Rudolf Meister Day in Slovenia

Rudolf Meister (1874-1934)Maribor is the economic and cultural center of the northern lands of Slovenia and remains the second most important city after the capital. Before the First World War, this region was part of Austria-Hungary, and the population of the city was 80% German and 20% Slovene. The Germans dominated public life and city administration. During the war, many Slovenes of Styria and Carinthia were declared enemies of the Austrian state and denied access to public office. At the same time, almost the entire rural population of the region was Slovenian.

After the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, both the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes claimed Maribor. On November 23, 1918, Slovenian general Rudolf Meister, with 200 officers and 4,000 soldiers, seized power in Maribor.

The liberation of Maribor was of strategic importance in the formation of the territory of the modern Slovenian state, since it allowed not only to strengthen the northern borders, but also opened up opportunities for the further reconquest of Slovenian lands, in particular, the cities of Ptuj, Celje, Lutomer, and also made possible the reunification of Prekmurja with the fatherland.

The holiday has been celebrated since 2005 and is not a non-working day.