Milan Apih
Encyclopedia
Milan Apih was a teacher by profession, Slovenia
n political activist and a writer.
He was born in Celje
, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In 1925 he graduated at Teachers' College. For some time he worked as a school teacher.
In 1932, he joined the illegal Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Due to active membership he was arrested and 1934 imprisoned in Sremska Mitrovica for four years.
Returned to Celje, where he was in 1940 arrested again, this time nine months imprisoned in Bileča. There he wrote well-known song Bilečanka and composed a music.
In 1941, he joined the Yugoslav partisans in Slovenia and soon rose to prominent military position. During the Axis occupation of Slovenia his family suffered several tragedies. Two of his children died due to malnutrition. His first son [Jure Apih], survived the war as a refugee hiding from the authorities in Zagreb
.
After World War II, Apih became an important Communist official. He was one of the collaborators of the Yugoslav minister of interior affairs Aleksandar Ranković
, being in charge of finances and supplies. In 1954 moved from Belgrade to Slovenia, appointed to several duties: director of Radio Ljubljana, later the President (major) of the Maribor "County", then Member of the Parliament, in 1963 became Member of the Constitutional Court of SRS.
In the 1960s, however, he became critical towards the regime. In the 1980s, he became one of the collaborators in the alternative dissident journal Nova revija
. During the JBTZ-trial
in 1988, he was among the supporters (together with Alenka Puhar
and Drago Jančar
) of the first mass demonstration in the Communist regime, demanding the changes.
During the years 1962-90 he published his memoirs, the book of poems, translated some "unpopular" foreign authors and co-edited the book of revolutionary songs from all over the world, titled "Stand up the Slaves".
In the 1980s he defended the idea of reconciliation (among fighters united within The Liberation Front and collaborators) brought up by Spomenka Hribar in her essay Krivda in greh (the Guilt and the Sin) dedicated to Edvard Kocbek.
He died in Ljubljana.
Apih's peculiar life destiny, from a Communist activist to resistance fighter, Communist official, to a dissident and finally an anti-Communist activist, was the source of Drago Jančar
's novel Graditelj ("The Builder").
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 political activist and a writer.
He was born in Celje
Celje
Celje is a typical Central European town and the third largest town in Slovenia. It is a regional center of Lower Styria and the administrative seat of the Urban Municipality of Celje . The town of Celje is located under Upper Celje Castle at the confluence of the Savinja, Ložnica, and Voglajna...
, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In 1925 he graduated at Teachers' College. For some time he worked as a school teacher.
In 1932, he joined the illegal Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Due to active membership he was arrested and 1934 imprisoned in Sremska Mitrovica for four years.
Returned to Celje, where he was in 1940 arrested again, this time nine months imprisoned in Bileča. There he wrote well-known song Bilečanka and composed a music.
In 1941, he joined the Yugoslav partisans in Slovenia and soon rose to prominent military position. During the Axis occupation of Slovenia his family suffered several tragedies. Two of his children died due to malnutrition. His first son [Jure Apih], survived the war as a refugee hiding from the authorities in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
.
After World War II, Apih became an important Communist official. He was one of the collaborators of the Yugoslav minister of interior affairs Aleksandar Ranković
Aleksandar Rankovic
Aleksandar "Leka" Ranković was a Yugoslav communist politician of Serbian origin considered to be the third most powerful man in Yugoslavia after Josip Broz Tito and Edvard Kardelj....
, being in charge of finances and supplies. In 1954 moved from Belgrade to Slovenia, appointed to several duties: director of Radio Ljubljana, later the President (major) of the Maribor "County", then Member of the Parliament, in 1963 became Member of the Constitutional Court of SRS.
In the 1960s, however, he became critical towards the regime. In the 1980s, he became one of the collaborators in the alternative dissident journal Nova revija
Nova revija
Nova revija is a Slovenian publishing house and cultural institute that developed from the literary journal with the same name.- The magazine :...
. During the JBTZ-trial
JBTZ-trial
The JBTZ trial, also known as the Ljubljana trial or the Trial against the Four was a political trial held in a military court in Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia in 1988...
in 1988, he was among the supporters (together with Alenka Puhar
Alenka Puhar
Alenka Puhar is a Slovenian journalist, author, translator, and historian. She is known for her columns in the Slovenian journal Delo, for her writings on the dissident movements in Socialist Slovenia and Yugoslavia, as well as for her book "The Primary Text of Life" , a combination of...
and Drago Jančar
Drago Jancar
Drago Jančar is a Slovenian writer, playwright and essayist. Jančar is one of the most known contemporary Slovene writers. In Slovenia, he is also famous for his political commentaries and civic engagement.-Life:...
) of the first mass demonstration in the Communist regime, demanding the changes.
During the years 1962-90 he published his memoirs, the book of poems, translated some "unpopular" foreign authors and co-edited the book of revolutionary songs from all over the world, titled "Stand up the Slaves".
In the 1980s he defended the idea of reconciliation (among fighters united within The Liberation Front and collaborators) brought up by Spomenka Hribar in her essay Krivda in greh (the Guilt and the Sin) dedicated to Edvard Kocbek.
He died in Ljubljana.
Apih's peculiar life destiny, from a Communist activist to resistance fighter, Communist official, to a dissident and finally an anti-Communist activist, was the source of Drago Jančar
Drago Jancar
Drago Jančar is a Slovenian writer, playwright and essayist. Jančar is one of the most known contemporary Slovene writers. In Slovenia, he is also famous for his political commentaries and civic engagement.-Life:...
's novel Graditelj ("The Builder").