Jama pod Krenom Cave

Mass concealed graves
After the end of World War II, the opponents of the partisan movement and refugees took refuge in Austrian Carinthia, seeking protection of the British allies, who later handed them back to the Yugoslav authorities. They returned over two paths – the first one in the direction of the Štajerska region, and the second one through the Karavanke tunnel and the Ljubljana basin to Kočevski Rog.

The captives were transported to Kočevsko by train from the Bishop’s Institutions (Škofovi zavodi) in Ljubljana, where individuals were thoroughly questioned about their activities during the war and their families. In Kočevje, they were accommodated in the then Mary’s Home (Marijin dom), in the grammar school and finally in the then Institute for the Blind.

Jama pod Krenom cave
The two largest mass graves in Kočevski Rog are Jama pod Krenom cave and the Larch Hill (Macesnova gorica). In the latter, objects of victims of the Slovene nationality were found, while in the former, objects of victims of the Croatian, Serbian and Montenegrin nationalities were found. After executions, the caves were sealed by blasting, which also changed the appearance of the area.
At Jama pod Krenom cave, a reconciliation ceremony was held on 8 July 1990, attended by more than 25,000 people.
The first systematic excavations and study of the terrain in Kočevski Rog began in 2004 under the guidance of historian Prof. Dr Mitja Ferenc. With the help of the students of the Department of History of the Faculty of Arts, he excavated as much as 50 kg of objects, such as crosses, charms and coins, which were used to infer the ethnicity of the victims in individual caves. In recent years, excavations and the search for new pits have continued. So far, seven caves and pits, full of victims of extrajudicial killings placed there by the then authorities after World War II, have been confirmed in Kočevski Rog. Experts estimate that around 15,000 people lie in the karst pits of Kočevski Rog.

The Way of the Cross by Stane Jarm
The wooden Way of the Cross of the Slovenians, made by the local academic sculptor Stane Jarm, leads to the Jama pod Krenom cave.
The Way of the Cross of the Slovenians in Kočevski Rog was built in 1998. It consists of 15 wooden stations, which together represent a monument to the tragic events after World War II in Kočevski Rog. The Way of the Cross usually has only 14 stations, the last of which represents the act of laying Christ in the tomb. Stane Jarm added the 15th station to his art, which with its image of the risen Christ reminds us that the suffering and death of the victims represent salvation in the kingdom of God. In the sinkhole under the killing ground, the artist erected a reconciliation altar, which eloquently invites to forgiveness and reconciliation with the inscription “FORGIVE”.
Stane Jarm was born in Osilnica in 1931. He studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts and then worked as an art teacher in Kočevje, where he lived until his retirement. In Kočevje, several of his works of art are on display in the town itself and in some more remote places.

The Bronze cross by Metod Frlic
In addition to the directional signs and information signposts, the Jama pod Krenom cave is also pointed out by the bronze cross, the work of Metod Frlic. The wooden cross was erected in 1990 and cast in bronze in 2005.

Chapel
The chapel by the Jama pod Krenom cave was built in 2004. The architect of the chapel is Prof. Janez Koželj, who was selected in the tender together with his students. The chapel represents an apse, which means God’s bosom, and indicates that all victims lying buried in the cave rest in God’s embrace.
Standing separately next to the chapel are a suspended bell and a cross. The cross faces the mass grave and represents a tombstone cross of hope and solace. With its sound, the bell creates the sense of sanctity of the place, sending pleas to heaven and serving as an audible reminder to direct our steps on the path of peace and reconciliation.
The central element of the chapel is a mosaic, the work of the world-famous sacral artist of Slovenian descent, Father Marko Rupnik. In Slovenia, Rupnik has made as many as 36 mosaics. The mosaic in the chapel under Kren was made in 2005 and depicts the pain and tragedy of the Slovenian people during World War II. The iconographic symbolism of the mosaic is broad and complex. With this mosaic, the author transcends the sad history of clandestine victims and calls for reconciliation.

Chapel in Vrtača
In 2000, the Society for the Regulation of Concealed Graves (Društvo za ureditev zamolčanih grobov) erected a 9-metre high chapel in the form of an ellipse with a cut roof. At the time of its erection, the chapel was the first place of worship where anniversary masses for reconciliation were celebrated, and these were held there until 2004. The chapel is decorated with paintings and mosaics by France Perme, the then president of the Society.