Zaton Organizacije jugoslovanskih nacionalistov - Orjune pod budnim očesom italjanskih fašističnih oblasti
The decline of the organisation of Yugoslav nationalists - Orjuna - under the watchful eye of the Italian fascist authorities

Summary/Abstract: The Organisation of Yugoslav Nationalists (Orjuna) was established in the beginning of the 1920s in Dalmatia, from where it expanded to the other provinces of the Kingdom of SHS. This expansion was related to the activities of numerous refugees retreating from the Primorska (Littoral) region and Istria due to fascist persecution. Therefore Orjuna also organised propaganda, sabotage and general resistance in the Littoral region itself with the ultimate goal of liberating and annexing this region to its homeland. Naturally, espionage in favour of the Yugoslav Army also took place, which is why this organisation enjoyed the support of the Yugoslav authorities. However, this gradually changed due to its terrorist activities and inconveniences resulting from it, affecting the Yugoslav relations with Italy. It is obvious that Orjuna itself and its concrete activities in the Littoral region caught the interest of the Italian intelligence and diplomatic services. The Italian consulate in Ljubljana was especially active in this sense, making use of confidants among the Slovenian refugees. On the other hand Orjuna also organised its own spy network against the consulate, so that a kind of a spy war took place in Ljubljana. Through the embassy in Belgrade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome the reports about emigrants and members of Orjuna found their way into the police dossiers of the Ministry of the Interior in Rome. It is interesting that the systematic investigation of Orjuna and similar organisation by the leadership of the Italian police did not begin until as late as 1928, when Orjuna was already in decline. In his article the author addresses the main characteristics of Orjuna's activities, as reported by the fascist diplomatic and police bodies.

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