Jože Melaher
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Jože Melaher - Zmagoslav (1913-1991) was Yugoslav military officer, most notable for being commander of Chetnik Štajerska detachment during the
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.


Early life

Melaher was born in Zrkovcih na Pobrežju, on 26 February 1913 from father Leopold and mother Apolonija, née name Klemenčič. Melaher's older brother Anton remained after the war on the farm. Joze finished gymnasium, then worked as a teacher and a staff member. In 1937 he married Marija Vrecl, a teacher with whom he had three daughters later in the emigration. After serving a military service in the army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, he held the rank of reserve sergeant. Before the World War II Melaher was active member of Slovenian Catholic youth organizations and Slovene People's Party.


During World War II

All Chetniks were considered as enemies by Axis occupiers Yugoslavia who managed to reach
quid pro quo ''Quid pro quo'' (Latin: "something for something") is a Latin phrase used in English to mean an exchange of goods or services, in which one transfer is contingent upon the other; "a favor for a favor". Phrases with similar meanings include: " ...
arrangements with Chetniks, that allowed them to fight against communist revolutionary irregular forces. In Slovenia, Mehaler and his detachment were exemption from that kind of arrangement. According to some estimates, Štajerska Chetnik detachment was the only anti-Communist military unit that consistently attacked Axis occupiers throughout the war. The detachment under Melaher's command had 200 men. In October 1942 Gestapo arrested Melaher, but he managed to escape and continued his struggle. Melaher successfully recruited many of his men among Slovenian deserters from German units. This Chetnik unit led by Melaher operated against German troops in the region of Haloze and
Ptuj Ptuj (; , ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, eighth-largest town of Slovenia, located in the traditional region of Styria (Slovenia), Styria (northeastern Slovenia). It is the seat of the City Municipality of Ptuj, Municipality of Pt ...
. According to one report of Yugoslav communist forces, Melaher's Chetnik detachment and operated in the region of
Lenart v Slovenskih Goricah Lenart v Slovenskih Goricah (; , ) is a town in the Slovene Hills in the Municipality of Lenart in northeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Styria. It is now included in the Drava Statistical Region The Drava Statist ...
. Melaher's Chetnik detachment received British supplies as airdrops until 1944 and published resistance newspaper ''Blood and Land'' (). Melaher was author of most of its texts. In April 1945 Chetniks from Melahers Štajerska detachment were put under command of Ivan Prezelj and enlisted as part of the Slovenian People's Army. In 1945 Melaher signed an cease-fire agreement with German occupying forces.


After World War II

With some members of his detachment he escaped ahead of the arrival of the Soviet Red Army and Yugoslav Communist forces. He first settled in
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, and later in the
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. Melaher died on 10 June 1991, in
Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
,
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.


References


Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Melaher, Jože Zmagoslav 1913 births 1991 deaths Chetnik personnel of World War II Slovenian Chetnik personnel of World War II Yugoslav emigrants to the United States