Gramozna jama, Memorial site near Žale cemetery in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Gramozna jama is a memorial site beside the Žale cemetery on Ljubljana's western edge, marking a former gravel pit where executions took place. The complex features a central sculpture of a dying hostage created by Boris Kalin in 1947, integrated into Vinko Glanz's architectural design.
Italian occupation forces used this former gravel pit as an execution site between 1942 and 1943, claiming it was necessary to suppress suspected communist activities. The painter Hinko Smrekar and approximately 184 other Slovenian civilians were killed during this period.
The memorial draws its name from the former gravel pit and stands as a place where visitors can reflect on the individual people who lost their lives during the occupation. The grounds preserve personal details about those executed, making their stories part of the local memory.
The memorial is located beside the New Cemetery along Tomačevska cesta and can be reached via the Trail of Remembrance and Comradeship. The site sits within an active cemetery area, so visitors should approach with quiet respect and allow time for contemplation.
The victims were executed without trials, as Italian authorities randomly arrested people during street patrols and later killed them. This arbitrary violence reflects how unpredictability shaped daily life under occupation.
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