The Union of the Associations for the Values of the National Liberation Movement of Slovenia (ZZB NOB Slovenia) strives to keep Slovenians permanently linked with the values that provided Slovenia a victorious force in past ordeals, in particular during the World War II. It is one of the most numerous civil society organisations in Slovenia, and since 1993 it is also a full member of the World Veterans Federation (WVF). It has a status of an organisation acting in the public interest in the fields of war veterans, victims of war violence (exiles, internees, stolen children, political prisoners, prisoners) and war cemeteries. It is organised throughout the Slovenian territory with its structure adjusted to “cover” all units of territorial organisation of people. Current president: Marijan Križman.

Every citizen of the Republic of Slovenia may be a member of the ZZB NOB Slovenia. In addition to the still living National Liberation Movement combatants and activists, victims of war violence and other participants in the 1941–1945 National Liberation Movement, a member may be any person who has a respectful, positive attitude to the National Liberation Movement and is prepared to participate in endeavours to assert the values of this fight. These values are in particular: patriotism, latitude, anti-Nazi-Fascism (fighting new forms of Nazism and Fascism), national sovereignty, comradeship, equality, solidarity, humanity, honesty, social justice and all other values that provide respect for human rights. All these basic rights are written in the solemn declaration of the Slovenian National Liberation Council on the rights and obligations of the Slovenian nation of 19 February 1944.

Organisation: currently (in 2016), the Federation has 82 collective members, i.e. associations which are divided into 705 local organisations and linked with 14 regional councils. There are 42,000 members in the associations. The main body of the Federation is the lead Committee, while the Executive Body is the presidency with the council, committees and boards with their consultative role in individual fields. The Federation through its criticism and proposals actively cooperates with government bodies, as well as veteran organisations of 1911 and other groups in the matters of joint interest. The basic organisational unit is the Association for the Values of the National Liberation Movement. The associations are registered as independent associations operating in the areas of all administrative units in Slovenia. Anyone who wants to become a member may register in the respective local association. The Slovenian associations are combined in the Union of the Associations for the Values of the National Liberation Movement of Slovenia.

History: its predecessor, i.e. Federation of Associations of Combatants of Slovenian National Liberation Army (ZZB NOV Slovenia) was established on 4 July 1948. It was included in the Federation of Associations of Combatants of Yugoslavian National Liberation Army. It was established with the purpose to join and mobilise the participants of National Liberation Movement to cooperate in the restoration and development of the homeland and to defend its political settlement and independence. In the first years of its operation, the Federation mainly took care for war orphans and helped the members in arranging invalidity allowance, rights related to pensionable service, subsidies, etc. It organised many commemorations, some of which have become traditional and are being held even today. It took care for the placement of monuments and memorial signs (over 5300). As per the Constitution, it was a social and political organisation and directly participated in the political decision-making. With social changes in 1990, the Federation lost its status of social and political organisation. In 1991, it supported the Slovenian Independence and withdrew its membership in the Federation of Associations of Combatants of Yugoslavian National Liberation Movement. In 1992, it reorganised and changed its name to the Union of the Associations for the Values of the National Liberation Movement of Slovenia (ZZB NOB Slovenia). Since 1997, it accepts members who have not participated in the National Liberation Movement; thus, it has become a general patriotic organisation. In 2007, it adopted its current name.

Events: In addition to other activities, ZZB NOB Slovenia also organises events, celebrations, hikes, commemorations etc. Every year, it thus organises approximately 400 celebrations, 130 hikes and 600 commemorations.

Publishing activity: from its establishment to 1990, three book collections were created with its cooperation. They are dedicated to the history of National Liberation Movement, with over 120 books published. It publishes a monthly magazine Svobodna beseda (Free Word), the successor of the magazine Svobodna misel (Free Thought) and TV-15 gazette which in particular deals with historical topics of World War II. It also has a web page, Facebook, Twitter, and occasionally publishes a chronicle and other publications. In the past, it was a publisher of Borec magazine, which is now taken over by the Sophia publishing house and published two or three times a year.

The Union of the Associations for the Values of the National Liberation Movement of Slovenia through its diverse activities strives to preserve and strengthen a respectable memory of the fight of the Slovenian nation during the World War II and consolidate national self-confidence. With its operation it wants to promote Slovenian statehood and aims at democracy, patriotism and strength of character in international relationships. It also aims at reconciliation dialogue about the past and respect of historical truth on the gravest times of Slovenian nation and at reconciliation of all Slovenians.

Presidents:

Contact and location

The Union of the Associations for the Values of the National Liberation Movement of Slovenia (ZZB NOB of Slovenia)
Einspielerjeva 6
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

tel.: 00386 1 434 44 45  (Headquarters)
tel.: 00386 1 434 46 19, 434 46 20  (Secretariat)
fax: 00386 1 434 41 17
e-mail: info@zzb-nob.si

Official Hours: from Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Information on the location on Google Maps: