Pulski Hrvatski list (1915.–1918.) – zapisi o “evakuircima” s područja Pomorske utvrde Pula
PULA’S HRVATSKI LIST (1915-1918) – NOTES CONCERNING “EVACUEES” FROM THE TERRITORY OF COASTAL FORTIFICATION OF PULA

Summary/Abstract: Upon the declaration of war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, in Istria, as in other Slavic lands of Austria-Hungary, new politico-security conditions came into being. Imperial decrees, laws, and regulations, above all those of the ministry of the interior and war, as well as the decrees and orders brought forward by local civilian and military authorities of the Monarchy, reorder everyday life in these new circumstances – conditions of war. The decree of the Ministry of Defense from 28 July 1914 put into effect the law concerning a state of war from 26 December 1912 establishing the rights and obligations of inhabitants which stemmed from that law regarding a state of war. The military and civilian authorities of the coastal fortification of Pula, by order and decree, introduced measures whose aim was to adapt life in the city to the new circumstances, and on 11 August 1914 these required the civilian population on the basis of the order of the military authorities to leave their homes. At the moment when Italy was carrying out its final diplomatic activities for entering the war, commissioner Schönfeldt – the highest ranking civilian official in the district proclaimed the evacuation of more than 60,000 people from the territory south and north of the line Barbarig – Vodnjan – Valtur, including the communities of Rovinj and Kanfanar. In boxcars from the Istrian railway stations, inhabitants from the war zone – evacuees, refugees from war (Kriegsfluchtlingzi) – travelled across Divače – Ljubljana – Ptuj – Maribor to refugee camp (Baracken lager) Wagne, not far from Leibnitz. From Leibnitz, a special commission, depending on nationality, homeland, family ties, and religious affiliation, sent these people on to other locations – in Hungary, the Czech lands, Moravia,Upper and Lower Austria, and Styria. The largest number of refugees was placed in special camps – in Gmünd, Bruck, Stienklamm, Wagne, Pottendorf – Landegg, Vosberg, and St. Andrä in Austria, in Hom in the Czech lands, and in Nikolsburg (Mikulov), Porlic and Gaj in Moravia. Lack of financial resources, the ever more difficult acquisition of supplies in the camps, as well as the diminishing financial support of local authorities in the new settlement communities made life increasingly difficult, while epidemics, hunger, and cold led to high mortality. Reacting to the constant complaints of political leaders which claimed that there was no justification for the mass emigration of the population, the command of the coastal fortification in Pula in January 1916, in agreement with the High Command agreed to the return of the first war refugees from the villages of Bala, Krmeda, Golaša, Svetvinčenta, Barbana, and Krnice around Rovinj, and a year later, from the territory around Pula. In August 1918, 15,000 inhabitants of Pula were still away from their homes.

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