With the establishing of the Slovenian National Committee for the 100th Anniversary of World War I (2014–2018) (hereinafter: National Committee) in the summer of 2012, the Republic of Slovenia became actively involved in the Europe-wide commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Deriving from the Slovenian experience of war and collective memories, Slovenia resolved to act in the spirit that overcomes the divisions that plunged Europe into war in 1914 and reinforces the ideas of coexistence and tolerance, and to act in light of inter-cultural and intergenerational dialogue. This is also reflected in the logo of the National Committee, which illustrates the continuous march of soldiers leaving behind women, children, the elderly, devastation, and ultimately a hope to return.

The National Committee aims to increase the collective awareness of the profound impact of WWI on the life of every Slovenian and the entire Slovenian community in political terms and, above all, from the standpoint of the multifaceted experience gained in WWI. The years between 2014 and 2018 are not marked for grand celebrations, but rather as an opportunity to consolidate the collective memory of events that took place a hundred years ago. 

The basic tasks of the National Committee are consistent with its primary mission and the material resources with which it was established and within which it also functions, namely:  

- ensuring the coordinated action of cultural, education and scientific institutions and associations and similar committees at the regional and/or local levels in commemoration of various events of WWI throughout the four-year period;

- organising and/or assisting in the organisation of events and activities dedicated to the commemoration of WWI centenary events, in particular major events in each year of the four-year period;   

- establishing relevant domestic and foreign contacts (e.g. with foreign embassies in Slovenia and Slovenian embassies abroad, as well with its counterparts in other countries, etc.);

- providing a (minimal) joint and external visual identity of events and activities dedicated to the celebration of WWI centenary events.

With a view to ensuring consistent action, the National Committee has established links with Slovenian cultural, scientific, education and state institutions, Slovenian representations abroad and similar foreign committees.

In the period marking the WWI centenary events, the National Committee will play the role of the central (state) committee to coordinate activities in this field while working closely with Slovenian institutions which have, in the last two decades, been systematically dealing with the history of WWI, in particular with the Isonzo Front, its movable and immovable heritage, and with the promotion of high-quality historical and cultural tourism. These institutions are primarily: Kobarid Museum (Kobarid), Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation (Kobarid), Tolmin Museum (Tolmin), Goriška Museum (Nova Gorica), National Museum of Contemporary History (Ljubljana), and the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (Ljubljana). It should be noted that the commemoration of WWI centenary events will involve various Slovenian national and regional institutions (museums, archives). Institutions, municipalities and various associations in the area of the former Isonzo Front are particularly active.

The National Committee will also be active in the international sphere, both through Slovenian representative offices abroad and by establishing active bilateral contacts with similar committees in other countries. It will act as a reference point in terms of organisation and expertise. The National Committee representatives (and high-level state representatives) will take part in occasional important ceremonies abroad.

A number of events will be of international dimensions, reflecting the fact that the Isonzo Front, the 90-km southern section of the Italian-Austro-Hungarian front, ran across Slovenian ethnic territory. Even during the war, unique memorials were erected at military cemeteries and other areas along the front by soldiers of various nationalities who had fought on the Isonzo Front. The latter-day commemoration of World War I, however, includes ceremonies held by countries that are successors of the Habsburg Empire at military cemeteries along the Isonzo Front, paying tribute to the memory of fallen comrades. The commemoration will feature international scientific conferences and events organised by Slovenian representations abroad.

In the 2014-2018 period, the National Committee will annually organise or co-organise the central government event.

The National Committee is preparing and updating a calendar of events dedicated to the commemoration of WWI, which will be held in the 2014-2018 period in Slovenia as well as abroad, with the cooperation of Slovenian representatives of various institutions. 

The composition of  the National Committee for the 100th Anniversary of World War I

The National Committee for the 100th Anniversary of World War I (2014–2018) is composed of representatives of ministries responsible for defence, foreign affairs, culture and education, science and sport, scientific establishments,   museums and archives, and the Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovenian Government Office for Communications, and SPIRIT Slovenia – the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Development, Investment and Tourism.
 

In October 2013, the Slovenian Government confirmed the renewed composition of the National Committee, composed of: 

- Roman Jakič, Ministry of Defence, Chairman;

- dr. Petra Svoljšak, ZRC SAZU, Milko Kos Historical Institute, Vice Chairperson;

- Bogdan Benko, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member;

- dr. Darko Lubi, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- mag. Gregor Kos, Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, Member;

- Silvester Gabršček, Ministry of Culture, Member;

- mag. Uroš Krek, Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- Mateja Malnar Štembal, Government of the Republic of Slovenia Communication Office, Member;

- Gorazd Skrt, SPIRIT Slovenia, Member;

- dr. Darko Darovec, Institute of Nova revija , Member;

- dr. Damijan Guštin, Institute of Contemporary History, Member;

- Darja Hauptman, Mayor of Kobarid, Member;

- dr. Tomaž Kladnik, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- Vasja Klavora, Nova Gorica Committee for Commemorating the 100th Anniversaries of World War I, Member;

- Zdravko Likar, Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation, Member;

- dr. Andrej Nared, Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- dr. Vincenc Rajšp, Slovenian Scientific Institute Vienna, Member; 

- mag. Marko Štepec, National Museum of Contemporary History, Member.
 

In December 2014, the Slovenian Government confirmed the renewed composition of the National Committee, composed of: 

- Janko Veber, Ministry of Defence, Chairman;

- dr. Petra Svoljšak, ZRC SAZU, Milko Kos Historical Institute, Vice Chairperson;

- Bogdan Benko, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member;

- mag. Petra Culetto, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- Zvezdan Markovič, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- dr. Erika Rustja, Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, Member;

- Silvester Gabršček, Ministry of Culture, Member;

- mag. Uroš Krek, Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- Mateja Malnar Štembal, Government of the Republic of Slovenia Communication Office, Member;

- Gorazd Skrt, SPIRIT Slovenia, Member;

- dr. Damijan Guštin, Institute of Contemporary History, Member;

- Nataša Hvala Ivančič,  Municipality of Kobarid, Member;

- Vasja Klavora, Nova Gorica Committee for Commemorating the 100th Anniversaries of World War I, Member;

- Zdravko Likar, Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation, Member;

- dr. Andrej Nared, Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- mag. Marko Štepec, National Museum of Contemporary History, Member.

 

In June 2015, the Slovenian Government confirmed the renewed composition of the National Committee, composed of: 

- Andreja Katič, Ministry of Defence, President of the Committee;

- dr. Petra Svoljšak, ZRC SAZU, Milko Kos Historical Institute, Vice Chairperson;

- Bogdan Benko, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member;

- mag. Petra Culetto, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- Zvezdan Markovič, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- dr. Erika Rustja, Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, Member;

- Silvester Gabršček, Ministry of Culture, Member;

- mag. Uroš Krek, Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- Mateja Malnar Štembal, Government of the Republic of Slovenia Communication Office, Member;

- Gorazd Skrt, SPIRIT Slovenia, Member;

- dr. Damijan Guštin, Institute of Contemporary History, Member;

- Nataša Hvala Ivančič,  Municipality of Kobarid, Member;

- Vasja Klavora, Nova Gorica Committee for Commemorating the 100th Anniversaries of World War I, Member;

- Zdravko Likar, Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation, Member;

- dr. Andrej Nared, Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- mag. Marko Štepec, National Museum of Contemporary History, Member.

 

In October 2015, the Slovenian Government confirmed the renewed composition of the National Committee, composed of:

- Andreja Katič, Ministry of Defence, President of the Committee;

- dr. Petra Svoljšak, ZRC SAZU, Milko Kos Historical Institute, Vice Chairperson;

- Dragoljuba Benčina, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member;

- mag. Petra Culetto, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- Zvezdan Markovič, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- dr. Erika Rustja, Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, Member;

- Silvester Gabršček, Ministry of Culture, Member;

- mag. Uroš Krek, Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- Mateja Malnar Štembal, Government of the Republic of Slovenia Communication Office, Member;

- Gorazd Skrt, SPIRIT Slovenia, Member;

- dr. Damijan Guštin, Institute of Contemporary History, Member;

- Nataša Hvala Ivančič,  Municipality of Kobarid, Member;

- Vasja Klavora, Nova Gorica Committee for Commemorating the 100th Anniversaries of World War I, Member;

- Zdravko Likar, Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation, Member;

- dr. Andrej Nared, Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- mag. Marko Štepec, National Museum of Contemporary History, Member;

- Samo Bevk, Ministry of Defence, Member.

 

In July 2016, the Slovenian Government confirmed the renewed composition of the National Committee, composed of:

- Andreja Katič, Ministry of Defence, President of the Committee;

- dr. Petra Svoljšak, ZRC SAZU, Milko Kos Historical Institute, Vice Chairperson;

- mag. Petra Culetto, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- Sanja Štiglic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member;

- Zvezdan Markovič, Ministry of Defence, Member;

- dr. Erika Rustja, Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, Member;

- Silvester Gabršček, Ministry of Culture, Member;

- mag. Uroš Krek, Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- Mateja Malnar Štembal, Government of the Republic of Slovenia Communication Office, Member;

- Gorazd Skrt, SPIRIT Slovenia, Member;

- dr. Damijan Guštin, Institute of Contemporary History, Member;

- Nataša Hvala Ivančič,  Municipality of Kobarid, Member;

- Vasja Klavora, Nova Gorica Committee for Commemorating the 100th Anniversaries of World War I, Member;

- Zdravko Likar, Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation, Member;

- dr. Andrej Nared, Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Member;

- mag. Marko Štepec, National Museum of Contemporary History, Member;

- Samo Bevk, Ministry of Defence, Member.