Slovenian Partisan Radio Workshops (SPARD) in
Stare Žage
Janez Červek, S57J
Slovenian Partisan Radio Workshops (SPARD) in Stare Žage were established on 19th September
1943. Little later they established also gunsmith, carpenter, precision mechanic, saddlers and some
other workshops. All workshops were jointly named with code name 99d. Ing. Dušan Lasič was
appointed as chief of all workshops. The first radio workshop was in the Old Mill near Divji potok
(Wild Creek), a little up by the stream in the next mill was gunsmith workshop. In November 1943
the radio workshop moved to Nova gora, abandoned Gottscheer village on the southern slope of the
hill above the right bank of the Wild creek. The mill was retained as javka (secret meeting point for
couriers, receiving and distribution news, material…), electric power station and batteries filling. In
April 1944, the radio workshop moved to Mašelj in Črmošnjice. Working in these workshops was
launched on 22nd May 1944 and ended on 27th April 1945.
The idea and the ambition to create a radio workshop were born in the summer of 1942. The
workshops have origins in the radio center of OF (Liberation Front) in Ljubljana, who also organized
the famous radio Kričač.
Location in Stare žage was most likely chosen because it was the territory that was more or less
always under partisan control and there was always enough water power to drive generator for
electricity. At Wild creek there were more mills and sawmills, which were built and inhabited by
Gottscheers, who were displaced in the 1941.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottschee)
Divji potok (Wild creek) 2015
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Radio workshop was founded primarily for the needs of the Partisan army, so military apparatus had
always an advantage at work, whether it was for repairs or new construction. To the workshop came
also lots of apparatus for hospitals, print shops, schools, courier stations, commands of cities and
districts and other organizations on the terrain.
Mill – power plant 1943
Mill – power plant 1948
Mill – power plant ground plan
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Mill – power plant 2014
Mill – power plant 2015
First they installed workshop for the working process: made cabinets, tables, and shelves and
arranged a power station and batteries filling post. Then they examined and sorted material that they
have brought with them or get from other units. Mostly they had Italian battery-receiving stations
RF-2 with a loop antenna. Most transmitters were changed to work with high antenna and the
wavelength used by the partisan units.
Italian Radio station RF-2
They worked under constant threat of pursuit and invasions of enemies on their territory. Therefore
after the notification of any attacks, they had to as soon as possible hide material and tools, and to
clean up the workshop, so that there was no evidence of their activities. It has always been difficult
because the material was more and more accumulated. Therefore they seek appropriate places and
made bunkers-stores from which they are taken only daily supplies, necessary materials and tools.
When the attacks were expected they also dismantled the entire installation in the mill and hid
electric generator.
In November 1943, the workshop moved to Nova gora, Gottscheer village, which has stretched
along the hill on the right bank of the Wild creek. In the mill by the stream they retained power
station, filling batteries and javka for reception and dispatching devices that came in for repair.
Through the Nova gora slopes along the cart track next to it on both sides stood houses and cottages
quite densely.
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Map of Nova gora and Črmošnjice
They have already been abandoned two years before, so some were already in pretty bad shape.
The cart track through the Nova gora 2015
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Those who stood above the road were with rear wall leaning into the hill, so that the entrance from
road was directly to the basement or atable, residential quarters were on the upper floor. Entrance
into them was from the back side of the house where stone stairs leading up on the outside wall of
the house.
Stone stairs leading up
Other houses that stood on the sinking bank had the direct entrance to the kitchen and the room,
below which were cellar or stable. Stone stairs take you outside the house down to cellar.
Stone stairs down
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Houses were below masonry from rough stone, the upper floor was mostly wooden, at least in part.
Layout of the upper and lower floors were not always the same, the lower part was several times
smaller, because it was a part dug into the hill.
For new workshop they had chosen the house, which was quite spacious. It stood over the path, so
the entrance to the workshop was from the rear, where it was leaned on the hill slope. In part of
house built from stones on the top floor there was a large room with a rustic stove, next to it another
very small room. In front of the room there was a large attic with wooden walls, which were already
very poor, because many boards missing.
Radio workshop 1943
Radio workshop – ground plane
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Radio workshop and kitchen 1948
Radio workshop and kitchen 2015
For first need they brought in tables and chairs that have accumulated at the adjacent houses, they
equipped only the first two rooms. They find even a closet somewhere and set it in a little room, and
put in a lot of small and tiny material. It was necessary to continue patching perforated roof,
repairing doors, glaze windows and masonry holes in oven. Italians were in fact on the offensive in
1942 deliberately burnt and destroyed Gottscheers houses, so the partisans would not be able to
settle in them. All these works were carried out in a few days and 13th November 1942 they began
regular operation. There was big need for electrical wiring, which they roll out in coming weeks.
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Radio workshop and kitchen 2015: toward cart track, entrance to cellar, stairs to upper floor, entance
into upper floor, remains upper floor
It was necessary to provide other accommodation facilities to live and work there. The house
opposite the workshop was chosen for the kitchen. It needs mending about the same as the
workshop: windows, doors, roof, and chimney. They arranged kitchen, dining room and office in it.
They built the stove, set tables and benches, furnace repairs, installed electricity and phone line from
the office to the javka.
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Kitchen house 1948
Kitchen house ground plane
A house a little further along the road towards the church was repaired and arranged as bedroom. In
the house opposite workshops in the opposite direction from the kitchen they arranged precision
mechanics workshop. This house also had even arranged a well, which collected rain from the roof.
They set up the grooves in order to caught sufficiently rainwater at least for cooking. They washed
themselves by the creek in the valley. Drinking water was boiled and some blackberry leaves was
added, which turned into a kind of tea. At the beginning they had to attend food and other supplies
by themselves. Basic foodstuffs are treated in the economic commission in Občice, later in
intendancy in headquarters of the battalion of 20th Brigade. Later they also received womanly aid as
cook, administration and assistant who took care of the laundry.
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Kitchen 2015 ground floor only
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Bedroom 1943
Bedroom 2015
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Precision mechanic workshop 2015 with water well in front of photo
Water well 2015
Much harder was with clothing and footwear. It was only in March 1944 that they get some muchanticipated clothing, someone pants, someone jackets, and some both. Even harder they get shoes.
They got them just especially for the guards, carpenters and masons. They often asked senior
officials to provide those clothes and shoes, and even then most needed "disappeared" during the
journey to the workshops. Lack of clothing and footwear were rescued after the New Year 1945. At
that time, all got new uniforms, underwear and shoes from Allied shipments. Like clothes and shoes
were troubles with arms. Even the guards who have been allocated, they had all four of them a total
of three guns and 74 cartridges. In August 1944, the workshop has 65 companions, but had a total of
37 guns with 1,062 cartridges, 41 grenades, 14 pistols with 270 cartridges, 1 submachine gun with
64 bullets and 1 Greek machine gun with 20 cartridges. They all received new weapons as late as at
the end of 1944, namely the English guns, but chief of workshops got the Russian submachine gun.
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Working in radio workshop 1944
Working in radio workshop 1944 (three I-V radios in back ground)
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Working in radio workshop started as soon as it was prepared and equipped. In December 1943, they
installed power line to Nova gora. However, since they did not have adequate wiring, the voltage of
DC dropped very much, so the lights are barely twinkled. The problem was only partly resolved,
problems with electricity persisted for a long time since 1 KW generator was too weak for all their
needs. Later they installed turbine instead of mill wheel to drive a generator. Due to torrential nature
Wild creek was often filled with dead branches fallen from the trees, so they have lots of problems
with cleaning the pipeline to the turbine. They had too much trouble with the turbine, so they placed
the mill wheel back. Electric generators were installed in other mills and connected together, so they
little by little increased electrical power.
In January 1944 they constructed radio receiver Hajka-I, which was intended for hidden partisan
hospitals. By the end of January they have produced eight receivers and passed to hospitals.
During 1943 and 1944 they manufactured 17 pieces. Many components were “home” manufactured.
The biggest problem was where to get enough batteries for them. Therefore, the receivers usually
operate only as long as battery operated, then they were misplaced or even discarded.
Receiver Hajka-1
In January 44 they also produced the first plans for making the receiving/transmitting radio stations.
The first station was named Hajka-II. Title Hajka for their radios was selected because they were
under constant attacks of enemies, named hajka, so their work was repeatedly interrupted. There is
explanation for hajka in English dictionary: chase; pursuit; hunt; battue, hunt with pack.
Ignorance of superiors of techniques and technicians and their work, repeatedly turned to tasks that
had nothing in common with radio workshop.
Soon after they started their work, four mules came to communications department of brigade
headquarters. Because they needed load saddles, radio workshop, which was directly subordinated to
them, got the task to produce or acquire those saddles. They were even advised to request the
material in the repair shop and asked them to hurry, because saddles were essential for them.
Partisan workshops commissary found and picked some saddles in villages in their neighborhood,
which were heavily damaged and barely usable. Thus, radio technicians sewed and repaired leather
harnesses and other parts on the mule saddles.
Several times technicians must try to repair some radios on the terrain. They spent lots of time
traveling there and back, but they were rarely successful. In most cases they had to carry apparatus
back to workshop. Peter and Vida had to go on that kind of journey in December 1943. They
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traveled thru the woods, guided by partisan courier. They suffered rain, heavy wind and at the return
also big amount of snow. They walked mostly by night beside or even thru mine fields, they had to
avoid enemy patrols. When tried to repair radio station unsuccessfully, they load it onto the mule and
went back to workshop. On way back they experienced even more trouble, because of snowing and
stubborn mule. After a day and night of very demanding walking they finally come back to
workshop, where they could dry their clothes, made treatment against louse and got some warm
food.
They also wanted to mark all their apparatus and other products that were made in the workshop by
their own plans, with their trademark. For that purpose they launched a competition to produce the
trademark. This mark should be easy, it could be easily engraved. They even promised prizes: first
prize was one sausage and a piece of white bread, the other half a liter of wine, and the third two
cigarettes. The contest was attended by several members 99d. The winner was symbol with the
inscription PARADES (PArtisan Radio DElavnice Slovenije) and sign above had three spikes - a
symbol of Triglav (the highest mountain and one of Slovenian symbols, also on national flag), in the
background there was the circle, to illustrate the spread of radio waves. The second place occupied a
sign with the acronym SPRD-OF, three spikes for Triglav, the star in center, on the left and right
side wavy lines for radio wave. Third place was taken by a sign with the inscription SPARAD, three
spikes, the central star, concentric circles around it. None of these signs was really suitable for
engraving. This quality was achieved with new sign: electron tube with five-pointed star and the
inscription SPARD- Slovenian PArtisan Radio Delavnice (workshops).
Three designs from competition
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Symbol SPARD on the booklet for transceiver Invazija-5
In the first half of February 44 they produced seven receivers H-I and later another two. The demand
was great, but they ran out of parts and materials for them, especially valves and capacitors.
There was strong pressure to hurry with making receiver/transceiver station with a larger range.
Dušan Lasič constructed the Hajka-II receiving/transmitting radio station according to the available
tubes and components. The station would be powered via battery and motor-generator (dynamotor)
as a power source; they did not have any other. 18th February 1944 they tried the first prototype.
They detected primarily three errors: in particular, the receiver was not sufficiently selective;
transmitter has had chirping tone, which was then called "čivkanje." H-II-1 was sent to the XVIII.
Division, where radio operators were very satisfied with it. By March they had assembled H-II-2, the
following four stations were somewhat changed and named Hajka-III. In the transmitter, in addition
to a resonant tank circuit they built crystal, thereby achieving a constant tone and avoid "chirping".
Some improvements were made in receiver also. The precision workshop produced more individual
components: chassis, variable capacitors, switches, variometers, buttons, coils, CW keys, etc.
The buttons were turned from walnut wood and treated with oil in a manner of rifle butt, thereby
protected against moisture. There was so much work on a lathe, that they introduced two shifts at
work. The variable capacitors were manufactured according to their own plans of sheet metal, which
was gained with disclosure of roofs of houses. First, they straighten sheet, and then cut capacitor
plates by template and smoothed out them. They turned the axis and at equal distances soldered rotor
plates, stator plates were fixed to the frame by the same way. Since this work requires maximum
precision, work progresses very slowly. It stuck with the insulation. Pertinax was used because there
was no other choice. It has been extremely difficult to make threads because the material is not hard
enough for something like that. Therefore, they have to create a lot of elements, as a result of the
fragility was many skimmed threading. Thus, Janez once was tormented by a single capacitor
throughout the day from morning to evening and when it was made with great patience, he showed it
with the great pride to his companions, saying: "Guys, look at him!" That moment, however,
capacitor escaped from his hands and crashed to the floor, where it shattered.
When the stations were made, they have to be tuned, tried out and remedy the imperfections. These
procedures were very demanding; there were only two masters, who can do this work, so the
progress was slow. Dušan prepared description of the station and the operating instructions, criteria
and sketching wavelength curves, power consumption and drew the scheme. These were then copied
and compiled into the accompanying booklet, which have been added to each unit.
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They have produced four stations type H-III, if we add the two H-II, six stations were made with the
power of about 18 W, two wavebands, 70 m - 95 m and 95 m - 110 m. Each station was embedded
in two wooden boxes with straps for carrying on the back. In one cabinet were the receiver and
transmitter underneath, in the second was power supply, above it several drawers, where the power
cord, headphones, spare tubes and accompanying booklet and operations log were stored. All
together weighed 12 to 15 kg, 12 V battery had to be carrying separately. Stations and accompanying
booklet wore a sign with the inscription SPARD, which was stamped on all of radio workshops
original products.
Sketch of variable capacitor for I-V (Ludvik Kremžar s war time diary)
Sketch of four position switch (Dušan Lasič s war time diary)
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Hajka-3 radio station
As soon as H-III were made, two of them were given to VII. Corps. After only two days they came
back in such a condition as they played football with them. Tubes were pulled out, block capacitors
and resistors were torn, torn wires, coils peeled, box battered. The workshop immediately see that
soldiers were not exactly gentle, certainly not as it should be. A guess was, that mules with radios
turned crazy, radio stations fall to the ground, and apparatus were rolled into mountain gorge.
Technicians realized that this will certainly happen again in the future, it will be necessary to make
the station slightly differently for military use as for room use.
Hajka-3 transmitter
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All have been carefully repaired; joints were first mechanically fastened and then heavily soldered.
Tubes were secured with rubber gaskets, nuts and bolts were tightened and painted against unwind
and larger components were additionally fastened with clamps. Then the radio was thoroughly
shaken, kicked, turned, pushed, rolled, and finally placed in the wine barrel which was rolled down
the hill. Then the station was re-tested. Only if after that maltreatment it was in order to work, it was
handed to users. This became standard procedure for testing all stations. Some points of testing were
really somewhat unusual and would fall more on the football field, as in radio workshop, but were
necessary for the use of stations in partisan mode of fighting.
Already in March 44 they have started to prepare plans for a new 6 watt receiver-transmitter, but
construction delayed due to other more urgent work.
In April 44 they produced a new audion receiver H-IV, which was very similar to the H-I. Even for
H-IV they had to construct many components first and then give plans for manufacturing to the
precision mechanics workshop. By the end of the month they produced ten H-IV, in May six and in
June four.
In May 44 the most urgent work was with 6 W transceiver station H-V, appointed as the "brigade".
Since there was big lack of suitable material other than valves, workshops must manually create
most of the components: single and double variable capacitors, switches, coils frames, verniers,
connectors for cables, fuses, etc. It has been calculated that 1,800 hours would be needed for
manufacturing 10 stations. When components were finished, they were installed, electrically
connected and then they started the testing and tuning. The work dragged on throughout June. By the
end of the month works were largely completed, but they did not have enough power supplies for all.
During this time, 6 W station was also renamed from H-V to I-V (Invasion-V, after D day). The first
three stations, which were intended for Štajerska territory, were furnished with hand-generators for
power, two English and one Czech. They sent two next stations to officer’s school only with
batteries, while others were equipped with Italian converters FIMI, some were sent to users without
power supplies. These recipients should provide power supplies from their stocks.
I-V is distinguished from its predecessor mainly by external form and reduced transmitter power. It
was much easier, all three parts: transmitter, receiver and power supply have been mounted in a
single wooden box one above the other, at the side there was the partition of drawers for spare tubes,
headphones, cables, key and accompanying booklet. 12 V battery and charger for it was added as
ancillary. The transmitter quality did not differ substantially from the transmitter of H-III, which
were very well accepted by radio operators. The receiver was much better because it had built in
high frequency amplifier.
Invazija was the last transceiver station, which was built in the Partisan Radio workshops by their
own plans. New stations were no longer constructed, not only due to lack of material but mainly
because in summer 1944 Allies started to send radio stations in addition to weapons and clothes to
Slovenian partisan units.
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Invazija-5
Invazija-5 receiver and transmitter
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Miloš Brelih and Ludvik Kremžar are reminiscent to fact that the allies began to send their radios
only after Slovenians showed them their home-made stations.
In the coming months, the focus was on work in the maintenance and repairing of radio stations,
which were sent by the Allies. In the main they had two types of stations.
SCR-284-A from my collection
First were the US labeled SCR-284-A, with a wavelength of 50-80 m and power of about 17 W.
They were made for telegraphy and telephony, they had hand generators or inverters and batteries
for power supply. Their range was 32-48 km in telegraphy, depending on the type of power supply
and antenna. Very similar to this were stations V-100-A and V-100-B, which were due to
inscriptions in Russian Cyrillic alphabet called "Russian".
Others were also American labeled SET-48, which had significantly weaker transmitter 1-3 W. The
wavelength of 33-50 m and range barely a few kilometers. Electricity they yielded battery or the
handheld generators. So they were more practical to carry and use, even while walking.
Both types of stations have been constructed very solid, but more for regular army, as the partisans.
Therefore, it was often necessary to fix teared binding or solder the capacitor, resistor, to change
electrolyte, block or electron tube, to repair an instrument, transformer, relay, and the like. All these
were minor failures that have occurred during transport or work and they could be relatively quickly
detected and corrected.
In early January 1945, there were about 60 stations SCR-284-A in the Slovenian partisan army. Most
of the work was with hand generators, which were often burnt out, so that they have to rewind them
all. The coils of the high and low voltage had no insulation between them, and therefore during the
operation occurred short-circuit between coil turns and the generator was blown. Most often this
error caused partisan telegrapher due to improper handling with station. Hand generator was
intended only for "LOW" power, but not for the "HIGH" power. Therefore, the workshop
recalculated the new coil and pervades all generators, including new ones. For that purpose, they
created a "rapid exchange" coils.
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V-100-A in use
Set No. 48 from my collection
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Repairing SCR-284-A
In addition to these works SPARD made more transmitters and reworked much of the Italian stations
RF-2 for use in partisan units, fix a large number of various radios and other appliances etc.
Technicians in radio workshop had also going to patrol and guard on duty, which took them a lot of
valuable time. Especially in cases of hostile incursions into their territory. Even after they were only
granted additional people for watch and patrols, they have repeatedly quickly clean up everything
and move to safety.
Repairing Set 48
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The workshop in addition to practical work in the maintenance of wireless communications has set
itself the task to perfect professional telegrapher, graduates telegraphic courses, as well as those who
are working as technicians in assembly and precision workshop. To this end, they organized
radiotechnic course. This course can be attended mostly by students, qualified electricians, installers,
PTT technicians and others who have had at least as much education to be able to follow the lecture.
The course was scheduled to last five months. It consisted of theoretical lectures (100 hours),
ongoing work in radio workshop (installation, measurement, and mechanical work), collaborative
learning of teachers, practical independent work on some product and the final examination of the
substance to be lectured.
Lectures included the following subjects: general electrical engineering, radio engineering in general
terms, receivers, transmitters, propagation of electromagnetic waves and antennas, power supplies
for receivers and transmitters, general and radio technical measurement, errors in the transmitter and
receiver and their detection and radio technical technology. They have prepared a detailed
curriculum and distribution of the substance by hours. Lectures were launched on April 1944 but
exchange rate lasted only two months and was stopped when engineers - lecturers were transferred
from the workshop.
Already on 21st April 1944 Dušan Lasič and Ludvik Kremžar inspected houses in Mašelj in
Črmošnjice, where they intended to relocate workshops from Nova gora. Preliminary works in
Črmošnjice were launched on 22nd May 1944. Repair and renovation of houses and the
establishment of power station were delayed in the second half of August 1944. Around 20th August
the works were completed and the unit 99d moved to Črmošnjice. From Nova gora they took all the
equipment, tables, chairs, cabinets, shelves, bunks and technical material. At the new location were
much better conditions, such as working and accommodation. Workshops were larger and brighter,
electricity has been more stable. The bedrooms, kitchen and dining room were also more spacious
and better heated in winter. They also had hot water for washing.
Map of workshops in Mašelj
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Workshops in Črmošnjice
Work in precision mechanics workshop in Črmošnjice
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Group of radio technicians in Črmošnjice 1945
Much worse was provided for storage of the technical material, which did not have enough hiding
places. Fortunately, the enemy never came so close that they would be seriously undermined. They
were introduced some additional security measures. They took care of that all the windows in the
evening were darkened. At the entrance to the valley they erected guard house while another guard
post was at the edge of gorge, where every three hours rotated all members of all workshops. Thus,
almost five months they lived in peace, and they almost forget the hajkas. Therefore, in the middle of
April 1945 they were surprised with message that the Germans penetrate from Poljane towards Stare
žage. They quickly cleaned workshops, hid the most precious things and then rushed to the positions
under Srednja vas. Fighters from the artillery brigade ranked beside them with anti-tank cannon. But
the fight did not happen, because enemies have stopped at Občice. They returned to the workshops
and continue to work, but not for long. Soon, this time forever they thoroughly cleaned up
workshops and went towards freedom. On 27th April 1945, was their last day of working in
workshops. That day they got the command to stow all and move towards Dragatuš. In next few
days they continued their path through Prezid, the Bloke Plateau thru Babno polje and Babna polica
to Lake Cerknica. There started the distribution of workshops team. Some were assigned to IV.
Army, and on May 8th arrived to Trieste. Around 20th May, 99d members arrived to Ljubljana, the
capitol. They were accommodated at Trata in Šentvid, where they get space for the workshop and
magazine for material, they brought with them from Trieste and their partisan storage- bunkers. The
unit was not more complete anymore. Some were assigned to other units, some of them dismissed
from the army. Farmers were in a hurry home, where untreated soil waited for them, others have
returned to their former jobs. Soon, all others that rest were also demobilized. Many technicians have
found their place in the new emerging Slovenian electrical industry and institutes, where they tried to
implement the ideas that have emerged already in partisan workshops 99d.
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References and literature:
Texts and black white photos were taken from the book 99d –Radiotehnika v slovenskem
osvobodilnem boju by Vida Tom-Lasič.
Color photos were taken by Janez Červek, S57J and my son Janez JR in October 2014 and April
2015.
Vida Tom was the student on faculty for electronics in Ljubljana when WW 2 started. She was
member of Radio sector of Central comity of communist party of Slovenia from the middle of 1941.
That sector constructed and operated propaganda radio Kričač in Ljubljana. Kričač (bawler,
screamer, and shouter) was radiophone transmitter assembled form three main parts: oscillator,
modulator and power supply approximately 1800x160x130 mm in dimensions. In complete there
were also microphone, antenna wire, power supply cables and some tools. Radio transmitted news
from 17th November 1941 to 5th April 1942, when Italians confiscated all radio receivers in
Ljubljana, thus further transmitting became useless.
Vida Tom became member of radio Kričač crew in February 1942. Her duty was to transfer radio to
different location every day. Later she became operator and speaker of the radio. From Ljubljana she
illegally went to partisan units on 3 rd September 1943. She worked in partisan radio workshop for
the rest of war time. She also illegally returned to Ljubljana few times to establish radio
communication with partisan units and organize collection of radio materials.
She wrote her book 99d in 1976/77 by own memories, memories of still alive comrades from
partisan radio workshop, by war diaries of some comrades and documents found in archives.
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