1. Life
Majda Vrhovnik's life was marked by her deep commitment to the revolutionary movement and her active participation in the anti-fascist resistance.
1.1. Early Life and Education
Majda Vrhovnik was born on April 14, 1922, in Ljubljana. Her older brother, Vladimir Vrhovnik (August 17, 1916 - April 28, 1945), also a member of the Communist Party, was born in Vienna, but the family later moved to Ljubljana after the First World War. After graduating from an upper secondary school, she enrolled in the University of Ljubljana's Faculty of Medicine, embarking on a path to become a medical professional.
1.2. Early Activism and Communist Party Membership
During her university years, Majda Vrhovnik became deeply involved in the student revolutionary movement and was a member of the Slovene Club. Her dedication to the cause led to her acceptance into the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in 1940. Immediately following the occupation of Yugoslavia, she joined the underground movement, marking the beginning of her clandestine activities against the occupying forces. She became a crucial courier for Tone Tomšič (1910-1942), the organizational secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Slovenia. The occupying forces, aware of her activities, sentenced her to life in prison in absentia, and her parents were held as hostages for several months in an attempt to apprehend her. Despite these threats, Vrhovnik remained in Ljubljana, steadfast in her commitment to the resistance.
1.3. Underground Resistance Activities
Vrhovnik's resistance activities during World War II were extensive and multifaceted, spanning from organizing vital communication networks to establishing underground operations in occupied territories.
1.3.1. Courier and Printshop Operations
In Ljubljana, Majda Vrhovnik was instrumental in organizing an underground printshop for the resistance. As a courier, she meticulously transported manuscripts for the secret printshops in Ljubljana, which were codenamed Podmornica ('submarine'), located at Cesta na BrdoBrdo StreetSlovenian No. 95, and Tunel ('tunnel'), situated at Emonska cestaEmona StreetSlovenian No. 2. With the assistance of her brother, she successfully established a bunker where, starting on May 4, 1943, she reproduced copies of crucial resistance publications for nine months. These publications included Ljudska pravica (The People's Justice), Slovenski poročevalec (Slovenian Reporter), Radio vestnik (Messenger Radio), and various other brochures, all vital for disseminating information and maintaining morale among the resistance.
1.3.2. Activities in Carinthia and Espionage
At her own choosing, on January 22, 1944, Majda Vrhovnik was sent to the Slovenian Littoral, a strategically important region. There, she served as an instructor for the Young Communist League of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) for the Idrija area and also conducted SKOJ training courses for the SKOJ Regional Committee for the Littoral. However, her time there was brief as she volunteered for even more dangerous work in Carinthia. In 1944, she was appointed secretary of the District Committee of the Communist Party of Slovenia for Mežica. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, she crossed the Drava River and traversed the Sattnitz Mountains, initially working in the Völkermarkt area before moving to Klagenfurt. In the fall of 1944, she became a member of the District Committee of the Communist Party of Slovenia for Klagenfurt. Disguised as a peasant girl, she spent several months in Klagenfurt, actively participating in organizing committees for the Liberation Front, engaging in espionage, and distributing illegal publications throughout the city.
2. Arrest and Death
Majda Vrhovnik's dedicated resistance activities tragically led to her capture and ultimate sacrifice. Through an act of betrayal, the Gestapo, the official secret police of Nazi Germany and its collaborators, managed to discover her whereabouts. On February 28, 1945, she was arrested in a house located below Kreuzbergl hill in Klagenfurt. While imprisoned, she endured severe torture, a common tactic used by the Gestapo to extract information from resistance fighters. Despite the immense suffering, she steadfastly refused to betray her comrades or reveal any information about the resistance network. Majda Vrhovnik was executed by firing squad on May 4, 1945, just days before the official end of World War II in Europe.
3. Legacy and Assessment
Majda Vrhovnik's profound contributions to the anti-fascist struggle left an indelible mark on Slovenian history, leading to her posthumous recognition and the symbolic use of her name.
3.1. Posthumous Recognition and Honors
For her heroic resistance efforts and ultimate sacrifice, Majda Vrhovnik was posthumously proclaimed a People's Hero of Yugoslavia. This highest military decoration of Yugoslavia was awarded either on July 5, 1951, or December 20, 1951, signifying national recognition of her unwavering courage and dedication to the cause of liberation. This honor cemented her status as a symbol of resistance against fascism and oppression.
3.2. Memorials and Symbolic Use of Name
Majda Vrhovnik's legacy is further honored through various memorials and the symbolic use of her name. In 1958, the Majda Vrhovnik Primary School (Osnovna šola Majde VrhovnikSlovenian) was named in her honor. This school, located at Gregorčičeva ulicaSimon Gregorčič StreetSlovenian No. 16 in Ljubljana, was formed by merging Primary School No. 5 on Šubičeva ulicaŠubic StreetSlovenian and Primary School No. 6 on Vrtača Street. In front of the school, a bust of Vrhovnik, created by the renowned Slovene sculptor Stojan Batič in 1961, stands as a permanent tribute to her memory. Beyond physical memorials, her name has also been used symbolically; "Majda Vrhovnik" was adopted as a pseudonym by Franci Zavrl, the editor of Mladina, and also by the Mladina journalist Vlado Miheljak following their arrests, reflecting her enduring symbolic power as a figure of resistance and defiance.
3.3. Unmarked Grave
Despite her national recognition as a hero, the precise location of Majda Vrhovnik's remains has never been definitively identified. Her grave remains unmarked to this day, a poignant testament to the brutal circumstances of her death and the turbulent history of the period. This uncertainty surrounding her final resting place adds a layer of mystery to her legacy, highlighting the sacrifices made by countless individuals during the war whose fates remain obscured.