Page 27 - JSOM Fall 2023

than open hospitals. Transport times between secret hospitals quantitative data, the average construction time for a Parti-
were minimized, and individual hospital target value was re- san hospital was 27 days. Hospitals came in various sizes and
duced by employing a large number of dispersed smaller hos- degrees of concealment throughout the country (Table 1) and
1
pitals. Medical units were often near the fighting force and had an average of 87 beds with four buildings and 22 patients
proved their value as they would take the wounded off the per building. An example of a secret cabin hospital built in
ˇ
battlefield, enabling greater maneuverability by Yugoslavian Podgrmec, Bosnia is pictured below in Figure 1. 11
infantry forces. Often, casualties were temporarily hidden in
tents and caves before transportation to a nearby hospital. 1

Secret hospitals were initially located in buildings of oppor-
tunity, such as barns and homes, while building material was
locally scavenged for construction of more permanent facili-
ties; Dr Dafoe himself temporarily worked in a divisional hos- FIGURE 1 Secret
pital built of parachutes with an operating room table made partisan hospital
of saddles, planks, and rubber sheeting. Permanent wards built in Podgrmecˇ,
2
were often constructed in deep glades sheltered by evergreen Bosnia, 1944.
forest near suitable ground for digging underground shelters
close to accessible water sources. Locals aided in identifying
multiple potential building sites in the region but were not
told the final building site location nor the purpose in order
10
to maintain hospital secrecy. Timber felling and processing
often occurred many miles away, and lumber was transported
by night. Exclusive construction teams were used at each lo- Hospitals often had elaborate anti-tracking strategies, such as
cation to limit network knowledge, and sentries guarded the suspended walkways in the trees and stepping stones in lieu of
1
craftsmen and laborers at all times. According to available trails. One hospital scattered amputated limbs in the forest to
TABLE 1 Partisan Hospital Features
# of Build
Hospital Location Beds Buildings Time (d) Construction Features Building specialization Style
Mt. Grmec near Dobra Voda 21 100 7 45 Roughhewn logs, hardboard 3 wounded, 1 surgical, Cabin
panels, 2 stories 1 dressing station, 1 pharmacy,
1 kitchen
Mt. Grmec near Lastva 21 200 1 1 wounded wing, Cabin
1 support wing
Central Hospital near Borci 5 215 5 21 Surgical, internal medicine, Cabin
1 infectious, 1 TB/venereal
Mt. Plješivica near Bijeli Potoci 1 120 1 Insulated walls N/A Cabin
Hosp. No. 3, Slavonija 1 150 20 Bunker
Hosp. No. 2, Ravna Gora 1 Brick pavilions and bunkers Bunker/
Pavilions
Hosp. No. 5, Mt. Papuk 1 Located in deep gorge, well- Bunker
concealed, difficult to access
Tisovac 1 35 1 Single tier of beds Cabin
Mt. Borija 1 60
Petrovo Polje 1 25
Demici 1 150
Hospitals of Phorje (6x) 1 35 1 8–12-m × 3-m Well hidden, no backup shelters Bunker
Mt. Rog 1 35 2 14 Cabin
Greater Croatian Area 1 One main Camouflaged by trees, painted
hospital, green, black, or brown
satellites
Yelen Dol 5 1 800 yards from main German
transport line
Trnava Hospitals 1 Variable Limited surgery Bunker
Kosta 2 150 3 One ward built of wood and Surgery, light wounded, Cabin
parachute hammocks infectious
Petrova Gora 21 Large Variable Combination of cabins/ Multiple ORs Cabin
bunkers, served as a central
hospital
Franja Hospital near Cerkno 13 120 13 Located in deep gorge and Cabin
accessed by walking upstream
Average 85.3 3.8 26.7
TB = tuberculosis, OR = operating room

WWII Yugoslav Guerrilla Hospital | 25