Jože Pirjevec releases monumental history of WWII Partisans

Slovenian historian Jože Pirjevec has authored a monumental 900-page book titled ‘Partisans’, which details the genesis and development of the resistance movement during World War II. The work provides a comprehensive account of the partisan struggle against fascism within the context of global history, aiming to restore the significance of the movement and the role of Josip Broz Tito at a time when such history is often marginalized in former Yugoslav territories.

Pirjevec, a member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, spent decades researching the complex conflicts on the Balkan Peninsula, which involved various warring groups including Chetniks and Ustashe. The book addresses the immense human cost of the war, where local civilian deaths are estimated to have exceeded one million. The historian's academic background includes studies in Trieste, Pisa, and Vienna, with teaching experience at several major European universities.