The Crow's Flight Trail

International Memorial Trail of Alliance - Slovenia

‘The Crow’s Flight Trail’ was developed in collaboration with the Association ZZB NOB Slovenije [Association of the Combatants for the preservation of the values of the National Liberation Struggle of Slovenia]

It is dedicated to the little-known, most successful, POW escape of WW2, to the escapers and to the memory of the partisans, couriers, safe-house keepers and farmers who died in their struggle for freedom.

The original escape route covered approximately 200 miles, including mountainous terrain and a river crossing, and was carried out in hostile, enemy controlled territory. A raid, by Partisans, at Ozbalt, near Maribor, liberated about 90 Allied prisoners from POW camp Stalag XVIIID who had been set to work to repair a railway line. Guided by Partisans and locals the men, together with other POWs who joined them in the area of Pohorje [totalling over 100 escapers], eventually arrived at the Partisan airfield of Otok. Not a man was lost.

Today’s full trail takes about 10 days, although just parts of the trail are also undertaken during commemorative events. The routes are now way-marked. The full route extends from Ozbalt, near Maribor, to Otok – Otok was the location of the SOE/Partisan landing strip from where Dakotas ferried escapers to Bari in Italy.

The original event took place in August/ September 1944, and the Commemorative events, which include laying of tributes, speeches and gatherings, also take place at a similar time of year.

The Commemorative trail is not to be confused with other commercial trails in the area.

Visit the International Research Centre for the Second World War Maribor, in the buildings of the former Stalag XVIIID camp at Mejle.

Awaiting contact details for the trail organisers