Battle of Turjak Castle

The Battle of Turjak Castle (Slovene: bitka za Turjak) on 19 September 1943 was an encounter between the Slovene Partisans and the Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia (Slovene: Prostovoljna protikomunistična milica) (Italian: Milizia Volontaria Anti Comunista, MVACcode: it is deprecated ), also known as the White guard among the Slovene Partisans, as well as other anti-communist and collaborationist forces.

The battle lasted for seven days and resulted in the complete destruction of the Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia defending the castle. Most of the survivors were later executed in the near by area by the Slovene partisans.

Location and layout

The castle sits in a triangular shape above the village with its east side facing downwards. At each of the three corners there are fighting towers, with two of them facing west towards the village on the hill. Between the towers were residential spaces and troop quarters.

The castle is first mentioned in history books in 1220, but historians estimate that it was built in the 10th or 11th century. An earthquake in 1511 led to its reconstruction into the form it took during the battle. The damage sustained in 1943 is still being repaired to this day.