1941)Soldiers – recruits took the military oath collectively,on parade (according to their religious affiliation),before priests of all religious denominations(Mile Bjelajac, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije, Belgrade,1994 – a photograph from Sarajevo, 1928, Non-Commissioned Officer School – arrangement of studentsaccording to their religious affiliation:“Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim), whilethe words themselves were prescribed by the Rulesof Service. Loyalty was sworn to the king and thehomeland, of course by appealing to God. Officersand non-commissioned officers signed a writtenoath, with the date of the signature, which waskept in the personnel file. The military oath in theSerbian language was worded as follows: “Ja, (imei prezime), zaklinjem se svemogučim Bogom, daću Vrhovnom zapovedniku sve vojne sile, KraljuJugoslavije Petru Drugom, svagda i u svim prilikamabiti veran, svom dušom odan i poslušan, da ćuse za Kralja i Otadžbinu junački boriti, da vojničkuzakletvu nigde i nikada neću izneveriti i da ću svezapovedi svih pretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati iverno izvršavati. Tako mi Bog pomagao!”M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 143

Mobiliziranci v italijansko vojsko(1927–1943)Menil sem, da je bila vojaška prisega slovenskihmobilizirancev v italijansko vojsko v obdobju1927–1943 precej različna, odvisna odnarodnosti posameznih vojakov, posebno še,ker je šlo za imperialno vojsko (agresija na Etiopijo,Albanijo, Jugoslavijo itn.), vendar smo izzgodovinske pisarne oddelka za splošne zadeveVrhovnega vojaškega poveljstva v Rimu, sposredovanjem prof. dr. Jožeta Pirjevca, januarja2008 dobili (Knjiga I., Disciplinske obveznosti– Generalne obveznosti vsakega vojaka,Vojaška prisega) skoraj enaka besedila iz trehrazličnih obdobij leta 1873, 1942 in 1952 (brezomembe kralja), ki se v italijanščini glasijo:»Giuro d'èssere fedele al Re ed ai suoi Realisuccessori, di osservare lealmente lo Statuto ele altre leggi dello Stato, e di adempire tuttii doveri del mio stato, al solo scopo del beneinseparabile del Re e della Patria.«Prevod v slovenščino je takšen:»Prisegam, da bom zvest kralju in njegovimnaslednikom, da bom pošteno izvrševal odredbeustave in drugih državnih zakonov in izpolnjevalvse obveznosti do moje države, z edinimnamenom zvesto služiti kralju in domovini.«Nezanesljive primorske rojake so pošiljali vdelavske bataljone ali pa v enote na kašnemotoku – številni so namreč preprosto dezertirali.Italijanskih mobilizirancev naj bi bilopribližno 70.000, številni od njih pa so v letih1941–1943 kot ujetniki zahodnih sil v Afrikiprestopili v NOV (prekomorske enote), del tudiv Jugoslovansko vojsko zunaj domovine. NekajPrimorcev se je po letu 1941 pridružilo tudigrškim in albanskim partizanom.V nasprotju z navadnimi vojaki, ki niso prisegalipred Bogom, so italijanski fašisti (odmladeži do posebnih enot – črnosrajčnikov)prisegali zvestobo svojemu ideološkemu vodjiduceju – Benitu Mussoliniju tudi pred Bogom,z besedami:»Nel nome d'Iddio e dell'Italia, giuro di eseguiregli ordini del Duce e di servire, con tutte lemie forze e, se è necessario, con mio sangue,lacausa della rivoluzione fascista«.English translation:“I, (name and surname), swear by God Almighty,to be always and in all circumstances loyal, deeplydevoted and obedient to the Supreme Commanderof the Armed Forces, King of Yugoslavia, Peter II;to heroically fight for the King and the homeland;to never and nowhere break the military oath; andto obey and faithfully fulfil all orders given by mysuperiors. So help me God!”As the Slovenian recruitment contingent numberedapproximately 7,000 soldiers annually, wemay assume that in the period from 1920 to 1941approximately 150,000 soldiers, up to 2,000 noncommissionedofficers and officers and 21 generals/admiralsserved in the Army of the Kingdom ofYugoslavia (VKJ).Soldiers mobilised to the Italian Army(1927–1943)I thought the military oath of the Slovenian soldiersmobilised to the Italian Army in the periodfrom 1927 to 1943, particularly with regard to thefact that this was an Imperial Army (aggression onEthiopia, Albania, Yugoslavia, etc.), would differaccording to the nationality of soldiers. However,in January 2008, with the help of Prof. Dr. JožePirjevec, I obtained almost identical texts (Book I,Disciplinary Requirements – General Responsibilitiesof Every Soldier, Military Oath) from three differentperiods (1873, 1942 and 1952 – the text from thelast period includes no mention of the King) from theSupreme Military Command, Department of GeneralAffairs, of the Historical Office in Rome. The texts inthe Italian language are worded as follows:“Giuro d’èssere fedele al Re ed ai suoi Reali successori,di osservare lealmente lo Statuto e le altre leggidello Stato, e di adempire tutti i doveri del mio stato,al solo scopo del bene inseparabile del Re e dellaPatria”.In the English language the content is the following:“I pledge loyalty to the King and his descendants. Iswear to dutifully implement constitutional ordersand other state laws and fulfil all obligations to mycountry, with the single intention of loyally servingthe King and the homeland.”Unreliable fellow countrymen from the Primorskaregion, many of whom simply deserted, were sent to144 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

V slovenskem prevodi se to glasi takole:»V božjem imenu in imenu Italije prisegam, dabom sledil ukazom duceja in služil, z vsemi svojimimočmi in če bo treba tudi s krvjo, za dobrofašistične revolucije.«V obdobju STO so naborniki podpisovali nekakšne»bele pole« z besedilom prisege, vendarvsebine ne poznajo (menda so celo rekrutiranikot prostovoljci?), kar bi bilo zanimivopodrobneje razjasniti.Mobiliziranci v nemško vojsko –Wehrmacht (1942–1945)Sredi leta 1935 so v nemški vojski – Wehrmachtusprejeli takšno besedilo vojaške prisege:»Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligen Eid, dassich dem Führer des Deutschen Reiches undVolkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber derWehrmacht, unbedingten Gehorsam leisten undals tapferer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit fürdiesen Eid mein Leben einzusetzen.«Besedilo je menda sestavil Adolf Hitlerosebno. Do leta 1944 so vojaki pri prisegi levoroko položili na meč, desno pa dvignili v »Hitlerjev«pozdrav. Po tem letu (atentat na Hitlerja)so z levo roko držali nemško državnozastavo. Slovenskih mobilizirancev naj bi bilopribližno 30.000.Slovenski mobiliziranci v Wehrmacht v obdobju1942–1945 so nemško besedilo prisegedobili na listku in so se ga morali naučiti napamet. V prevodu se prisega glasi takole:»Pred Bogom slovesno prisegam, da bombrezpogojno ubogal voditelja nemške države innaroda, Adolfa Hitlerja, vrhovnega poveljnikanemške vojske, in kot pogumen vojak sem vsaktrenutek pripravljen dati tudi svoje življenj.«Prostovoljci v nemške enote SS –Schutzstaffel (1942–1945)Sicer redki slovenski prostovoljci v nemškeenote SS (Schutzstaffel), ki so bile pod neposrednimpoveljstvom Heinricha Himmlerja,reichsführerja, glavnega vodje SS in nemškihvarnostnih služb ter armadnega generala SS,so prisegali s temi besedami: »Ich schwöre Adolfworking battalions or to units on islands. There wereapproximately 70,000 mobilised Italians, many ofwhom joined the People’s Liberation Army (overseasunits) during 1941 and 1943, as prisoners of theWestern Forces in Africa, while some of them alsojoined the Yugoslav Army outside the homeland.Some soldiers from the Primorska region joined theGreek or Albanian partisans after 1941.In contrast to regular soldiers who did not swearbefore God, Italian fascists (from youngsters to specialunits – Blackshirts) swore loyalty to their ideologicalleader Il Duce – Benito Mussolini also beforeGod, using the following words: “Nel nome d’Iddio edell’Italia, giuro di eseguire gli ordini del Duce e diservire, con tutte le mie forze e, se è necessario, conmio sangue,la causa della rivoluzione fascista”.The English translation is worded as follows: “InGod’s name and in the name of Italy I swear to followthe orders of Il Duce and to serve, with all mystrength and, if need be, with my blood, for the welfareof the fascist revolution.”In the time of the Free Territory of Trieste, recruitshad to sign certain “white sheets” with the text of theoath; however, they were not familiar with the contents(whether they were recruited as volunteers is notclear), which would be interesting to clarify further.Soldiers mobilised to the German Army –Wehrmacht (1942–1945)In the middle of 1935, the Germany Army –Wehrmacht adopted the following words to themilitary oath: “Ich schwöre bei Gott diesen heiligenEid, dass ich dem Führer des Deutschen Reichesund Volkes, Adolf Hitler, dem Oberbefehlshaber derWehrmacht, unbedingten Gehorsam leisten und alstapferer Soldat bereit sein will, jederzeit für diesenEid mein Leben einzusetzen.”The text was presumably composed by AdolfHitler himself. Until 1944, soldiers put their lefthand on a sword while taking the oath and raisedtheir right hand in the “Heil Hitler” salutation. Afterthat year (in which there was an attempt on Hitler’slife), they held a German national flag in their lefthand. Presumably, there were approximately 30,000soldiers mobilised from Slovenia.Slovenians mobilised to the German Wehrmachtduring 1942 and 1945 received a piece of paper withthe words of the oath and had to learn the text byheart. In English the oath was worded as follows:M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 145

Hitler unerschütterliche Treue. Ich schwöre ihmund den Führern, die er mir bestimmt, unbedingtenGehorsam. Adolf Hitler: Sieg Heil!«V slovenskem prevodu bi bila prisega takšna:»Adolfu Hitlerju prisegam neomajno zvestobo.Njemu in vodji odločno prisegam brezpogojnopokorščino. Adolf Hitler: živela zmaga!«Kakšna je bila nemška različica ob domobranskiprisegi, si lahko samo mislimo! Mogočeje celo ohranjena v zaseženih nemškiharhivih ali pa je bila razkrita ob procesu protiSS-generalu Rösenerju leta 1946 pred ljubljanskimvojaškim sodiščem. Število slovenskihpripadnikov enot SS ni znano, po nekaterihocenah jih je bilo približno 120. Osebno sem(kot otrok) poznal dva.Mobiliziranci v madžarsko vojsko(1942–1945)Približno 5.000 slovenskih mobilizirancevv madžarski okupacijski coni v Prekmurju vobdobju 1942–1945 je ob vstopu v madžarskovojsko takole prisegalo v madžarskem jeziku(po virih Pokrajinske študijske knjižnice vMurski Soboti, 2007):Slovenski prevod te prisege se glasi:»Pri vsemogočnem Bogu prisegamo, da bomozvesti in pokorni VRHOVNEMU POVELJNI-KU, veličastnemu vitezu Nagybanyai HORTYMIKLOSU, zakonito izbranemu voditelju, Madžarskiin njeni ustavi, ter da se bomo pokoravalivsem zakonom te države.Prisegamo, da bomo pokorni generalommadžarske vojske, drugim predstojnikom innadrejenim, da jih bomo spoštovali in varovaliter zvesto izpolnjevali vse njihove zapovedi inukaze; z vsem svojim znanjem in močmi bomoskrbeli za podrejene ter jim s svojim zgledompomagali, da bodo v vseh okoliščinah poštenoopravili svoje dolžnosti.Prisegamo, da se bomo za našo sveto domovinoproti vsem sovražnikom, notranjim inzunanjim, vedno in povsod viteško in moškobojevali, četudi za ceno svoje krvi in življenja.Svojih čet, zastav, topov in drugih bojnihsredstev ne bomo izgubili ter s sovražnikomnikoli ne bomo sklepali nobenih sporazumov;“I solemnly swear before God to unconditionallyobey the leader of the German country and people,Adolf Hitler, the Supreme Commander of theGerman Army, and, as a brave soldier, to also laydown my life at any moment.”Volunteers in German SS units –Schutzstaffel (1942–1945)Rare Slovenian volunteers in German SS units(Schutzstaffel), which were under direct commandof Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer, the main leaderof the SS and German security services, and the SSarmy general, took the following oath:“Ich schwöre Adolf Hitler unerschütterliche Treue. Ichschwöre ihm und den Führern, die er mir bestimmt,unbedingten Gehorsam. Adolf Hitler: Sieg Heil!”The English translation of the oath is thefollowing:“I pledge firm loyalty to Adolf Hitler and unconditionalobedience to him and the leader appointed tome. Adolf Hitler: Hail to Victory!”We can only imagine what the German HomeGuard variant of the oath was like! It may even bepreserved in confiscated German archives or hasbeen revealed during the trial against the SS GeneralRösener in 1946 before the Ljubljana Military Court.The number of Slovenian SS unit members is unknown;however, it is estimated that there wereabout 120. As a child, I knew two of them personally.Soldiers mobilised to the Hungarian Army(1942–1945)When joining the Hungarian Army during 1942and 1945, approximately 5,000 Slovenians mobilisedin the Hungarian occupation zone in Prekmurjetook the following military oath in the Hungarianlanguage (according to the documents from theMurska Sobota Regional and Study Library, 2007):This is the English translation of the oath:“We swear by God Almighty to be loyal and obedientto the SUPREME COMMANDER, the GrandKnight Nagybanya HORTY MIKLOS, the legitimatelyelected leader, to Hungary and its constitutionand to obey all the laws of this country.We swear obedience to the generals of the146 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

Madžarska kvislinška vojska, 1941(prevod znanca iz Murske Sobote)Hungarian Quisling Army, 1941(translation by an acquaintance from Murska Sobota)ne bomo vstopili v službo nobene protinarodne,protidomovinske ali kakršne koli druge struje,ki poskuša spodkopati disciplino naše vojske alidrugih oboroženih sil; nismo in ne bomo članinobene tajne združbe; zvesto bomo varovali vseslužbene skrivnosti.V skladu s členi vojaškega zakonika in upoštevajočvojaške zakone se bomo vedno obnašalikot strumni vojaki in dobri patrioti ter takopošteno živeli in umirali. Naj nam Bog pomaga.Amen!«Slovensko domobranstvo (1941–1945)Pripadniki slovenskega domobranstva soHitlerju prisegli dvakrat! Ker je ta prisega žedovolj spolitizirana, dodajam samo nekaj manjznanih podrobnosti.Hungarian Army and to all other superiors, wepromise to respect and protect them and to loyallyfulfil all their commands and orders. We will use allour knowledge and strength to care for the subordinatesand be an example to them by honestly fulfillingour duties, regardless of the situation.We swear to always and in every place fight gallantlyand manly for our sacred homeland, againstall enemies, internal and external, even at the priceof our own blood and life. We will not forsake ourtroops, flags, guns and other combat resourcesand will never enter into any agreements with theenemy. We will not join the service of any antinational,anti-homeland or any other movementtrying to undermine the discipline of our army orother armed forces. We are not and will not becomemembers of any secret society. We will loyally protectall official secrets.M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 147

Dr. Stanko Kociper, osebni tajnik in zet divizijskegagenerala Leona Rupnika, generalnegainšpektorja Slovenskega domobranstva, jev svoji knjigi (Kar sem živel, Ljubljana, 1996,str. 189–197 v poglavju In iz ozadja) zapisal,da je pobuda za domobransko prisego prišlaiz Organizacijskega štaba (poveljnika podpolkovnikaKrenerja ali pa podpolkovnika ErnestaPeterlina, ki je pogosto zahajal k SS-generaluErwinu Rösenerju), da je general Rupnik priSS-generalu Rösenerju zares omilil celotnobesedilo prisege, pozneje pa samo dopisal delstavka »... proti komunistom in njihovim zaveznikom.«Ker je bil Rupnikov sin, stotnik Vuk,proti vsakršni prisegi Nemcem – častniki sobili pač še vedno vezani na prisego jugoslovanskemukralju Petru I. –, ga je oče nazadnjevendarle prepričal, da je kralj zbežal, narod paprepustil Nemcem in »komunistom«. GeneralRupnik je dosegel le to, da je na vladni palačipoleg nemške plapolala tudi slovenska zastava.In še nekaj nam je zaupal Kociper: samo on ingeneral Rupnik sta vedela za nemški načrt, dabi iz jedra domobranskih enot vzpostavili tudislovensko enoto SS, zato pa je SS-general Rösenervztrajal pri besedilu domobranske prisege,ki je izražala tudi zvestobo Adolfu Hitlerju!Prisega, javno objavljena v tedanjih častnikihJutro in Slovenec, leta 1944 in 1945, se jeglasila:»Prisegam pri Vsemogočnem Bogu, da bomzvest, hraber in svojim nadrejenim pokoren, dabom v skupnem boju z nemško oboroženo silo,stoječo pod poveljstvom Vodje Velike Nemčije,SS-četami in policijo proti banditom in komunizmu,kakor tudi njegovim zaveznikom, svojedolžnosti vestno izpolnjeval za svojo slovenskodomovino, kot del svobodne Evrope. Za ta bojsem pripravljen žrtvovati tudi svoje življenje.Tako mi Bog pomagaj.«Iz besedila prisege nedvoumno izhaja, da sodomobranci kot del SS-čet in policije priseglizvestobo Adolfu Hitlerju – vodji velike Nemčije,za boj proti partizanom (banditom) inkomunizmu ter njihovim zaveznikom, sicer za»svojo slovensko domovino« (in tudi pred slovenskoin nemško zastavo) kot »del svobodneEvrope«, seveda po nacističnem vzorcu (arijskočiste, če bodo tudi Slovenci sodelovali v SS-enotah). Po mojem mnenju je glavni poudarekv delu, ki govori, da so domobranci (pomožni)In accordance with the articles of the military codeand in line with the military laws, we will alwaysbehave as strong soldiers and good patriots andthus live and die honestly. So God help us. Amen!”Slovenian Home Guard (1941–1945)Members of the Slovenian Home Guard actuallyswore to Hitler twice! As this oath has already beenpoliticised to a great extent, I will only add severalless known details.Dr. Stanko Kociper, personal secretary and son-inlawof the Division General Leon Rupnik, InspectorGeneral of the Slovenian Home Guard, wrote in hisbook (Kar sem živel, Ljubljana, 1996, pp. 189–197, inthe chapter titled In iz ozadja) that the initiative forthe Home Guard oath came from the OrganisationalStaff (Commander Lieutenant Colonel Krener orLieutenant Colonel Ernest Peterlin who often visitedSS General Erwin Rösener) and that General Rupnikin fact softened the entire text of the oath composed bySS General Rösener and later only added the part ofthe sentence saying “ ... against communists and theirallies”. Rupnik’s son, Captain Vuk, was against anyoath given to the Germans – officers were still boundby the oath given to the Yugoslav King Peter I – buthis father finally managed to convince him that theking had escaped and left the nation to the Germansand the “communists”. The only thing General Rupnikmanaged to achieve was having a Slovenian flagfluttering next to the German flag on the governmentbuilding. There is one more thing that Kociperrevealed: only him and General Rupnik knew aboutthe German plan of forming a Slovenian SS unit fromthe core of the Home Guard units. For this reason, SSGeneral Rösener insisted on the words of the HomeGuard oath expressing loyalty to Adolf Hitler!The oath was publicly announced in the newspapersJutro and Slovenec in 1944 and 1945 and wasworded as follows:“I swear by God Almighty to be loyal, brave andobedient to my superiors; to stand in common strugglewith the German armed forces, standing underthe command of the leader of Greater Germany, SStroops and the Police against bandits and communismand their allies; this duty I will carry outconscientiously for my Slovenian homeland as partof a free Europe. For this struggle I am also willingto sacrifice my life. So help me God.”The words of the oath undoubtedly show thatmembers of the Home Guard, as part of SS troops148 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

del »SS-čet in policije«. To pomeni, da ne greza vojsko, temveč za (pomožne) SS in policijskeenote. In iz prisege enot SS smo tudi videli,da so zvestobo izrekali neposredno Hitlerju,kar so storili tudi slovenski domobranci.Privrženci domobranstva še vedno potvarjajoomenjeno besedilo (Samo Hubad, Večnopodtikanje, Demokracija, novembra 2002), sajtrdijo, da so prisegli »na slovensko zastavo inslovenski narod«, izpustili pa so tisti najboljkompromitirajoči del, ki govori o skupnemboju s »SS-četami in policijo« in celo Rupnikovosebni pripis »komunizmu kakor tudi njegovimzaveznikom«, na to mesto pa so naknadnovstavljene besede »na slovenskem ozemlju«.Tako se zgodovine ne da ponarejati …Res je samo to, kar je osebna zasluga generalaRupnika, da so domobranci prisegali tudiob slovenski zastavi in himni Naprej zastaveslave! Vendar – tudi ob nemški zastavi in himniter nemškem meču!Zgodovinarji in pričevalci so zbrali tudidruge dokaze o pravem pomenu domobranskeprisege. Gre predvsem za govor SS-generalaRösenerja pred prisego domobrancev 20. aprila1944, na Hitlerjev rojstni dan. Tedaj je poudaril,da je on osebno dne 24. 9. 1943 ukazalustanoviti Slovensko domobranstvo iz belogardističnihlegionarjev, da so jih Nemci izurili,oblekli in oborožili (ter plačevali) za skupenboj proti komunizmu in banditom (Slovenec,21. 4. 1944). Drugič so domobranci prisegli30. januarja 1945, na obletnico nacističnegaprevzema oblasti v Nemčiji.Ne gre pozabiti, da je SS-general Rösener1. 2. 1944 zapisal: »Slovensko domobranstvoje deželna formacija, kar pomeni iz Slovencevna italijanskem bojnem območju vzpostavljenaenota, ki mora izvajati čisto policijske naloge.Slovensko domobranstvo smo ustanovilina osnovi odredbe vrhovnega komisarja voperacijski coni Jadransko primorje. Te enoteso plačane iz sredstev vrhovnega komisarjaoz. naravnost iz italijanskih državnih sredstev.Vrhovni šef tega Slovenskega domobranstvaje vsakokratni višji vodja SS in policije.«Domobranci so bili tudi sodno podrejeni SS,vrhovni poveljnik SS in policije je bil reichsführerHeinrich Himmler. Torej ni šlo za nobenovzporedno slovensko »narodno« vojsko, temvečza pomožne SS in policijske enote. Vsemje navsezadnje tudi dobro znano, da domobranskipoveljniki niso mogli niti samostojnoand the Police, swore loyalty to Adolf Hitler – leaderof Greater Germany – in the struggle against partisans(bandits) and communism and their allies; asit is, for “their Slovenian homeland” (and also beforethe Slovenian and German flags) and as “part of afree Europe”, but in accordance with the Nazi model(pure Aryan if Slovenians also participate in SSunits)! In my opinion, the main emphasis lies in thepart saying that members of the Home Guard are an(auxiliary) part of “SS troops and the Police”, meaningthat the Home Guard was not an army but an(auxiliary) SS and Police unit! Also, from the oathof SS units we have seen that soldiers swore loyaltyto Hitler directly, which was also the case withSlovenian Home Guard members.Adherents of the Home Guard still falsify theabove mentioned text (Samo Hubad, Večno podtikanje,Demokracija, November 2002), claimingthat Home Guard members swore “to the Slovenianflag and the Slovenian nation”; they leave out themost compromising part regarding joint combat with“SS troops and the Police”, and even Rupnik’s personallyadded phrase “communism and their allies”,with the words “in the Slovenian territory” subsequentlyadded in this place. This, however, is not theway to rewrite history.The only truth is in the personal merit of GeneralRupnik who saw to Home Guard members also swearingto the Slovenian flag and the anthem Naprej zastaveslave (Forward, Flag of Glory)! However, thesoldiers also swore allegiance to the German flag, theGerman anthem and the German sword!Historians and witnesses have gathered otherevidence regarding the real meaning of the HomeGuard oath. This includes especially the speech ofSS General Rösener before the taking of the oath bySlovenian Home Guard members on 20 April 1944,on Hitler’s birthday, during which he emphasisedthat on 24 September 1943, he personally orderedthe establishment of the Slovenian Home Guard,made up of White Guard legionnaires whom theGermans trained, clothed and armed (as well aspaid) for joint combat against communism and thebandits (Slovenec, 21 April 1944). Home Guardmembers swore for the second time on 30 January1945, at the anniversary of the Nazi takeover ofpower in Germany.It should not be forgotten that on 1 February1944 SS General Rösener wrote: “Slovenian HomeGuard is a provincial formation, a unit formed ofSlovenians in the Italian combat area, whose dutyis implementing pure police tasks. Slovenian HomeM I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 149

Domobranska prisega, Ljubljana, 1944Home Guard oath, Ljubljana, 1944poveljevati v bojih proti partizanom, če ni bilopoleg nemškega inštruktorja. Izjema so bilile odločilni boji za preboj prek Drave, da bidosegli cono (ujetništvo) britanskih enot naKoroškem.Po prisegi so domobranci v vojašnici podpisališe tako izjavo v nemščini (erklärung) inslovenščini:»Sem prostovoljno pristopil v Slov. Domobranstvo,v boj in uničenje komunizma, katerije moji deželi že toliko gorja prinesel in celoEvropo ogrozil.Moja trdna volja je, z vsemi mojimi močmi, vzadovoljstvo moje dežele in Evrope, bojevatise pod nemškim vodstvom, in za to tudi moježivljenje postaviti.To obvezo sem danes s sveto prisego potrdil.Sem bil o dolžnostih in pravicah v službenem,disciplinarnem in gospodarskem oziru poučen.Podpis:… «Vsebino prisege je dopolnjeval tudi obred.Nemški vojak je držal meč, na katerega so domobrancipoložili levico, tri prste desnice paso dvignili in ponavljali slovenski del prisege,ki ga je izgovarjal njihov »pomožni« poveljnik– podpolkovnik Krener. Pred tem je nemški vojakprebral prisego v nemščini.Guard was established on the basis of the order bythe Supreme Commissioner in the operational zoneAdriatic Coast. These units receive payment fromthe resources of the Supreme Commissioner or directlyfrom Italian state resources. Supreme Head ofthe Slovenian Home Guard is the current superiorleader of the SS and the Police”. Home Guard memberswere also legally subordinate to the SS, while theSupreme Commander of the SS and the Police wasReichsführer Heinrich Himmler. The Home Guardwas thus not a parallel Slovenian “national” armybut an auxiliary SS and police unit. And finally, weare all well familiar with the fact that Home Guardcommanders could not autonomously command incombats against the partisans, less a German instructorwas present. The only exception regards decisivecombats for the breakthrough across the DravaRiver in order to reach the zone (captivity) of Britishunits in the Carinthia region.After taking the oath, Home Guard membershad to sign the following statement in the German(Erklärung!) and Slovenian languages:“I have voluntarily entered the Slovenian Home Guardto combat and destroy communism which has broughtmuch sorrow to my country and endangered entireEurope.It is my strong will to fight under German leadershipwith all my strength, to the satisfaction of my country150 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

Ob prvi prisegi so bili navzoči (glej fotografijo):nemški generalni konzul Müller, hrvaškikonzul Salih Baljić, SS-OrtsgruppenführerGrubitz, SS-Standartenführer Schimmelpfenig,podpolkovnik Balke kot zvezni častnikWehrmachta, SS-generalporočnik in višjivodja SS Erwin Rösener ter divizijski generalLeon Rupnik, predsednik Ljubljanske pokrajine.Kot zanimivost še navajam, da nemški častnikiniso prišli na ljubljanski stadion oz.na kraj prisege šele po opravljeni maši škofaGregorija Rožmana zaradi taktičnih alidrugih razlogov (ali nasprotno, da se je škofRožman »umaknil« iz posebnih »političnih«razlogov). Nič od tega ni res! Šlo je preprostoza to, da so častili le germansko božanstvoJulla in niso hoteli biti navzoči pri krščanskembogoslužju.In še zadnji dokaz, komu so bili domobrancineposredno podrejeni. Ob drugi prisegi,januarja 1945, je SS-general Rösener osebnoprebral ukaz, s katerim je povišal poveljnikaSlovenskega domobranstva podpolkovnikaFranca Krenerja v čin polkovnika, stotnikaVuka Rupnika v čin majorja, 44 častnikov vvišje čine, 3 podnarednike v narednike, 50kaplarjev v podnarednike in 70 domobrancevv kaplarje. Vsem je tudi osebno podelil pisneukaze – listine. Razdelil pa je tudi več odlikovanjin značk za ranjence. Tako sta železnikrižec II. razreda prejela major Vuk Rupnik instotnik Drago Furlan.Slovensko četništvo (Plava garda)– Jugoslovanska vojska v domovini(1941–1945)Kapetan Uroš Šušterič, nedavno razglašeničetniški vojvoda »Triglavski«, ni mogel verificiratispodaj navedene prisege pripadnikovJVvD, ker so v nekaterih krajih nekdanje Jugoslavijein enotah poveljniki četniški korpusovspoštovali tudi tradicionalne običaje. Ob vsakiprisegi so pravoslavni duhovniki blagoslavljalizaprisežene borce in starešine. Prisega se jeglasila: »Ja, (čin, ime i prezime), zaklinjem sesvemogućim Bogom, da ću Vrhovnom Zapovednikusve vojne sile, Kralju Jugoslavije Petru II.,svagda i u svim prilikama, biti veran, svom dušomodan i poslušan; da ću se za Kralja i Otadžbinujunački boriti; da Vojničku zastavu nigdei nikad neću izneveriti i da ću zapovesti svihand Europe, and to lay down my life for this cause.I have confirmed this commitment on this day bytaking a sacred oath.I have been informed of my duties and rights asregards the official, disciplinary and economicaspects. Signature: … “The ceremony itself also bore witness to the contentsof the oath. A German soldier held a sword onwhich Home Guard members laid their left hands;they raised three fingers on their right hands and repeatedthe Slovenian part of the oath pronounced bytheir “auxiliary” commander – Lieutenant ColonelKrener. Beforehand, a German soldier read the oathin the German language.The following people were present at the firstoath-taking (see the photograph): German ConsulGeneral Müller, Croatian Consul Salih Baljić, SS-Ortsgruppenführer Grubitz, SS-StandartenführerSchimmelpfenig, Lieutenant Colonel Balke as aWehrmacht federal officer, SS-Lieutenant Generaland SS superior leader Erwin Rösener, and DivisionGeneral Leon Rupnik, president of the Province ofLjubljana.It is interesting to note that German officersonly came to the Ljubljana stadium, the place of theoath, after the end of mass which was conducted byBishop Gregorij Rožman, supposedly on the groundsof tactical and other reasons (or just the opposite,that bishop Rožman “withdrew” for special “political”reasons). However, none of this is true! The reasonis simply the fact that they only worshipped theGerman deity Julla and did not wish to be present ata Christian service.And here is the last piece of evidence regarding theissue of whom Home Guard members were directlysubordinate to. During the second oath-taking, inJanuary 1945, SS General Rösener personally readthe order for the promotion of the Slovenian HomeGuard commander, Lieutenant Colonel Franc Krener,to the rank of Colonel, Captain Vuk Rupnik to therank of Major, 44 officers to higher ranks, 3 sub-sergeantsto the ranks of sergeants, 50 corporals to theranks of sub-sergeants and 70 Home Guard membersto the ranks of corporals. He also presented all ofthem with written orders - documents. He distributedseveral decorations and badges for the wounded.The Iron Cross II. Class was awarded to Major VukRupnik and Captain Drago Furlan.Slovenian Chetniks (Blue Guard) – YugoslavArmy in the Homeland (1941–1945)Captain Uroš Šušterič, recently proclaimed ChetnikM I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 151

Duke “of Triglav”, could not verify the below mentionedoath of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland(YAH) members, as in some units and parts of theformer Yugoslavia Chetnik corps commanders alsorespected traditional practices. For every oath,Orthodox priests would bless the sworn fighters andsuperiors. The oath was worded as follows:“Ja, (čin, ime i prezime), zaklinjem se svemogućimBogom, da ću Vrhovnom Zapovedniku sve vojnesile, Kralju Jugoslavije Petru II., svagda i u svimprilikama, biti veran, svom dušom odan i poslušan;da ću se za Kralja i Otadžbinu junački boriti; daVojničku zastavu nigde i nikad neću izneveriti ida ću zapovesti svih pretpostavljenih mi starešinaslušati i verno izvršavati. Tako mi Bog pomogao!”The English translation of the oath:Prisega Slovenske narodne vojske, 1945(Arhiv VZI Beograd, štev. 1/1-6, S-27)Slovenian National Army oath, 1945(Military History Institute Archives, Belgrade, No. 1/1-6, S-27)pretpostavljenih mi starešina slušati i verno izvršavati.Tako mi Bog pomogao!«V slovenskem prevodu bi se prisega glasilatakole:»Jaz, (čin, ime in priimek), prisegam pri vsemogočnemBogu, da bom vrhovnemu poveljnikuvseh oboroženih sil kralju Petru Drugemuvedno in v vseh okoliščinah zvest, z vso dušovdan in poslušen; da se bom pogumno bojevalza kralja in domovino; da nikjer in nikdar nebom onečastil vojaške zastave ter da bom ubogalin zvesto izvrševal ukaze vseh nadrejenihstarešin. Tako mi Bog pomagaj!«To četniško prisego so pripadniki slovenskihčetnikov (plavogardistov) izrekali posamično(častniki) ali skupinsko (podčastniki in vojaki),menda tudi ob navzočnosti kuratov (katoliških).Ocenjujem, da je to prisego izreklopribližno 800 pripadnikov JVvD – v Sloveniji.Štajerski četniki (Katja Zupanič, Četništvona Štajerskem, Maribor, 2004, str. 80) so prisegliskupinsko. Ponoči 28. junija 1944, na Vidov“I, (rank, name and surname), swear by GodAlmighty, to be at all times and in every circumstanceloyal, deeply devoted and obedient to theSupreme Commander of all armed forces, King PeterII; to heroically fight for the King and the homeland;to nowhere and never desecrate the militaryflag and to obey and faithfully execute orders of allsuperiors. So help me God!”This Chetnik oath was taken by members of theSlovenian Chetniks (Blue Guard members), eitherindividually (officers) or collectively (non-commissionedofficers and soldiers), presumably also in thepresence of curates (Catholic). My estimate is thatthe oath was taken by approximately 800 YAH membersin Slovenia.Styria chetniks (Katja Zupanič, Četništvo naŠtajerskem, Maribor, 2004, p. 80) took the oath collectively.On the night of 28 June 1944, on St. Vitus’Day, they gathered in the woods of Metava near St.Peter, one hundred of them who “... by the unfurledYugoslav flag and by God, swore to King Peter II”. Onthis occasion everyone received Yugoslav cockades,officers larger ones, combatants smaller. Their illegalfight was accompanied by the slogan: “Do notexpose precious human lives to a futile combat withthe Germans or the partisans”. During his speech,commander Zmagoslav said that “Chetnik movementin Styria operates in the most difficult terrain,namely within the borders of the German Reich”. Inspirit, he united Styria Chetniks with the Chetniks inCroatia and Serbia. He urged them to patiently waitfor the great moment and cried out: “Forward, Flagof Glory! To battle, heroic blood! For the benefit of152 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

dan, so se zbrali v gozdu v Metavi pri Sv. Petru,njih sto, ki so »… ob razviti jugoslovanskizastavi pri Bogu prisegli kralju Petru II. Ob tejpriliki so vsi prejeli jugoslovanske kokarde, oficirjivečje, borci manjše. Njihov ilegalni boj jespremljalo geslo: »Ne izpostavljal dragocenihčloveških življenj v neplodnem boju z Nemciali partizani. V govoru je poveljnik Zmagoslavdejal, da »ima četništvo na Štajerskem najtežjiteren, ker delujejo v mejah nemškega Reicha. Vduhu jih je združil s četniki na Hrvaškem in vSrbiji. Pozval jih je na čakanje za veliki trenutekin zavpil: »Naprej zastave slave! Na boj junaškakri! Za blagor očetnjave, naj puška govori!«Zanimivo je, da so to prisego delno sprejelitudi častniki Slovenskega domobranstva, ki soše vedno menili, da jih zavezuje prisega vrhovnemupoveljniku – kralju Petru II.Menim, da je bila četniška prisega tudi zaradivsebine sprejemljiva za t. i. del »slovenskeilegale«, saj v njej ni nobenih elementovkolaboracije z okupatorjem ali boja proti partizanom.Seveda pa vsebina prisege ne morevedno odražati dejanskih razmer na določenemterenu in v nekem obdobju. Tudi Italijaniin Nemci so namreč prikrito podpirali četnike.Slovenska narodna vojska(1944–1945)V ukazu štev. 39, strogo zaupno, z dne 25.aprila 1944, je tedanji v. d. poveljnika Jugoslovanskevojske v Sloveniji, general Račič, v resnicibrigadni general Vladimir Vauhnik, začeloblikovati t. i. Slovensko narodno vojsko.V podpisani uredbi Narodnega odbora zaSlovenijo o ustanovitvi Slovenske narodne vojskez dne 21. 1. 1945 je v 10. členu zapisano:»Pripadniki Slovenske narodne vojske prisežejozvestobo kralju in slovenskemu narodu.«V uredbi o ureditvi Slovenske narodne vojskez dne 5. aprila 1945 (Arhiv VZI, Beograd,štev. 1/1 6, Š–274), člen 5, je navedena tudiprisega, ki naj bi se glasila takole:»Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri vsemogočnemBogu, da bom Vrhovnemu poveljnikuslovenske narodne vojske kralju Petru II. poslušen,slovenskemu narodu pa zvest in iz vse duševdan, da se bom za slovenski narod in njegovesvetinje ter kraljevino Jugoslavijo junaškoboril, da se ne bom nikjer in nikoli izneverilthe Fatherland, let the rifle speak!”It is interesting to note that this oath was alsopartially adopted by officers of the Slovenian HomeGuard who still believed they were bound by the oathto the Supreme Commander – King Peter II.On the basis of the contents of the Chetnik oath Iestimate that it was also acceptable to the so-calledpart of the “Slovenian underground movement”, as itcontains no elements of collaboration with the occupieror combat against the partisans. However, it isalso true that the contents of the oath cannot alwaysreflect the actual situation in a certain area and ata certain time. As it was, the Italians and Germanswere also secretly supporting the Chetniks.Slovenian National Army (1944–1945)By order number 39, classified as top secret, dated25 April 1944, the then acting commander of theYugoslav Army in Slovenia, General Račič, in fact aBrigadier General Vladimir Vauhnik, began formingthe so-called Slovenian National Army.Article 10 of the signed Decree of the NationalCommittee for Slovenia on the establishment of theSlovenian National Army, dated 21 January 1945,reads as follows: “Members of the Slovenian NationalArmy swear loyalty to the King and the Sloveniannation.”Article 5 of the Decree on the Regulation of theSlovenian National Army, dated 5 April 1945 (MilitaryHistory Institute Archives, Belgrade, No. 1/1 6, Š–274),also includes an oath which is worded as follows:“I, (name and surname), swear by God Almightyto be obedient to the Supreme Commander of theSlovenian National Army, King Peter II; to be loyaland deeply devoted to the Slovenian nation; toheroically fight for the Slovenian nation, all that issacred to it, and for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia; tonowhere and never betray the military flag and toobey and loyally fulfil commands of all superiorsappointed by the National Committee for Slovenia.So help me God Almighty!”Although the Slovenian National Army was establishedon 5 May 1945, it seems that the mentionedoath was not taken by any of the members of theSlovenian Home Guard which was supposed to constitutethe core of this envisioned “army”. We onlyknow that in the middle of April 1945, soldiers of theStyria Chetnik detachment received identity cardsas members of the Slovenian Army of the YugoslavM I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 153

vojaški zastavi ter da bom poslušal in zvestoizpolnjeval zapovedi vseh od narodnega odboraza Slovenijo postavljenih nadrejenih starešin.Naj mi pri tem pomaga Vsemogočni Bog!«Čeprav je bila Slovenska narodna vojskaustanovljena 5. 5. 1945, se zdi, da navedeneprisege ni izrekel noben pripadnik Slovenskegadomobranstva, ki naj bi sestavljalo jedro tezamišljene »vojske«. Vemo samo, da so srediaprila 1945 vojaki štajerskega četniškega odredadobili izkaznice pripadnikov Slovenske armadeJugoslovanske vojske v domovini, katereprimerek mi je maja 2006 posredoval še živečičetniški narednik »Rado« (glej faksimile).Partizanska vojska – NOV in POSlovenije (1941–1945)Partizanska vojaška prisega je pravzapravizražala zvestobo narodu in domovini v bojuproti okupatorju in domačim izdajalcem. Uradnosta obstojali dve različici, v različnih krajihpa je imela tudi posebne dodatke.Prva različica je bila objavljena takoj na začetkuupora proti okupatorju v biltenu Vrhovnegaštaba NOV in POJ štev. 2 z dne 19. 8. 1941:»Mi, narodni partizani Jugoslavije, latili smose oružja za nemilosrdnu borbu protiv krvoločnihneprijatelja koji porobiše našu zemlju iistrebljuju naše narode. U ime slobode i pravdenašeg naroda, zaklinjemo se da ćemo disciplinovano,uporno i neustrašivo, ne štedećisvoje krvi i živote, voditi borbu do potpunoguništenja fašističkog osvajača i svih narodnihizdajnika«.V prevodu bi se glasila takole:»Mi, ljudski partizani Jugoslavije, smo prijeliza orožje za neizprosen boj proti krvoločnemusovražniku, ki je zasužnjil našo domovinoin namerava iztrebiti naše narode. V imenusvobode in pravice našega naroda prisegamo,da se bomo bojevali disciplinirano, vztrajno inpogumno, žrtvujoč tudi svojo kri in življenje,vsedo popolnega uničenja fašističnega osvajalca invseh narodnih izdajalcev.«Pozneje, marca 1942 in maja 1943, je VŠmalce spremenil to vojaško prisego, vendar soprve štiri sestavine ostale – narod, domovina,Army in the Homeland, a sample of which wasgiven to me in May 2006 by the still living ChetnikSergeant “Rado” (see facsimile).Partisan Army – National Liberation Army(NLA) and Partisan Detachments (PD) ofSlovenia (1941–1945)The partisan military oath expressed loyalty tothe nation and the homeland in the struggle againstthe occupier and national traitors. There were twoofficial variants, while different places also includedtheir own special additions to the oath.The first variant was published right at the beginningof the revolt against the occupier, in theSupreme Command Bulletin of the NLA and PD ofYugoslavia, number 2, dated 19 August 1941:“Mi, narodni partizani Jugoslavije, latili smo seoružja za nemilosrdnu borbu protiv krvoločnihneprijatelja koji porobiše našu zemlju i istrebljujunaše narode. U ime slobode i pravde našeg naroda,zaklinjemo se da ćemo disciplinovano, uporno ineustrašivo, ne štedeći svoje krvi i živote, voditiborbu do potpunog uništenja fašističkog osvajača isvih narodnih izdajnika”.English translation:“We, national partisans of Yugoslavia, have takenup arms in an inexorable struggle against thebloodthirsty enemy who has enslaved our homelandand plans to exterminate our peoples. In the nameof freedom and justice of our nation, we swear tofight in a disciplined manner, with perseveranceand courage, sacrificing our own blood and lives,until complete destruction of the fascist conquerorand all national traitors.”Later, in March 1942 and May 1943, the SupremeCommand made slight changes to the military oath,but the first four components remained – nation,homeland, occupier and national traitors. This partisanoath thus includes no mention of socialist revolutionor party, and especially no reference to communism.As estimated by the General Staff of the YugoslavPeople’s Army, the Yugoslav Army numbered approximately800,000 soldiers - partisans in May 1945,meaning that, also taking into account those killed inaction, this oath was taken by about a million membersof all nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia.Article 6 of the “Partisan Act” (National LiberationWar in Slovenia 1941-1945, Ljubljana, 1978)154 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

okupator in domači izdajalci. V tej partizanskiprisegi ni nobene socialistične revolucije alipartije, še manj pa komunizma. Po ocenah GŠJLA je maja 1945 JA štela približno 800.000borcev – partizanov. To pomeni, če upoštevamotudi padle, da je to partizansko prisegoizreklo približno milijon pripadnikov vseh narodovin narodnosti Jugoslavije!Po čl. 6 »partizanskega zakona« (Narodnoosvobodilnavojna na Slovenskem 1941–1945,Ljubljana, 1978) je bila določena ta »partizanskaprisega«:»Jaz, partizan osvobodilne ljudske armadeslovenskega naroda, ki se ob boku slavne Delavske-Kmečke-RdečeArmade Sovjetske Zvezeter vseh ostalih za svobodo se borečih narodov,borim za osvoboditev in združitev slovenskeganaroda, za bratstvo in mir med narodi inmed ljudmi, za srečnejšo bodočnost delovnegaljudstva,prisegampred svojim narodom in svojimi sobojevniki: dabom oddal vse svoje sile in vse svoje sposobnostiosvobodilni stvari slovenskega naroda, delovnegaljudstva ter vsega naprednega in svobodoljubnegačloveštva v sveti vojni proti fašističnimtlačiteljem in barbarom;da ne bom zapustil partizanskih vrst, v kateresem prostovoljno in zavestno vstopil in ne odložilorožja do popolnega uresničenja velikegaosvobodilnega cilja slovenskega naroda.Prisegam, da bom v boju za te velike osvobodilnecilje s svojo krvjo branil čast in nedotakljivostnaše partizanske zastave in da bom, če boto potrebno, žrtvoval tudi svoje življenje.Za svobodo v boj!«Različica, ki sem jo povzel po slovenski Wikipediji(Lešnik D. & Tomc G., Rdeče in Črno,Ljubljana, 1995), je podobna, obe pa se razlikujetaod jugoslovanske. Glasila se je takole:»Jaz, partizan osvobodilne ljudske armadeslovenskega naroda, ki se ob boku slavne Delavske-Kmečke-RdečeArmade Sovjetske Zvezeter vseh ostalih za svobodo se borečih narodov,borim za osvoboditev in združitev slovenskeganaroda, za bratstvo in mir med narodi in medljudmi, za srečnejšo bodočnost delovnega ljudstva,prisegam pred svojim narodom in svojimisobojevniki, da bom oddal vse svoje sile in vsesvoje sposobnosti osvobodilni stvari slovenskegaprescribed the following “partisan oath”:“I, partisan of the Liberation People’s Army of theSlovenian nation, fighting alongside the famousWorkers’ and Peasants’ Red Army of the SovietUnion and all other freedom fighting nations, forthe liberation and unification of the Slovenian nation,for brotherhood and peace among nations andpeople, for better future of the working people,swear,before my nation and fellow combatants, to dedicateall my strength and capabilities to the liberationcause of the Slovenian nation, the working peopleand all the progressive and freedom-loving humanityin the holy war against the fascist oppressorsand barbarians;not to leave the partisan ranks which I have joinedvoluntarily and consciously and not to lay down myarms until complete fulfilment of the great liberationcause of the Slovenian nation. I swear to defendthe honour and inviolability of the partisan flagwith my blood in the struggle for this great liberationcause and, if necessary, to also sacrifice my life.To the fight for freedom!”The below-cited variant which I have taken fromthe Slovenian Wikipedia (Lešnik D. & Tomc G., Rdečein Črno, Ljubljana, 1995) is similar, while both differfrom the Yugoslav variant.“I, partisan of the Liberation People’s Army of theSlovenian nation, fighting alongside the famousWorkers’ and Peasants’ Red Army of the SovietUnion and all other freedom fighting nations, forthe liberation and unification of the Sloveniannation, for brotherhood and peace among nationsand people, for better future of the working people,swear before my nation and fellow combatants todedicate all my strength and capabilities to the liberationcause of the Slovenian nation, the workingpeople and all the progressive humanity in the holywar against the fascist oppressors and barbarians;I swear not to leave the partisan ranks which I havejoined voluntarily and consciously and not to laydown my arms until complete victory over the fascistoccupiers and complete fulfilment of the greatliberation cause of the Slovenian nation. I swear todefend the honour and inviolability of the partisanflag with my blood for this great liberation causeand, if necessary, to also sacrifice my life.To the fight for freedom!”This is, as usual, a Slovenian peculiarity.M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 155

naroda, delovnega ljudstva in vsega naprednegačloveštva v sveti vojni proti fašističnimtlačiteljem in barbarom, da ne bom zapustilpartizanskih vrst, v katere sem prostovoljno inzavestno vstopil, in ne da bi odložil orožja dopopolne zmage nad fašističnimi okupatorji, dopopolnega uresničenja velikega osvobodilnegacilja slovenskega naroda. Prisegam, da bom zate velike osvobodilne cilje s svojo krvjo branilčast in nedotakljivost naše partizanske zastavein da bom, če bo to potrebno, žrtvoval tudisvoje življenje. Za svobodo v boj!«Slovenska posebnost torej, kot ponavadi.JA – JLATakoj po osvoboditvi leta 1945 so vojaškoprisego ali slovesno zaobljubo JLA pogostospreminjali. Z zakonom o JLA, 1965 (Vojnaenciklopedija, 9, Beograd, 1962) je bila sprejetata prisega:»Ja, (rođeno ime i prezime) svečano se obavezujem,da ću verno služiti svom narodu, da ćubraniti svoju otadžbinu Socijalističku FederativnuRepubliku Jugoslaviju, da ću čuvati bratstvoi jedinstvo naših naroda i ugled Jugoslovenskenarodne armije i da ću savesno izvršavati naređenjamojih starešina. Uvek ću biti spremanda se borim za slobodu i čast otadžbine, nežaleći da u toj borbi dam i svoj život.«.V prevodu se je slovesna zaobljuba glasilatakole:»Jaz, (rojstno ime in priimek), slovesno obljubljam,da bom zvesto služil svojemu narodu,da bom branil svojo Socialistično FederativnoRepubliko Jugoslavijo, da bom varoval bratstvoin enotnost naših narodov in ugled Jugoslovanskeljudske armade in da bom predano izvrševalukaze starešin. Vedno se bom pripravljenbojevati za svobodo in čast svoje domovine, inne bom obžaloval, da v tem boju dam tudi svoježivljenje.«Zadnja različica slovesno zaobljube, sprejetapo letu 1974, pa je taka:»Ja, (rodjeno i porodično ime) svečano se obavezujem,da ću braniti nezavisnost, ustavni poredak,nepovredivost i celovitost SociajalističkeYugoslav Army (YA) – Yugoslav People’sArmy (YPA)Immediately after the liberation in 1945, the YPAmilitary oath or solemn vow changed frequently.With the YPA Act, 1965 (Military Encyclopaedia, 9,Belgrade, 1962), the following oath was adopted:“Ja, (rođeno ime i prezime) svečano se obavezujem,da ću verno služiti svom narodu, da ću braniti svojuotadžbinu Socijalističku Federativnu RepublikuJugoslaviju, da ću čuvati bratstvo i jedinstvo našihnaroda i ugled Jugoslovenske narodne armije i daću savesno izvršavati naređenja mojih starešina.Uvek ću biti spreman da se borim za slobodu i častotadžbine, ne žaleći da u toj borbi dam i svoj život”.The English translation of this solemn vow wasworded as follows:“I, (birth name and surname), solemnly swear toloyally serve my nation, defend my Socialist FederalRepublic of Yugoslavia, preserve the brotherhoodand unity of our peoples and the reputation of theYugoslav People’s Army, and loyally execute mysuperiors’ orders. I will always be willing to fight forthe freedom and honour of my homeland and willnot hesitate to lay down my life in this fight.”The last variant of the solemn vow, adopted after1974, reads as follows:“Ja, (rodjeno i porodično ime) svečano se obavezujem,da ću braniti nezavisnost, ustavni poredak,nepovredivost i celovitost Sociajalističke FederativneRepublike Jugoslavije i da ću čuvati i razvijatibratstvo i jedinstvo naših naroda i narodnosti.Uvek ću savesno i discplinovano izvršavati obaveze idužnosti branioca svoje samoupravne socijalističkedomovine i biti spreman, da se borim za njenuslobodu i čast, ne žaleći da u toj borbi dam i svojživot”.English translation:“I, (name and surname), solemnly swear to defendthe independence, the constitutional structure andthe integrity of the Socialist Federal Republic ofYugoslavia, and to preserve and promote brotherhoodand unity of our nations and nationalities.I will always strictly and in a disciplined mannerexecute the obligations and duties as defender ofmy self-governing socialist homeland and fight for156 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

Federativne Republike Jugoslavije i da ću čuvatii razvijati bratstvo i jedinstvo naših narodai narodnosti. Uvek ću savesno i discplinovanoizvršavati obaveze i dužnosti branioca svojesamoupravne socijalističke domovine i bitispreman, 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, dabom branil neodvisnost, ustavni ustroj, neokrnjenostin celovitost Socialistične FederativneRepublike Jugoslavije in da bom varoval inrazvijal bratstvo in enotnost naših narodov innarodnosti. Vedno bom dosledno in discipliniranoizvrševal obveze in dolžnosti branilca svojesamoupravne socialistične domovine in se bombojeval za njeno svobodo in čast, ter ne bom obžaloval,da v tej boju dam tudi svoje življenje.«S pravili službe JLA so leta 1957 predpisalislovesnost, na katero so bili povabljeni starši,sorodniki in prijatelji vojakov. Vojakom so podeljevalitudi listino »slovesne zaobljube« (glejprimerek) z navedbo datuma in kraja prisege.Gojenci vojaških akademij smo slovesno zaobljubopodali skupinsko, po šolanju pa smopodpisali še pisno zaobljubo (prisego), ki sojo hranili v dosjeju kadrovskih podatkov. Dobrose spomnim, da me je ob podpisovanju oz.branju zadnjega stavka o »darovanju« življenjaspreletel nekakšen srh.Ljudska milicaZa primerjavo med prisego vojakov in pripadnikovpolicije (tudi domobrancev) navajamprisego slovenskih miličnikov iz leta 1946, kijo je v 45. členu predpisoval Zakon o ljudskimilici (Uradni službeni list RS, 1946). Glasilase je takole:»Jaz, (ime in priimek), prisegam pri svoji častiin življenju, da bom svojo službo opravljal pozakonih in ukazih nadrejenih starešin vestno,požrtvovalno in nepristransko; da bom discipliniranin da bom brezpogojno izvrševal ukazenadrejenih starešin; da bom varoval uradnetajnosti in da bom na vsakem mestu varovalugled ljudske milice. Prisegam, da bom budnovaroval pridobitve narodnoosvobodilnega bojain ustavni red, ljudsko oblast ter bratstvo inDiploma o svečani prisegi v JLAYPA solemn oath certificateits freedom and honour, and will not hesitate to laydown my life in this fight.”The YPA Service Regulation from 1957 prescribesa solemn ceremony to which parents, relatives andfriends of soldiers were also invited. In the end, soldiersalso received a “solemn oath” document (seethe copy), with the date and location of the oathtaking.Students of military academies took a solemnoath collectively and, after completing their studies,signed a written oath which was kept in the personnelfile. I still remember that I shuddered as I wassigning the oath and reading the last sentence of“laying down” my life!National MilitiaFor comparison of the oath of soldiers and policemembers (also Home Guard members) I cite theoath of Slovenian militiamen from 1946, prescribedby Article 45 of the National Militia Act (OfficialJournal of the Republic of Slovenia, 1946). The oathwas worded as follows:M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 157

enotnost naših narodov, da bom zvesto izpolnjevalnaloge za okrepitev in razvoj teh pridobitevin da bom do zadnjega diha zvest naroduin svoji domovini Federativni ljudski republikiJugoslaviji. Če prekršim to svojo slovesno prisego,naj me zadene neusmiljena kazen vojaškegazakona, splošno sovraštvo in prezir našihnarodov in prekletstvo domovine.«Neobvezen sklepOb koncu tega zgodovinskega opisa, kdaj,komu in kaj so slovenski uporniki, prostovoljciin vojaki prisegali ali (za)obljubljali, ne bomdelal nobene znanstvene analize niti primerjave,kaj je katera vojaška prisega pomenila vživljenju vojaka oz. vojske. Zlasti ne želim razpravljatio posledicah neizpolnjevanja prisegeali hujših kršitev. Ker naj bi vsaka prekršitevvojaške prisege pomenila tudi smrtno obsodbo– v prisegi AOV je bilo to tudi neposredno poudarjeno–, sem se odločil, da ta opis končam zizkušnjo najstarejše vojske na svetu, dva tisočlet stare cerkvene »vojske«.Priznani slovenski teolog, dr. Jožef Korošak– pater Bruno, mi je odgovoril takole:»Načelno naj bi veljalo, da se redovne induhovniške zaobljube ne morejo primerjati sprisegami ali zaobljubami vojakov.Bog je edini, ki lahko zahteva, da mu žrtvujemotudi naše življenje. V vseh stoletjihčloveštva pa so se vedno našli številni vladarji,od faraonov do različnih partijskih šefov, kiso si domišljali, da jim je Bog podelil oblastrazpolagati z življenjem drugih, ki z različnimivrstami priseg izjavijo, da so pripravljeni zanjeali za njihove ideologije žrtvovati tudi svoje življenje,sprejemati sankcije in podobno.Kristus je jasno prepovedal vsake vrste prisege.V evangeliju po Mateju 5, 34.37 je rečeno:»Jaz pa vam pravim: sploh ne prisegajte!«in po Jakobu 5, 12: » Predvsem pa, moji bratje,ne prisegajte, ne pri nebu ne pri zemlji, ne skako drugo prisego.«Bodoči vojaški ordinariat SV bo verjetnomoral zahtevati ukinitev »slovesne prisege« vSlovenski vojski. V poklicni vojski je prisega lelepotni dodatek in spomin na nekdanje pravevojaške prisege.“I, (name and surname), swear by my honourand life to loyally, self-sacrificially and impartiallyperform my service in line with the laws and ordersof my superiors; to unconditionally and in a disciplinedmanner execute my superiors’ orders; to protectofficial secrets and the reputation of the nationalmilitia at any time and place. I swear to be alertin protecting the gains of the national liberationstruggle, the constitutional order, national authorityand the brotherhood and unity of our nations; toloyally execute tasks for the reinforcement and developmentof these gains and to remain loyal to mynation and homeland, the Federal People’s Republicof Yugoslavia, to the last breath. Should I break thissolemn oath, I may be ruthlessly punished by militarylaw, endure general hatred and contempt of ournations and be cursed by my homeland.”Optional ConclusionIn the conclusion of this historical description ofwhen, to whom and with what words the Slovenianinsurgents, volunteers and soldiers swore or promised,I will not conduct any scientific analysis ormutual comparison of the significance a certainmilitary oath had in the life of a soldier or army. Iparticularly do not wish to discuss the consequencesof non-compliance with an oath or its serious violation.As every violation of a military oath resulted ina death sentence – the oath of the Austro-HungarianArmy is very explicit in this regard – I have decidedto conclude this description with the experience ofthe oldest army in the world, the two thousand yearold church “army”.The renowned Slovenian theologian, Dr. JožefKorošak – Father Bruno, gave the followingstatement:“As a principle, monastic and ecclesiastical vowsmay not be compared to oaths and promises ofsoldiers.God is the only one who can demand that wesacrifice our lives to him. In the course of centuries,there were numerous rulers, from pharaohs to variousparty leaders, who believed God had given themthe authority to dispose with the lives of others whohad to take various oaths to state they are willing tosacrifice their own lives for these leaders and theirideologies, to accept punishments and so on.Christ has clearly forbidden all kinds of oaths. InMatthew 5:34-37 it is written: ‘But I say unto you,swear not at all!’ and in James 5:12: ‘But above allthings, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven,neither by the earth, neither by any other oath’.158 • V O J A Š K A Z G O D O V I N A

Osnovni viriARS – ortneški graščinski arhiv, LjubljanaBjelajac, dr. Mile, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije, Beograd,1994Kociper, dr. Stanko, Kar sem živel, Ljubljana,1996Kranjc, F. Marijan, Slovenska vojaška inteligenca,Grosuplje, 2005NOV na Slovenskem 1941–1945, Ljubljana,1978Stato Maggiore dell'esercito, Reparto AffariGenerali – Ufficio Storico, Roma, 13. 12.2007 – REGOLAMNETO DI DISCIPLINAMILITARE, 1942 – GiuramentoVojaškozgodovinski arhiv (inštitut), BeogradVojna enciklopedija, Beograd, 1967www.Wikipedija različnih držav – vojaškaprisegaThe future military ordinariate of the SlovenianArmed Forces will probably have to demand the abolitionof the ‘solemn oath’ in the Slovenian ArmedForces. In a professional army, the oath is merely anornament and a memory of onetime real militaryoaths.”Basic Bibliography:- ARS (Archives of the Republic of Slovenia) –ortneški graščinski arhiv (Ortnek Castle Archives),Ljubljana- Bjelajac, Dr. Mile, Vojska SHS/Jugoslavije (Armyof the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes/Yugoslavia), Belgrade, 1994- Kociper, Dr. Stanko, Kar sem živel (What I HaveLived), Ljubljana, 1996- Kranjc, F. Marijan, Slovenska vojaška inteligenca(Slovenian Military Intelligence), Grosuplje, 2005- NOV na Slovenskem 1941–1945 (People’sLiberation Army in Slovenia 1941-1945), Ljubljana,1978- Stato Maggiore dell’esercito, Reparto AffariGenerali – Ufficio Storico, Roma, 13 December 2007– REGOLAMNETO DI DISCIPLINA MILITARE,1942 - Giuramento- Vojaškozgodovinski arhiv (inštitut) (MilitaryHistory Institute Archives), Belgrade- Vojna enciklopedija (War Encyclopaedia),Belgrade, 1967- www.wikipedia of various countries – vojaškaprisega (military oath)M I L I T A R Y H I S T O R Y • 159