A total of over sixty people worked in all the hospital’s wards. Some were sent there from other partisan units, while others were former patients who joined its staff after recovery. Before the war, the hospital staff were engaged in various professions; most of them were workers, farmers and craftsmen, while some were students and officials. Compelled by current needs they turned into nurses, builders, stewards, etc.
List of the staff
Search the list of the staff
The list is not complete, any corrections and additions can be reported to: info@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
Šmid, Franc – Danilo, guard
Date and place of birth
03. 12. 1911 - Podlonk (Železniki)
Ward
C
Time of operation
January 1944–5. 5. 1945
Šmid, Franc – Pilot, stretcher bearer
Date and place of birth
20. 01. 1920 - Podlonk (Železniki)
Ward
C
Time of operation
January 1944–5. 5. 1945
Šmid, Franc – Vinotok, carrier, nurse in B, C, manager in D1, for a while in C
Date and place of birth
18. 09. 1922 - Podlonk (Železniki)
Ward
B, C, D1
Time of operation
12. 1. 1944–5. 5. 1945
Šmid, Janez, courier
Date and place of birth
9. 1 1926 - Podlonk (Železniki)
Ward
D
Time of operation
?
Šmid, Jože – Božo, nurse and manager in C, nurse in B, nurse in Pokljuka
Date and place of birth
16. 02. 1916 - Podlonk (Železniki)
Ward
B, C, Pokljuka
Time of operation
6. 12. 1943–5. 5. 1945
Šmid, Valentin, steward
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
C, Pokljuka
Time of operation
?
Sodja, Peter, steward
Date and place of birth
01. 07. 1907 - Blejska Dobrava
Ward
D
Time of operation
October 1944 -
Šolar, Anton, shoe maker
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
Javka v Močilarjevem mlinu
Time of operation
?-17. 4. 1944, padel
Šolar, Franc – Rok, steward
Date and place of birth
10. 10. 1919 - Kališe (Železniki)
Ward
C
Time of operation
January 1944–5. 5. 1945
Špehar, Franc, staff member
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
C
Time of operation
?
Štangl, Branko – Peter, medic, assistant manager to Klein
Date and place of birth
16. 12. 1920 - Dvor pri Šmihelu / Austria
Ward
B, Š Stol II
Time of operation
9.11. 1943–22. 1. 1944 ?
Stankovič Kejžar, Francka – Majda, cook, nurse
Date and place of birth
24. 01. 1925 - Blejska Dobrava
Ward
D
Time of operation
?
Štiherl, Gabrijel, steward
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
Š Stol II
Time of operation
?
Štucin Kašpirc, Anica, assistant cook
Date and place of birth
23. 08. 1920 - Cerkno
Ward
B, Pokljuka 10
Time of operation
28. 12. 1943–5. 5. 1945
Šturm, Janez,
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
Š Stol II
Time of operation
?
Šturm, Joško, nurse, guard
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
B
Time of operation
1944–5. 5. 1945
Šuligoj, Danilo, Male nurse, medical assistantRead story
Date and place of birth
31. 07. 1920 - Sv. Lucija (danes Most na Soči)
Ward
B, Pokljuka 10
Time of operation
5. 12. 1943–5. 5. 1945
Tavčar, Franc, guard and member of auxiliary staff
Date and place of birth
01. 05. 1914 - Dobrava
Ward
B
Time of operation
29. 1. 1944–5. 5. 1945
Tomažin, Anton, assistant cook
Date and place of birth
?
Ward
B
Time of operation
From February 1945–
Topolovec, Antonija, cook
Date and place of birth
25. 04. 1914 - Vrbovce (Šentjernej)
Ward
A
Time of operation
5. 12. 1944–27. 4. 1945
Danilo Šuligoj shared the fate of the people from Primorska who were oppressed and persecuted by the fascist regime in every possible way. In January 1943, together with many others, he was mobilised into the Italian army. After the capitulation of Italy, he returned to his home town Sveta Lucija (today Most na Soči) and immediately joined the partisans. Throughout the war, he worked as a male nurse. At the beginning of December 1943, he joined the team led by Dr Viktor Volčjak in Dolenji Novaki, which was preparing everything necessary for the construction of a hidden partisan hospital. Being a professional painter, he painted the hospital cabins with camouflage colours to make them blend in with the rocky surroundings. Danilo was not only one of the hospital’s builders but also a nurse who treated the wounded of different nationalities. In September 1944, he was assigned as a medical assistant to surgeon Dr Franc Derganc. They were the nucleus of the surgical team of the Ninth Corps; other members came from units and field services where the team operated. Danilo occasionally returned to the Franja Hospital. When work in the field was completed, the wounded were taken to the nearest hospital where they were taken care of by a doctor.
Among the wounded was the American pilot Harold Adams; he was taken care of by Danilo when the hospital was evacuated in March 1944 due to an attack. They maintained their friendship after the war. In 1997, on the initiative of Adam’s relatives, Danilo Šuligoj was awarded a recognition by the US Veteran Pilots’ Association for his selfless help in saving the American pilot.
His memories are published in the booklet entitled Bil sem bolničar v Franji (I Was a Nurse at Franja), Nova Gorica, 2008.
