DOLINA POD PONCAMI – KRAJ POGUMA IN ODPORA
Rateče – Planica v času narodnoosvobodilnega boja
Dolina pod Poncami, Rateče in območje Tromeje so bili med drugo svetovno vojno pomembno območje narodnoosvobodilnega boja. Tod so potekale kurirske in partizanske poti, ki so povezovale Gorenjsko s Koroško.
Aktivisti iz Rateč so že 2. februarja 1942 v Planici organizirali prvi sestanek ter se vključili v organiziran odpor proti okupatorju.
Zbirali so obveščevalne podatke, vzdrževali zveze ter pomagali partizanskim enotam in zaveznikom.
V spominu domačinov živi pripoved, da je bila na Ciprniku izobešena jugoslovanska zastava s parafrazo verza Franceta Prešerena:
Manj strašna noč je v črne zemlje krili,
kot so pod fašizmom sužni dnovi.
Zastava je postala močan simbol upora, trn v peti okupatorju, saj vrh 1745 metrov, kraljuje nad dolino in je viden daleč naokoli.
Zlata barva napisa na zastavi je izdala organizatorje, saj so jo okupatorjeve oblasti našle pri njih doma. Dva organizatorja, domačina sta bila aretirana, odpeljana v Begunje in nato na prisilno delo v Avstrijo, od koder sta pobegnila ter se vrnila v domače okolje in v OF.
Pomembno poglavje narodnoosvobodilnega boja na tem območju predstavlja tudi usoda ameriškega bombnika B-24G Liberator, ki je 22. novembra 1944 strmoglavil pod Kotovim sedlom pod Jalovcem.
Devetčlanska posadka, stara med 18 in 33 let, je pred strmoglavljenjem izskočila s padali. Eden izmed letalcev se je s pomočjo domačinov in partizanov izognil zajetju ter se vrnil k zaveznikom. Pet članov posadke je bilo zajetih in odpeljanih v vojna ujetniška taborišča. Trije so umrli: dva sta bila kot vojna ujetnika ustreljena v Gozdu Martuljku, eden pa je podlegel strelnim ranam po zajetju.
Ta kraj je priča pogumu, vztrajnosti in neomajni želji po svobodi.
ZB za vrednote NOB – Občina Kranjska Gora, 2026
THE VALLEY BENEATH THE PONCE MOUNTAINS – A PLACE OF COURAGE AND RESISTANCE
Rateče and Planica during the National Liberation Struggle
During the Second World War, the valley beneath the Ponce Mountains, Rateče and the Tromeja area, where Slovenia, Austria and Italy meet, formed an important centre of the National Liberation Struggle. Courier and partisan routes linking Gorenjska with Koroška passed through this area.
As early as 2 February 1942, activists from Rateče organised their first meeting in Planica and joined the organised resistance against the occupying forces.
They gathered intelligence, maintained communication links, and assisted partisan units and the Allies.
Local people still tell the story of a Yugoslav flag that was flown on Mount Ciprnik, bearing a paraphrase of a verse by France Prešeren:
Less fearsome is the night in black earth’s embrace,
than days of bondage under fascism.
The flag became a powerful symbol of resistance and a thorn in the side of the occupying forces, as the 1,745-metre summit dominates the valley and is visible from far and wide.
The gold paint used for the inscription on the flag betrayed the organisers, as the occupying authorities found it in their homes. Two of the organisers, both local residents, were arrested and taken to Begunje before being sent to Austria for forced labour. They escaped, returned home and rejoined the Liberation Front (OF).
Another important chapter in the National Liberation Struggle in this area concerns the fate of an American B-24G Liberator bomber, which crashed below Kotovo sedlo, beneath Mount Jalovec, on 22 November 1944.
The nine crew members, aged between 18 and 33, bailed out before the aircraft crashed. With the help of local people and partisans, one of the airmen evaded capture and rejoined the Allies. Five crew members were captured and taken to prisoner-of-war camps. Three died: two were shot while prisoners of war in Gozd Martuljek, while the third died of gunshot wounds after being captured.
This place bears witness to courage, perseverance and an unwavering desire for freedom.
Association of Fighters for the Values of the National Liberation Struggle – Municipality of Kranjska Gora, 2026.
