Difference between revisions of "Franja Partisan Hospital"

Latest revision as of 11:42, 21 October 2024

A view of the reconstructed barracs of the Franja Partisan Hospital in May 2010.

The Franja Partisan Hospital at Dolenji Novaki near Cerkno is a cluster of functionally arranged Partisan hospital facilities located in the narrow, barely accessible Pasice Gorge, which is itself a natural attraction. The hospital complex comprises 14 wooden buildings and several small auxiliary facilities that were gradually established from December 1943 to May 1945.

The Franja Partisan Hospital is temporary closed due to storm damage in July 2023.

The hospital was among the best-equipped of clandestine partisan hospitals, with an operating room, an X-ray apparatus, a care facility for the disabled, and a small electric plant. Most of the equipment was preserved in situ till the flood in 2007. A complete renovation was finished in May 2010. The hospital is administered by Idrija Municipal Museum.

Franja has received a renowned award presented by the Committee for European Heritage, the European Heritage Label, and is also on a Tentative List of the candidates for a UNESCO World Heritage List.

Razstava Partizanska bolnica Franja - skriti dragulj Evrope  / Exhibition Franja Partisan Hospital by Mestni muzej Idrija /Municipal Museum Idrija on YouTube

Background

The Slovene military Partisan Hospital Franja was one of the many field hospitals that operated in Slovenia during the Second World War. They formed part of the widely organised resistance movement against fascist and Nazi occupying forces. The successful operation of these hospitals would not have been possible without the enormous support of those who cared for the wounded, many times risking their own lives.

The hospital is named after the Partisan doctor in charge Franja Bojc Bidovec (1913–1985). It was among the best-equipped of clandestine partisan hospitals, with an operating room, an X-ray apparatus, an invalid care facility, and a small electric plant. Most of the equipment was preserved in situ (till the flood in 2007).

The operating room at the Franja Partisan Hospital. A precise reconstruction of the original interior that was devastated by huge floods in 2007.

The hospital had a capacity of up to 120 patients, and provided treatment for a total of 578 severely wounded persons. According to the archival records some 877 wounded soldiers of various nationalities were treated in Franja and its dislocated units alongside Slovenes and citizens of Yugoslav nations, including Italians, French, Poles, people from Soviet Union, Americans, and two Austrians. One of the patients, a captured German soldier, was kept as a part of hospital staff after his recovery until the end of the war. During the entire period of the hospital's operation, 78 patients died.

Conspiracy and security were of crucial importance to all clandestine partisan hospitals because, if discovered, they lacked effective defence mechanisms. Most of the route leading to the hospital ran along a stream flowing through the gorge. The wounded were blindfolded and carried to the hospital by its staff, most often at night. In selecting its location, consideration was also given to adequate self-defence in the form of minefields and machine-gun nests, and for this purpose the hospital was accessible only by footbridges and a drawbridge hidden in the steep Pasice Gorge. Still preserved in the precipitous canyons rising above the stream are several fortified bunkers and natural caves – hiding places for the wounded. Although enemy forces launched several searches for the hospital, it was never discovered.

Franja Partisan Hospital, old photo of the entrance

Mission

The Franja Partisan Hospital is a precious reminder of humanity and comradeship, and a symbol of international unity and resistance during the time of one of mankind's most difficult tests. It represents virtues that are an indispensable part of the present as well as future relations between the nations and countries of the world.

Reconstruction after the catastrophic flood in 2007

Huge floods devastated Franja Partisan Hospital on 18 September 2007. Entrance to the Pasice Gorge was not possible and all visits were cancelled. By May 2010 it has been entirely rebuilt to replicate the original.

SVPB Franja - reconstruction by Matjaz Mrak on Vimeo

Some 800 original specimens had been exhibited in the Franja Partisan Hospital. Approximately 225 items remained undamaged, others were only partly preserved or destroyed completely. Idrija Municipal Museum developed a plan for the future exhibition set-up in the reconstructed monument. It served as a basis for collecting and keeping records of the items, and for making the replicas which will substitute for the originals. The reconstruction project (funded by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning) represented a special challenge due to the fact that the material heritage has mainly been lost, while its messages remain alive and topical.

External Links

Franja Partisan Hospital on Idrija Municipal Museum website
The video on reconstruction of the Franja Partisan Hospital
The EC EU recommendations for the European Heritage Label
The list of the EHL sites
Franja Partisan Hospital on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list
Franja Partisan Hospital on Wikipedia
A stamp featuring Franja - issued by the Post of Slovenia to mark the 60th anniversary of Franja Hospital in 2003

Gallery

A view of the reconstructed barracs of the Franja Partisan Hospital in May 2010

The exterior view of the Franja Partisan Hospital

The interior of the doctors' room at the Franja Partisan Hospital, one of the many field hospitals that operated in Slovenia during the Second World War, named after doctor in charge Franja Bojc Bidovec

The operating room at the Franja Partisan Hospital. A precise reconstruction of the original interior that was devastated by huge floods in 2007.

The reopening of the Franja Partisan Hospital in May 2010, reconstructed after a catastrophic flood in 2007 that caused extensive damage and made the steep Pasice Gorge impassable

A kitchen interior at the Franja Partisan Hospital. An original 1943 interior had to be reconstructed after floods in 2007.

A room with bunk beds for the wounded in one of the 14 barracs of the Franja Partisan Hospital. A reconstructed site, 2010.

A power plant situated next to the Franja Partisan Hospital. A reconstruction 2010.

One of the barracs with an X ray & operating room. After reconstruction in 2010.

A view of the reconstructed barracs of the Franja Partisan Hospital in May 2010.

A postcard with some pictures of the Franja Partisan Hospital before reconstruction

Dr Franja Bojc Bidovec, a doctor in charge at the Franja Partisan Hospital, which was named after her

Dr Viktor Volčjak. Photo archive related to Franja Partisan Hospital at the Idrija Municipal Museum

Franja Partisan Hospital, old photo of the entrance

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Article
-| status       = TOPROOFREAD NIFERTIK!
+| status       = PHOTO COVER
 | maintainer   = Janez Premk
 }}
 {{Infobox
 | name                = Franja Partisan Hospital
-| localname           = Partizanska bolnišnica Franja, Cerkno
+| local name          = Partizanska bolnica Franja, Cerkno
+| logo               = Franja Partisan Hospital (logo).svg
 | street              = Dolenji Novaki
 | town                = SI-5282 Cerkno
-| telephone           = 386 (0) 5 372 6600
+| map                 = http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lon=14.0272&lat=46.1543&zoom=13&layer=mapnik
-| fax                 = 386 (0) 5 377 3580
+| telephone           = 386 (0) 5 372 3180
-| email               = tajnistvo@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
+| fax                 = 386 (0) 5 372 3181
+| email               = info@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
 | website             = http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
-| founded by          = Municipality of Cerkno
+| founded by           = Municipality of Cerkno
 | managed by          = Idrija Municipal Museum
-| contacts = {{Contact
+| contacts =
-| name                = Ivana Leskovec
+{{Contact
-| role                = Director
+| name                = Milojka Magajne
-| email               = ivana.leskovec@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
+| role                = curator
+| email               = milojka.magajne@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
 }}
-| opening hours       = reopens on May 22nd
+{{Contact
+| name                = Matevž Rijavec
+| role                = Franja Partisan Hospital Maintainer
+| email               = matevz.rijavec@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
 }}
+| opening hours       =  9am-6pm (1 Apr-30 Sep), 9am-4pm (1-31 Oct); upon admission from 1 November to 31 March
+| accounts            =
+https://www.facebook.com/franjabolnica
+}}
+{{Teaser
+| image = Franja Partisan Hospital 2015 barracs Photo Luka Kalan.jpg
+|
+The [[Franja Partisan Hospital]] at Dolenji Novaki near Cerkno is a cluster of functionally arranged Partisan hospital facilities located in the narrow, barely accessible Pasice Gorge, which is itself a natural attraction. The hospital complex comprises 14 wooden buildings and several small auxiliary facilities that were gradually established from December 1943 to May 1945.
+The [[Franja Partisan Hospital]] is temporary closed due to storm damage in July 2023.
-{{Teaser|
-[[Franja Partisan Hospital]] at Dolenji Novaki near Cerkno is a cluster of functionally-arranged Partisan hospital facilities located in the narrow, barely accessible Pasica Gorge, which is itself a natural attraction. The hospital complex comprises 13 wooden buildings and several small auxiliary facilities which were gradually set up in the period from December [[established::1943]] to May 1945.
 }}
-In 2007 the floods have devastated the site. The complete renovation will be completed in May 2010 and the hospital will reopen for visitors.
+The hospital was among the best-equipped of clandestine partisan hospitals, with an operating room, an X-ray apparatus, a care facility for the disabled, and a small electric plant. Most of the equipment was preserved in situ till the flood in 2007. A complete renovation was finished in May 2010. The hospital is administered by [[Idrija Municipal Museum]].
+Franja has received a renowned award presented by the Committee for European Heritage, the European Heritage Label, and is also on a Tentative List of the candidates for a UNESCO World Heritage List.
+{{YouTube|KAm4TU_ESQQ}}
 == Background ==
-The Slovene military partisan hospital Franja was one of the many field hospitals that operated in Slovenia during the Second World War. They formed part of the widely organized resistance movement against fascist and Nazi occupying forces. The successful operation of these hospitals would not have been possible without the enormous support of those who cared for the wounded and many times even risked their lives.
+The Slovene military Partisan Hospital Franja was one of the many field hospitals that operated in Slovenia during the Second World War. They formed part of the widely organised resistance movement against fascist and Nazi occupying forces. The successful operation of these hospitals would not have been possible without the enormous support of those who cared for the wounded, many times risking their own lives.
+The hospital is named after the Partisan doctor in charge [[Franja Bojc Bidovec]] (1913&ndash;1985). It was among the best-equipped of clandestine partisan hospitals, with an operating room, an X-ray apparatus, an invalid care facility, and a small electric plant. Most of the equipment was preserved ''in situ'' (till the flood in 2007).
+{{Image|Franja Partisan Hospital Operating room May 2010.jpg}}
+The hospital had a capacity of up to 120 patients, and provided treatment for a total of 578 severely wounded persons. According to the archival records some 877 wounded soldiers of various nationalities were treated in Franja and its dislocated units alongside Slovenes and citizens of Yugoslav nations, including Italians, French, Poles, people from Soviet Union, Americans, and two Austrians. One of the patients, a captured German soldier, was kept as a part of  hospital staff after his recovery until the end of the war. During the entire period of the hospital's operation, 78 patients died.
+Conspiracy and security were of crucial importance to all clandestine partisan hospitals because, if discovered, they lacked effective defence mechanisms. Most of the route leading to the hospital ran along a stream flowing through the gorge. The wounded were blindfolded and carried to the hospital by its staff, most often at night. In selecting its location, consideration was also given to adequate self-defence in the form of minefields and machine-gun nests, and for this purpose the hospital was accessible only by footbridges and a drawbridge hidden in the steep Pasice Gorge. Still preserved in the precipitous canyons rising above the stream are several fortified bunkers and natural caves &ndash; hiding places for the wounded. Although enemy forces launched several searches for the hospital, it was never discovered.
+{{Image|Franja Partisan Hospital Entrance Album photo.jpg}}
+== Mission ==
+The Franja Partisan Hospital is a precious reminder of humanity and comradeship, and a symbol of international unity and resistance during the time of one of mankind's most difficult tests. It represents virtues that are an indispensable part of the present as well as future relations between the nations and countries of the world.
-The hospital is named after partisan doctor in charge [[Franja Bojc Bidovec]]. It was among the best-equipped of clandestine partisan hospitals, with an operating room, X-ray apparatus, an invalid care facility and a small electric plant. Most of the equipment is preserved ''in situ''. The hospital had a capacity of up to 120 patients, and provided treatment for a total of 522 severely wounded persons. Some 1,000 wounded soldiers of various nationalities were treated in Franja and its dislocated units alongside Slovenes and citizens of Yugoslav nations, including Italians, French, Russians, Poles, Americans and an Austrian. One of the patients, a captured German soldier, joined the hospital staff after his recovery and remained there until the end of the war. During the entire period of the hospital's operation, 61 patients died. Conspiracy and security were of crucial importance to all clandestine partisan hospitals because, if discovered, they lacked effective defence mechanisms. Most of the route leading to the hospital ran along a stream flowing through the gorge. The wounded were blindfolded and carried to the hospital by its staff, most often at night. In selecting its location, consideration was also given to adequate self-defence in the form of minefields and machine-gun nests, and for this purpose the hospital was accessible only by footbridges and drawbridges hidden in the steep Pasica Gorge. Still preserved in the steep walls rising above the stream are several fortified bunkers and natural caves - hiding places for the wounded. Although enemy forces launched several searches for the hospital, it was never discovered.
-[[Franja Partisan Hospital]] is administered by [[Idrija Municipal Museum]]. It became part of Cerkno Museum in 1963. A 2003 stamp issued by the Post of Slovenia to mark the 60th anniversary of Franja Hospital became Stamp of the Year. Franja is also on a list of candidates to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
+==Reconstruction after the catastrophic flood in 2007==
-Huge floods devastated Franja Partisan Hospital on 18th September 2007. Entrance to the Pasice gorge is not possible and all visits are cancelled. It is to be entirely rebuilt to replicate the original till May 2010.
+Huge floods devastated Franja Partisan Hospital on 18 September 2007. Entrance to the Pasice Gorge was not possible and all visits were cancelled. By May 2010 it has been entirely rebuilt to replicate the original.
-== Misssion ==
+{{Vimeo|11896156}}
-The Franja Partisan Hospital is a precious reminder of humanity and comradeship, and a symbol of international unity and resistance during the time of tests most difficult for mankind. It represents virtues that are an indispensable part of the present as well as future relations between the nations and countries of the world. Some 800 original specimens had been exhibited in the Franja Partisan Hospital. 225 items have remained undamaged, the others are only partly preserved or destroyed completely. [[Idrija Municipal Museum]] is developing a plan for the future exhibition setup in the reconstructed monument. It will also serve as a basis for collecting and keeping records of the items, and for making the replicas which will substitute for the originals. The project represents a special challenge due to the fact that the material heritage has mainly been lost, while its messages remain alive and topical.
+Some 800 original specimens had been exhibited in the Franja Partisan Hospital. Approximately 225 items remained undamaged, others were only partly preserved or destroyed completely. [[Idrija Municipal Museum]] developed a plan for the future exhibition set-up in the reconstructed monument. It served as a basis for collecting and keeping records of the items, and for making the replicas which will substitute for the originals. The reconstruction project (funded by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning) represented a special challenge due to the fact that the material heritage has mainly been lost, while its messages remain alive and topical.
 == See also ==
 * [[Idrija Municipal Museum]]
+* [[Cerkno Museum]]
 * [[Slovenia Partisan Printing Shop]], Vojsko
-* [[Cerkno Museum]]
+* [[Municipality of Cerkno]]
 == External Links ==
-* [http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/english/o_muzeju.htm Idrija Municipal Museum]
+* [http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/index.php/en/locationsexhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/franja-partisan-hospital.html Franja Partisan Hospital] on [[Idrija Municipal Museum]] website
-* [http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/english/objekti.htm Franja Partisan Hospital]
+* [http://www.vimeo.com/11896156 The video on reconstruction of the Franja Partisan Hospital]
-* [http://www.burger.si/Cerkno/Franja/seznam.html Burger's Franja Partisan Hospital virtual guide]
+* [http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/news/2014/1812-ehl_en.htm The EC EU recommendations for the European Heritage Label]
+* [http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/heritage-label/discover_en.htm The list of the EHL sites]
+* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1433/ Franja Partisan Hospital on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list]
+* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franja_hospital Franja Partisan Hospital on Wikipedia]
+* [http://www.posta.si/opis-postnega-ziga/558/Partizanska-bolnica-Franja?nodeid=534 A stamp featuring ''Franja''] - issued by the Post of Slovenia to mark the 60th anniversary of Franja Hospital in 2003
+{{Gallery}}
 [[Category:Museums]]
 [[Category:Monuments and sites]]
+[[Category:World War II]]
+[[Category:War memorials]]
+[[Category:UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia]]
+[[Category:Natural heritage]]

Difference between revisions of "Franja Partisan Hospital"

Latest revision as of 11:42, 21 October 2024

Contents

Background

Mission

Reconstruction after the catastrophic flood in 2007

See also

External Links

Gallery

Operated by

Financed by