Franc Rozman Stane
Encyclopedia
Franc Rozman, nickname
d Stane (Slovene convention: Franc Rozman – Stane, 27 March 1911–7 November 1944), was a Slovenia
n Yugoslav partisan commander in World War II
.
n village of Spodnje Pirniče
near Ljubljana
, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (now in Slovenia) in a Slovene working class family. His father Franc Rozman was a railway track-worker, while his mother Marjana (née Stare) was a housewife. He was the third of four children, with two elder sisters, Marjeta and Terezija, and a younger brother, Martin.
At the age of three, Rozman's father died on the Eastern Front
, where he fought as a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army
. Rozman had a poor and hard childhood. His sisters Marjeta and Terezija were sent to an orphanage, while Franc and his brother Martin remained in Pirniče. At the age of 15, he worked in a tavern and then trained as an apprentice baker. As a young boy he had great enthusiasm for a military career, but his application to the military school was rejected. In spring 1932, he did his military service in the Yugoslav
army.
, he decided to travel to Spain
. Rozman was among the first Yugoslav volunteers in Spain, where he, on 1 October 1936 joined the International Brigades
. In Jarama
he completed non commissioned officers' school, became a lieutenant and a commander of a company, then captain and commander of a battalion. His comrades in arms remembered him as an energetic and earnest person.
After the Spanish Civil War Rozman spent some time in French camps. In April 1941 he went to Meissen
, Germany
and in July the same year he finally returned home through Germany.
. In early December 1941, he visited his youngest brother Martin, after which he joined the Slovene partisan resistance. Soon he became a military instructor with the High Command of the Slovene partisan forces. He was given the task of setting up the Styrian Battalion (Štajerski bataljon), which would consist of the partisan troops, the Revirje and the Savinja companies (Revirske in Savinjske čete), which were active in Styria
in the autumn of 1941. He participated in the attack on Šoštanj
and later in the Battle of Čreta. The Germans repeatedly tried to liquidate Rozman, setting many ambushes.
In the spring of 1942 Rozman became the commander of a Slovene partisan brigade, established on April 5, 1942 at Kremenik in Lower Carniola
, and numbering more than 300 fighters. Measured by composition, organization, training, and fighting power, this was the most powerful Slovene partisan unit at that time.
On 13 July 1943, he became a commander of the High Command of the Slovene partisan army with the rank of lieutenant general
(generallajtnant), which he held up to his death.
Rozman died in White Carniola
as a consequence of a serious wound received while testing new mortar
weapons sent to the partisans by their British Allies
. There were some rumors that he was killed by sabotage by the Chetnik
military authorities, but they have never been proven.
"Commander Stane", as he was nicknamed by the partisan fighters, is considered one of the brightest figures of the Yugoslav front of the Second World War. The well-known partisan song Komandant Stane (Commander Stane) is dedicated to him. Many Slovene schools bear his name. The Franc "Stane" Rozman Barracks
(Vojašnica Franca Rozmana – Staneta) at Ljubljana-Polje also bears his name.
to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Franc Rozman.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Stane (Slovene convention: Franc Rozman – Stane, 27 March 1911–7 November 1944), was a Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n Yugoslav partisan commander in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Franc Rozman was born in the CarniolaCarniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
n village of Spodnje Pirniče
Spodnje Pirnice
Spodnje Pirniče is a village on the left bank of the Sava River in the Medvode Municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.The local church is dedicated to The Feast of the Holy Cross.-External links:*...
near Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (now in Slovenia) in a Slovene working class family. His father Franc Rozman was a railway track-worker, while his mother Marjana (née Stare) was a housewife. He was the third of four children, with two elder sisters, Marjeta and Terezija, and a younger brother, Martin.
At the age of three, Rozman's father died on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
, where he fought as a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
. Rozman had a poor and hard childhood. His sisters Marjeta and Terezija were sent to an orphanage, while Franc and his brother Martin remained in Pirniče. At the age of 15, he worked in a tavern and then trained as an apprentice baker. As a young boy he had great enthusiasm for a military career, but his application to the military school was rejected. In spring 1932, he did his military service in the Yugoslav
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
army.
Military experience prior to WWII
In 1935, after the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, Rozman tried unsuccessfully to join the Ethiopian forces fighting the Italian invaders. Soon after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, he decided to travel to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Rozman was among the first Yugoslav volunteers in Spain, where he, on 1 October 1936 joined the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
. In Jarama
Jarama
Jarama is a river in central Spain. It flows north to south, and passes east of Madrid when El Atazar Dam is built on a tributary, the Lozoya River. It flows into the river Tagus in Aranjuez...
he completed non commissioned officers' school, became a lieutenant and a commander of a company, then captain and commander of a battalion. His comrades in arms remembered him as an energetic and earnest person.
After the Spanish Civil War Rozman spent some time in French camps. In April 1941 he went to Meissen
Meissen
Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and in July the same year he finally returned home through Germany.
World War Two
For a while, Rozman lived with an activist of the Liberation Front of the Slovenian PeopleLiberation Front of the Slovenian People
On 26 April 1941 in Ljubljana the Anti-Imperialist Front was established. It was to promote "an international massive movement" to "liberate the Slovenian nation" whose "hope and example was the Soviet Union"...
. In early December 1941, he visited his youngest brother Martin, after which he joined the Slovene partisan resistance. Soon he became a military instructor with the High Command of the Slovene partisan forces. He was given the task of setting up the Styrian Battalion (Štajerski bataljon), which would consist of the partisan troops, the Revirje and the Savinja companies (Revirske in Savinjske čete), which were active in Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
in the autumn of 1941. He participated in the attack on Šoštanj
Šoštanj
Šoštanj is a town and municipality in northern Slovenia. It was first mentioned in written documents dating to around 1200 as Schönstein in relation to its castle. As a market town it was first mentioned in 1348. It was given town status in 1919 and until the 1960s was the center of the Šalek...
and later in the Battle of Čreta. The Germans repeatedly tried to liquidate Rozman, setting many ambushes.
In the spring of 1942 Rozman became the commander of a Slovene partisan brigade, established on April 5, 1942 at Kremenik in Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola was a kreis of the historical Habsburg crown land of Carniola from 1849 till 1919 and is nowadays a traditional region of Slovenia. Its center is Novo Mesto, while other urban centers include Kočevje, Grosuplje, Krško, Trebnje, Mirna, Črnomelj, Semič, and Metlika.-See also:* Upper...
, and numbering more than 300 fighters. Measured by composition, organization, training, and fighting power, this was the most powerful Slovene partisan unit at that time.
On 13 July 1943, he became a commander of the High Command of the Slovene partisan army with the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
(generallajtnant), which he held up to his death.
Rozman died in White Carniola
White Carniola
White Carniola is a traditional region in southeastern Slovenia on the border with Croatia and is the most southern part of the historical and traditional region of Lower Carniola. Its major towns are Metlika, Črnomelj, and Semič, and the principal river is the Kolpa, which also forms part of the...
as a consequence of a serious wound received while testing new mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
weapons sent to the partisans by their British Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. There were some rumors that he was killed by sabotage by the Chetnik
Chetniks
Chetniks, or the Chetnik movement , were Serbian nationalist and royalist paramilitary organizations from the first half of the 20th century. The Chetniks were formed as a Serbian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in 1904, and participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and World War II...
military authorities, but they have never been proven.
"Commander Stane", as he was nicknamed by the partisan fighters, is considered one of the brightest figures of the Yugoslav front of the Second World War. The well-known partisan song Komandant Stane (Commander Stane) is dedicated to him. Many Slovene schools bear his name. The Franc "Stane" Rozman Barracks
Franc Rozman Stane Barracks
Franc Rozman Stane Barracks was a barracks of the Yugoslav People's Army. After the Slovenia's independence, it became the home of the Slovenian Armed Forces...
(Vojašnica Franca Rozmana – Staneta) at Ljubljana-Polje also bears his name.
Legacy
On March 21, 2011, Slovenia issued a two-euro commemorative coin€2 commemorative coins
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance...
to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Franc Rozman.