1941: Annexation of Lower Styria

After the German attack on Yugoslavia in April 1941, today’s Slovenia was, on the orders of Adolf Hitler, divided into occupation zones between the “Third Reich”, Italy and Hungary. As a result, the Styrian Gauleiter (regional leader), Siegried Uiberreither, as Chief of the Civil Administration (CdZ), assumed leadership of the occupied territory of Lower Styria/(Spodnja) Štajerska. As in Upper Carniola, this so-called civil administration was to govern the de facto annexation of the Slovenian territories. This administration was therefore personally and administratively connected to the Styrian Gau (regional district). The Nazi affiliated organisation Styrian Homeland Union (SHB) was tasked with capturing the (“ethnic German”) population as members to consolidate the Nazi claim to this territory and secure Nazi rule. To this end, large-scale Germanisation measures (mostly German courses) had already been implemented in Lower Styria in early summer 1941. Similarly, the school system was also “Germanised” for the same purpose and the Nazi youth organisation “German Youth” established.