LESE - The infamous village of death.

It was the 12^th day of May 1945.

Officially WWII had been over and done with for four days.

The Allied Forces had defeated the German Army and the final signatures had been affixed to the documents of

“unconditional surrender” on the 8^th day of May 1945.

In Slovenia, as in many other countries, the hatreds against all that was “German” burnt high and the call for revenge was loud and clear.

Withdrawing German troups had murdered entire families, men, women and children, where they suspected that even one member might have belonged to the “Partisanen” (Resistance Fighters)

No questions for proof were ever asked. The trigger finger always was quick and efficient.

When Slovenian resistance fighters ( Partisanen ) obtained lists of German speaking Austrians living in Bleiburg and several other communities, who were accused of even the most remote “Nazi” activities, they quickly and mercilessly rounded them up, brought them to the Slovenian village of Lese, took them to a field nearby and summarily executed them.

It was the 12^th day of May, 1945

29 citizens of Bleiburg did not return from this massacre. Two were merchants, operating a Grocery Store in Bleiburg. 

Mr. Othmar Mory ran the store with his wife, Maria, who was a member of the women's guild.

Christin was the daughter-in-Law of Othmar and Mary.

Today, this hatred has largely subsided, thanks to the efforts of good men on both sides.

One of the best is Othmar Mory, oldest son of the above named victims.

In painful memory

of all innocent

victims of the time after the War 1945

from Carinthia and Slovenia.

This is Othmar Mory, ( Otti, for short )

oldest Son of  the murdered 

Othmar and Maria Mory.

Otti's  heart could be full of hatred,

he, however, campained tirelessly for peace and understanding.

Otti is one of the  heroes of this time.