The Park of Military History will be open in October from Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and on Saturday and Sunday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Prior reservation of a time slot is mandatory for a tour inside the submarine and a flight simulator experience with MiG-21 or Spitfire aircraft as an additional museum offer. You can make a reservation by calling +386 (0)31 775 002 or by emailing [email protected].

The Park of Military History also has a campervan parking area with eight parking spaces and well-equipped facilities. 

Over the weekend, the Park of Military History was abuzz with a diverse array of museum-related activities. The team of the Park collaborated with the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Slovenian Police, Atmosferci, and partner museums – the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Idrija Municipal Museum, the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia, the Technical Museum of Slovenia, the National Museum of Slovenia, and the Notranjska Museum Postojna – to organize ZgodoVikend, a multi-day museum event arranged to encourage intensive exploration and experience of history.

To kick off ZgodoVikend, the museum complex hosted the traditional Vestirnga 2023 on Friday. During the festive event, the Postojna Defense Administration welcomed the military conscripts of the 2005 generation. On this occasion, they arrived in elaborately decorated draft wagons, reminiscent of generations from the past.

Saturday’s events were significantly marked by the Open Day at the Stanislav Požar Barracks in Pivka, which, primarily due to tank rides, attracts a substantial number of visitors from both near and far each year. The day was also filled with activities in the Park, such as the guided hike to the underground fortifications at Primož that was organized in the morning. Throughout the day, guided tours of the museum exhibitions took place. The pinnacle of Saturday’s activities, however, was the unveiling of the new exhibition by the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces, titled “Faster, Higher, Stronger! Elite Sports in the Slovenian Army.” The exhibition, curated by Senior Curator Rok Filipčič of the Military Museum of the Slovene Armed Forces, was ceremoniously opened to the public by Slovenian Olympic champion in shooting sports and retired member of the Slovenian Armed Forces Sports Unit, Rajmond Debevec.

ZgodoVikend concluded in grand style on Sunday with various engaging activities presented by the participating partners that enriched the museum experience. As part of the central program, the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Slovenian Police were presented to the visitors. In addition to the static display of their equipment, the participating units also prepared dynamic demonstrations of field operations. The Air Police Unit and the Mountain Police Unit staged an exercise involving the rescue of an injured person with a helicopter, while the Specialized Military Police Unit, in collaboration with the 15th Regiment of Military Aviation, simulated a helicopter counter-terrorism operation. Enthusiasts of military-technical heritage were particularly captivated by the dynamic demonstrations on the training ground, featuring driving displays of fully functional armoured vehicles from the vehicle collections of the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Park of Military History. This year’s ZgodoVikend also gained prominence thanks to the participation of Atmosferci, a renowned trio of online content creators who produce one of the most successful podcasts in the country. On this occasion, they conducted interviews with two men previously featured on their most-watched podcasts on the topic of military history and technology. The event was further enriched with a diverse supporting program, including gatherings of vintage cars, guided tours through museum collections and exhibitions, a mini book fair specializing in military history literature, a militaria fair, workshops for children, and various other captivating attractions.

During ZgodoVikend, a new exhibition about Admiral Horatio Nelson, one of the most renowned naval commanders of all time, was presented to the broader public for the first time. The exhibition was initiated and assisted by The Nelson Society from the United Kingdom. It was initially unveiled in early September at Hotel Slon in Ljubljana, coinciding with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the illustrious admiral’s stay in August 1800. The exhibition is accompanied by a documentary film titled “Horatio Nelson: Britain’s Greatest Admiral,” produced by The People Profiles.

During ZgodoVikend, visitors could once again view the IAR-93 Vultur/Orel aircraft, which had been temporarily absent from public display for several months due to refurbishment. The aircraft arrived at the Park from Romania nine years ago and required extensive restoration after being exposed to the elements. The exhibit was meticulously restored by the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

ZgodoVikend, which has taken on a new identity following the former Military History Festival, drew more than 4,000 visitors to Pivka this past weekend. The Sunday festivities were attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Boštjan Poklukar, and the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Marjan Šarec. Visitors departed from the Park contented, basking in the abundance of sunshine and the company of roaring armoured vehicles, along with the low-flying helicopters. They returned home enriched with a plethora of new museum experiences.

On September 21st, members of the engineering unit of the Czech Republic Army, accompanied by their hosts from the Slovenian Armed Forces, visited the Park of Military History. A group of Czech military engineers arrived in Slovenia ten days ago as part of international military assistance and have contributed significantly to the efforts to mitigate the consequences of the August floods in the most affected areas. In collaboration with the Slovenian Armed Forces, the unit members played a crucial role in setting up three modular bridges in Mežica, which greatly improved the transportation infrastructure in the municipality upon their completion.

After this demanding engineering project, the Slovenian Armed Forces organized a final excursion to show their appreciation for the Czech soldiers’ hard work and dedication. The central stop of this excursion was at the Park of Military History. Under experts’ guidance, the group explored all the current museum collections and exhibitions. They were particularly interested in presenting the story of Slovenia’s path to independence as part of the main museum exhibition titled “The Road to Independence.” The submarine P-913 Zeta also drew a lot of excitement, and the group had the opportunity to explore it from the inside.

The visit concluded with congratulations to the Park of Military History for its successful work preserving and presenting a rich collection of military-technical heritage and providing an accurate portrayal of military history. The park is delighted and proud to have hosted the Czech Army unit, which played a crucial role in mitigating the catastrophic consequences of the floods. The Park leadership also sincerely thanked the participating Czech soldiers for their contribution.

Slovenia acquired an IAR-93 attack aircraft from Romania in 2014. Due to its exposure to weather conditions, it needed to be restored and brought back to its former glory. The restoration was originally planned to be completed in the spring, but due to prolonged adverse weather conditions, the work was delayed. Wind and storms threatened the restoration process and extended the refurbishment by several months. To restore and bring the shine back to this valuable exhibit, the company Granos, in collaboration with experts from the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Park of Military History, invested 250 working hours.

The initiative for donating a Romanian aircraft to Slovenia came more than a decade ago from the Association of Military Pilots of All Generations and Friends of Military Aviation, as well as the Slovenian-Romanian Business Club Triglav–Carpaţi. On the Slovenian side, the project involved the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Park of Military History in Pivka. The transportation of the exhibit at that time was generously carried out by the transport company CEM-TIR.

ABOUT THE SOKO J-22 OREL/IAR-93 VULTUR AIRCRAFT

In the late 1960s, the Yugoslav Air Force began contemplating the development of a new ground-attack aircraft. After analyzing various factors and considering the cost-effectiveness ratio, the leadership of military aviation and the national authorities decided to develop a plane with a high subsonic speed, which would also be capable of achieving supersonic speeds under specific conditions.

Due to the high costs involved, they considered collaborating with an external partner. Romania emerged as the ideal partner at the time because it was revitalizing its military aviation industry. On May 20, 1971, a cooperation agreement was signed between the two countries, which included a provision for splitting the costs in half. The project was named YUROM, and the result of this collaboration was a high-wing, twin-engine ground-attack aircraft with a metal construction semi-monocoque design. In Yugoslavia, it was named the Soko J-22 Orel; in Romania, it was called the IAR-93 Vultur (Eagle). The project took inspiration from the British-French SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft, completed a few years before the Orel/Vultur aircraft.

 

The Orel project was designed in the aeronautical institutes in Žarkovo and Bucharest, and production took place in Mostar (Soko), Pančevo (Utva), and Craiova (I.R.Av.). The Romanian and Yugoslav prototypes took their first flights on the same day, October 31, 1974. Some improvements were made in the second half of the 1970s, and serial production commenced. Both countries collectively produced over 200 units of the aircraft in various versions. In Yugoslavia, a reconnaissance version was also manufactured.

OREL IN SLOVENIA

The first two squadrons in the Yugoslav Air Force equipped with Orel aircraft were the 351st Reconnaissance Squadron and the 238th fighter-bomber squadron of the 82nd Air Brigade, stationed in Cerklje ob Krki. Following a mortar attack on the airfield on June 27, 1991, the aircraft were gradually relocated to Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina airports. As the conflict expanded within the territory of Yugoslavia, the aircraft were eventually moved to Belgrade.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Length: 14.9 meters
• Height: 4.53 meters
• Wingspan: 9.3 meters
• Wing Area: 26 square meters
• Aircraft Weight: 5,550–5,750 kg; maximum weight 10,600–11,080 kg
• Speed: 1,130 km/h (0.95 Mach)
• Range: 1,320 km
• Maximum Altitude: 13,600 meters
• Engines: 2 × Rolls-Royce Viper Mk. 632-41; 633-41; 633-47; 663-41
• Armament: Two side-mounted GŠ-23L cannons with 200 rounds each; one under-fuselage and four under-wing hardpoints for up to 500 kg bombs and rockets; total payload capacity of 1,733 kg.

 

On Thursday, September 7th, the Park of Military History welcomed an international delegation of senior Air Force non-commissioned officers who attended the first regional symposium of senior Air Force non-commissioned officers from Nato countries in Europe and the United States Air Forces in Europe and Africa Command.

The five-day symposium, hosted by the Republic of Slovenia, began on September 4th with addresses from Assistant Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Brigadier Milan Žurman, and the Senior Staff Sergeant of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Staff Sergeant Danijel Kovač. The meeting of senior non-commissioned officers from 30 countries, which will now be held every other year in Europe, was organized this year by the 15th Air Force Regiment of the Slovenian Armed Forces in cooperation with the United States Air Forces in Europe and Africa Command. The purpose of the symposium is to build trust, respect, and better cooperation among allied and partner air forces.

Discussions also covered the role of non-commissioned officers in asymmetric warfare, intergovernmental partnership programs, and the cooperation of Scandinavian countries. The senior non-commissioned officer of the Ukrainian Air Force provided insights into the situation in Ukraine.

During their visit to the Park of Military History, the participants were interested in exploring museum collections and exhibitions. They were particularly drawn to the main exhibition titled “The Road to Independence,” which presents a pivotal period in Slovenia’s quest for independence. They also expressed significant interest in exhibitions related to the display of aviation heritage and history, such as the exhibition “To Hell and Back,” dedicated to American aircraft lost during World War II on Slovenian territory.

In the Park of Military History Pivka, we are once again organizing ZgodoVikend (HistorWeekend) as the central event of the season in the Park and the largest military history event at the national level.

ZgodoVikend is designed as a multi-day series of events, which will take place between September 15th and 17th this year. The event follows in the footsteps of the well-established Festival of Military History, where reenactment groups portrayed military life and battles from various historical periods. Due to the war in Ukraine, we have abandoned this concept and slightly redesigned the event. ZgodoVikend now consists of a series of events that start on Friday, continue on Saturday with an enriched museum program and an open day at the Stanislava Požarja Barracks, and culminate on Sunday with reenactment rides of museum vehicles from the operational part of the collection, as well as a dynamic presentation of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Police.

PROGRAM:

Friday, September 15th, 2023

10:00 AM: Introduction to conscripts and presentation of conscript vehicles and the Slovenian Armed Forces – Vestirnga 2023.

Saturday, September 16th, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Open day of Slovenian Armed Forces at the Stanislav Požar Barracks in Pivka
9:00 AM: Hike to Primož and tour of the interior of the Alpine Wall fortress
10:30 AM: Guided tour of the exhibition “Fighting behind the trenches – Military Transport on the Isonzo Front”
12:00 PM: Opening of the exhibition at the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces, “Faster, Higher, Stronger! Top-level Sports in the Slovenian Armed Forces”
12:00 PM: Guided tour of exhibitions and collections in Pavilions A, B, and C
1:30 PM: Guided tour of Ravne Castle
3:00 PM: Guided tour of the Enigma exhibition

4:00 PM: Screening of the film and presentation of the exhibition “Horatio Nelson (1758–1805).”

Sunday, September 17th, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

9:30 AM: Conversation with Atmosferci – Mr. Vojko Gantar, MiG-21 fighter pilot

10:30 AM: Screening of the film “Horatio Nelson (1758–1805).”
11:00 AM: Dynamic presentation of the Police
11:30 AM: Presentation of the conservation work at the Museum of Modern History of Slovenia – conservator Aleš Jelinčič

12:00 PM: Presentation of the Neapolitano Rehabilitation and Training Center for Horses.

12:30 PM: Atmosferci: The Guys Who Save Lives in Helicopters / Secret Guest #live
1:00 PM: Guided tour of the new exhibition at the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces, “Faster, Higher, Stronger! Top-level Sports in the Slovenian Armed Forces”
1:00 PM: Guided tour of the ZgodoVikend venues
2:00 PM: Presentation rides of the operational part of the collection of the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Park of Military History
2:30 PM: Dynamic presentation of the Slovenian Armed Forces

3:00 PM: Atmosferci: Tank and Tanker – A Date After 80 Years / Conversation with Franc Primožič #live
4:30 PM: Guided tour of the Enigma exhibition
5:00 PM: Theatrical performance by the Idrija Municipal Museum: “I’m Not Afraid of the Devil or the Whip! The Persecution of the Smuggler Melhiorca.”
Throughout the Day (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM):

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Static presentation of the Slovenian Armed Forces
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Static presentation of the Police
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Presentation by the “Društvo slovenskih miličnikov” (Slovenian Militia Association) with legendary vehicles from the former Militia
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Presentation by the H.A.S. team airsoft association
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Presentation by the Postojna Rescue Dog Handlers Club
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Mini book fair of military history literature, militaria fair, and tactical equipment fair

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Presentation of the Neapolitano Rehabilitation and Training Center for Horses.

Sunday Children’s Workshops:

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Children’s workshop by the Technical Museum of Slovenia: “Agamograph” optical toy
11:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Children’s workshop by the Notranjska Museum: “The Terrible Centipede Monster”
11:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Children’s workshop by the Military History Park: Making a periscope

VISITOR INFORMATION:

The organizer reserves the right to change the program.

ADMISSION

On the day of the event, the regular price list of the Park of Military History Pivka applies – Price List 2023.

INTERIOR TOUR OF THE SUBMARINE AND FLIGHT SIMULATOR TEST WITH MiG-21 / Spitfire AIRCRAFT

For the interior tour of the submarine and the flight simulator test, PRIOR RESERVATION of a time slot is MANDATORY. Please make a reservation by calling 031 775 002 or emailing [email protected].

PARKING – Sunday, September 17th, 2023

Visitors are advised of the option to arrive in Pivka by train. FREE PARKING will be provided in designated parking areas for those arriving by their own transportation. A FREE TRANSPORT service will be organized for visitors between the designated parking areas and the Park from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors are recommended to arrive in Pivka on time.

 

NOTICE: The event will be photographed and recorded. The photos and recordings will be used for promotional purposes by the Military History Park. Visitors consent to be captured in photos or recordings in case of audio recording or photography during the event. The organizer does not guarantee the safety of lost or damaged belongings of visitors. Visitors must follow the instructions of the organizer’s security personnel.

———————————————–

*Stanislav Požar Barracks, Kolodvorska 59, 6257 Pivka (1 km from the Park towards Ilirska Bistrica)
**The hike is suitable for all generations. The participation fee for the hike is 5 EUR. Children up to 15 years old can participate in the hike for free. Please bring flashlights for the tour of the interior of the underground fortress at Primož. We recommend hiking footwear and clothing. You can park at the Military History Park parking lot. The hike is at your own risk. In case of bad weather, the hike will be canceled.

*** Guided tours will be in Slovenian