Rudolf Maister
| Rudolf Maister | |
|---|---|
Rudolf Maister in 1919
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| Nickname(s) | Vojanov |
| Born |
March 29, 1874 Kamnik, Duchy of Carniola, Austria-Hungary (now in Slovenia) |
| Died | July 26, 1934 (aged 60) Rakek, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now in Slovenia) |
| Allegiance | Austria-Hungary State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Years of service | 1890–1923 |
| Rank | Divisional General |
| Commands held |
Slovenian army Commander of Maribor |
| Awards |
Signum laudis Order of White Eagle Order of Star of Karađorđe Order of Saint Sava |
| Other work | Poet and self-taught painter |
Rudolf Maister (Vojanov) (29 March 1874 – 26 July 1934) was a Slovene military officer, poet and political activist. The soldiers who fought under Maister's command in northern Slovenia became known as "Maister's fighters" (Slovene: Maistrovi borci). Maister was also an accomplished poet and self-taught painter.
Maister was born in the Upper Carniolan commercial town of Kamnik, then part of Austria-Hungary. A career soldier, during World War I, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Army. In 1917, he was sent to Graz promoted to the rank of a major. In 1918, near the end of the war when it was obvious that Austria-Hungary was losing, the city council of Maribor proclaimed the annexation of Maribor to Austria. Maister organized Slovene volunteer forces of 4000 soldiers and 200 officers and in the night of 23 November 1918 seized control of the city of Maribor and the surrounding region of Lower Styria. This date has been recognized as a state holiday in Slovenia since 2005. The Slovene National Council for Lower Styria awarded him the rank of general on November 1. The German-speaking city was thus secured for the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which united with the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes on December 1. Maister's rank as a general was confirmed by the National Government of the Slovene part of the Kingdom as a "lieutenant with the title and character of a general" on 11 December 1918, which was later also confirmed by the Belgrade Government.
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