INTEGRACIJA PROGNANIH SLOVENACA MEĐU SRPSKO STANOVNIŠTVO TOKOM DRUGOG SVETSKOG RATA

Abstract

The establishment of the Commissariat for Refugees and Emigrants greatly facilitated the lives of people who fled from terror or were forcibly evicted due to war events. Occupied Serbia, in addition to ongoing problems that tormented the local population, also encountered a large number of refugees who came from the territory of the Independent State of Croatia, from Slovenia, Macedonia, and the Kosovo-Metohija region. In Serbia, in addition to the terror carried out by the occupier, a civil war was also simmering, while the population faced various restrictions, repressions and food shortages. In such conditions, it was necessary to organize the reception of exiled Serbs and Slovenes and ensure their survival in occupied Serbia. Within the limits of its capabilities, the Commissariat helped refugees and immigrants, taking care of their reception among the local population. The meaningfulness of the actions of the newly formed organization is also visible in the resettlement of refugees, considering their occupation and education, so intellectuals are placed in cities, while peasants are placed in smaller towns and villages. The number of refugees in certain places was difficult to control, due to illegal migration to Serbia and the aspiration of refugees and resettled persons to larger cities due to better employment opportunities. When accommodating Slovenian immigrants, care was also taken to continue the children’s education and their participation in food production. In order to make it easier to get a job, retraining courses were held, while some families of Slovenians successfully started production, and with their earnings helped the refugee colonies in the town. Bearing in mind the above, the integration of Slovenian refugees among the Serbian population should be a reason for pride for the Serbian people, who welcomed unfortunate Slovenians into their homes and shared with them everything that was necessary for life in occupied Serbia.