Rupnik line is a fortification system, which was built by former kingdom of Yugoslavia. Rupnik’s line was had been built between years 1935 and 1941, before 2nd World War as a defence against Italians attacks. The line runs on western, northern and eastern borders of Yugoslavia. Unofficially the line got its name by the leader of works, Yugoslavian general Leon Rupnik, born in Lokve near Čepovanu. Defence line was abandoned even before the Italian attacks on Yugoslavia in April’s war, so it never served its purpose. On western part of Slovenia we can today still see the remains of the defence line, mostly on the area from Blegoš to Goli vrh in Poljanska valley. When constructing the line they used concrete and iron.

THE CAUSE OF THE CREATION OF RUPNIK’S LINE

In year 1918 Austria-Hungary has fallen apart and because of that state SHS (Slovenians, Croatians ans Serbs) was established. But expectations, that Italians will respect self-determination of nations, which was declared by American president Wilson, was pointless. So Italians demanded, on negotiations in Varsailles, that secret London treaty is met. But meanwhile the Italian army penetrated on Slovenian territory and taken territories were declared as Italian. They were stopped only in Vrhnika, and with that they blocked their path towards Ljubljana. This was done by the unit of Serbian major Stevan Švabić, which occurred from former Serbian war prisoners, by request of Ljubljana national committee. With that Italian soldiers were already deep across the line, which was determined by the London treaty. Later the state SHS, due to the pressure of neighbouring countries, united into Monarchy of Serbia and from that Monarchy of SHS was established. The border between Italy and Monarchy of SHS was finally determined with signature of a contract on November 12th 1920 in Italian resort Rapallo. The border become known as Rapallo border and ran on the line Peč, Jalovec, Triglav, Bogatinsko sedlo, Možic, Črni vrh nad Cerknem, Blegoš, Bevkov vrh, Hotedršica, Planina, Javorniki, Bička gora, Snežnik, Kastav and Raka. With erection of this border Monarchy of SHS lost the entire Slovenian coastal region along with Istria and Trieste, late even Rijeka.

As first who started to fortify the border were Italians, officially it started in January 1931, but fortified military posts were erected already in the twenties. January 1931 the construction of underground and above ground fortifications and barracks started, which were connected with Alpine wall. So the initiative for fortification of the borders on Yugoslavian side came in year 1926, but until year 1935 nothing happened, as in this year they actually started with construction of defence line. Also in this year the Italian conquering ambitions with the attack on Ethiopia were revealed, after which the conclusion of third treaty with Nazi Germany followed. So the Monarchy of SHS was forced to construct the border with Italy, which represented the most formidable enemy. The line was later expended on Austrian border, after affiliation of Austria into Nazi Germany.

Reasons for construction of Rupnik defence line were economic, social and political, as 1st World War did not bring the desired changes; many were disappointed with its result, among them especially Germans, who lost the war. With purpose of correction of old injustices fascism and Nazism started to emerge, and this lead to another armed race. And as the countries were still under the influence of combat in trenches, the construction of mighty forts from iron and concrete had started. Maginot line and opposite standing Siegfrid line occurred, as well as Swiss National barrier. On Finland occurred Mannerheim line, Metaxas in Greece and Italian Alpine wall (Vallo Alpino) and opposite standing Rupnik line.

CONSTRUCTION OF FORTIFICATIONS

Entire defence line was at first divided to five sectors, after affiliation of Austria to Germany to six, which were marked in succession, considering their purpose.

Sector 1: it was located on the west of Ljubljana with the seat in Vrhnika, it ran from Rakek towards Vrhnika, defending direction Trieste-Ljubljana
Sector 2: it was reaching from Sušak to Čaber with seat in Kamenjak, it supposed to prevent invasion of the enemy from Reka towards Zagreb and Damatia
Sector 3: it was located between Vrhnika and Škofja loka, also with the seat in Vrhnika, it supposed to block the path towards Ljubljana along Poljanska valley, as also the ridge between Porezen and Blegoš on the north and Žirovski vrh on the south
Sector 4: it was blocking the Saleška valley and the access on the ridge from Soriška mountain pasture towards Ratitovec, with a seat in Železniki
Sector 5: with the seat in Cerknica, it run from Čaber towards Cerknica, it was blocking the access from Ljubljana over Rakitna and corridor towards east through Velike Lašče
Sector 6: it included the area between Črna na Koroškem and Maribor

With defence line they fortified the passes through Karavanke and Gornjesavska valley between Begunje and Radovljica. Only individual fortifications on passes would be taking care of the protection on Karavanke. Uninterrupted line only started at Ratitovec, till here it ran through Zali Log on Blegoš, through Hotavlje, Gorenja vas, Žirovski vrh, Sveti Trije Kralji, pass Rovte to Logatec and pass Unec, Rakek and Slivnica and reached Cerknica. It continued over Lož, Stari trg, Babno polje, Prezid and Kamenjak, it finished on Sušak.

On the construction of the line around 15.000 people worked, who were arranged in twenty departments. From them five were working on Italian border, six on Hungarian border and one on Austrian. Departments were, until year 1937, mostly composed from soldiers, who were building the roads and other infrastructure. For construction of concrete bunkers and other fortified positons they increased the number of people for 40.000 until year 1939. Yet in the same year, on September 1st, when Germany invaded Poland, the construction has been taken over by the army. According to the plans, the construction should be finished until year 1947, but the plans were in 1940 strongly cut due to shortage of finances, the beginning of WWII and the need to fortify the rest of the borders of the Monarchy. Because of that they abolished the construction of underground fortifications and they centered the construction mainly on smaller bunkers and fortifications, but the majority of them stayed unfinished due to April’s war. At the invasion of Italian army, the fortifications were already abandoned, some of them were destroyed, because of the safety and lack of iron. Some fortifications are still visible today, after WWII they went to oblivion. Only some among them were used by Yugoslav folk army (YFA).

Today we can see the still existent fortifications on Blegoš, Porezen and Ratitovec and in some parts of western Slovenia.

TYPES OF FORTIFICATIONS

The line has been made of two types of fortification. First type of fortification, garrisoned in first defence line, included machine-gun bunkers, which further divide on light and heavy. By shape we separate prisms, little prisms, cubes and circular bunkers. Most characteristic were tower bunkers, placed as protective sign of Rupnik line. These bunkers can be found at the foot of Žirovski vrh and Žiri towards Sovodenj.

Second type of fortification was made of artillery fortifications, which were making the second contracted line. They are divided on antitank, ridge, prison and casemate. Final prison fortifications were between Logatec and Vrhnika, which were mostly demolished by Italian army. Similar fortifications are still today located in Poljanska valley.

The biggest among are ridge fortifications, erected on slopes. They are real underground cities into which we can enter from back side of the hill. Some parts were even accessible with small vehicles. In these fortifications are big concrete water reservoirs, accesses to the battle blocks and living quarters. Seven are still located between Ratitovec and Logatec.

At Goli vrh, on Hlavče Njive and at Hrastov grič in the ridge of Žirovski hrib are almost complete ridge fortifications, which were at the beginning also intended as residence for soldiers. Usually the units were in upper part, living quarters in lower part.

Fort types:
Tower bunker
Antitank bunker
Artillery bunker
Kaufmann casemate
Light machine-gun bunker circular shape
Light bunker in shape of cube
Light bunker in shape of prism
Light bunker in shape of small prism
An overthrown ship
Antitank fortification
Ridge fortification
Prison fortification

See other places from 2nd World War in Slovenia!

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Blegoš
Blegoš is a mountain with 1562 altitude and the second biggest peak of Škofja Loka hill chain and one of the big three Prealps peaks (here are Ratitovec, which is the biggest and Porezen). It is located between Poljanska and Selška valley. The top is grassy, where you can find enrol book and stamp. [_Read more_]