Memorial park and Memorial room "The fourteenth division"

It is not a coincidence that Graška gora became the symbol of patriotism and fight for freedom and a place for remembrance. Over three hundred and twenty soldiers fell on the territory between Uršlja gora and Završe, the Styrian battalion and the Šalek unit were established here, while the greatest mark on Graška gora was left by the legendary Fourteenth partisan shock division, a part of which was also poet Karel Destovnik Kajuh.

21 In February 1944, the soldiers of the XIV division departed from Plešivec to make it through Velunja in two columns, in the direction towards Zavodnje and Bele vode. Both columns ran into strong curtain fire from the divisions of Winkler’s fighting group in Velunjski jarek, so they were forced to redirect themselves towards Graška gora. The key position of the division was on Fergunov vrh. In the same afternoon, one of the toughest defensive fights of the division started on Graška gora during their march. The enemy’s numerous assaults were parried by Partisans’ counterattacks. Due to weaker armament, Partisans were forced to save their ammunition, so they only activated their machine guns after the enemy soldiers completely approached the Partisan positions.

To commemorate this terrible fight of the XIV division, Graška gora was nicknamed “the mountain of assaults”. In a fierce assault they managed to break through the German circle that surrounded them and set out with the wounded first. In the evening the soldiers managed to break through the enemy’s envelopment with great losses and marched towards Plešivec. The number of the wounded that they carried with them only increased after this assault, because on their way to Graška gora they were already carrying those that were wounded from the previous fights with the occupying forces. Because there were practically no partisan hospitals on their march across Styria, they had to carry the wounded with them. Another aggravating circumstance was the harsh winter with low temperatures at record levels and a thick layer of snow. To commemorate the incredible struggle of soldiers who had to carry their wounded comrades in such weather conditions and during the German offensive, the statue “Carrying the wounded” has been erected on Graška gora.