The Slovenian Army commemorates the 82nd anniversary of the liberation of Allied prisoners of war with the “Flight of the Crows 2026” cycling event
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the Slovenian Army Sports Unit (ŠPE) began carrying out activities to mark the 82nd anniversary of the liberation of Allied prisoners of war “Flight of the Crows 2026”. The event began in the former Maribor prisoner of war camp STALAG XVIII-D with an introductory presentation of the historical background, prepared in cooperation with the International World War II Research Center Maribor.
At 12:00, the ŠPE members began cycling on the 1st stage, which led them from Lovrec na Pohorje via Pohorje to the Lešnik Farm in Slovenj Gradec. In the following stages, the members will cover the entire route from Podravje to Bela Krajina (via Ljubno ob Savinji, Menina planina, GEOSS, the Krka Valley and Novo mesto) in six stages, overcoming over 330 km and 7,800 meters of altitude difference.
While the previous two implementations of the commemoration within the framework of the Slovenian Army took place in the form of a hike, this time the members will overcome the original route on mountain bikes. In this way, they honor the memory of one of the most successful rescue operations of World War II on our soil, recorded in Ralph F. Churches’ book The Crow’s Flight to Freedom, when Allied prisoners of war, accompanied by partisans, reached the Otok airport near Metlika and flew to freedom.
As part of the cycling event, a memorial ceremony will be held at the Geometric Center of Slovenia on Saturday, August 29, and a closing speech at the DC-3 aircraft on Otok pri Metliki on Monday, August 31, at 2 p.m., which will also mark the official end of the cycling event.
In addition to nurturing the memory of allied camaraderie, the “Crow’s Flight 2026” activity serves to test and strengthen the psychophysical preparedness and cohesiveness of members of the Slovenian Army Sports Unit.
The Slovenian Army Sports Unit (ŠPE) will carry out commemorative activities between August 26 and 31, 2026 to mark the 82nd anniversary of the liberation of Allied prisoners of war. While the previous two events within the Slovenian Army took place in the form of a hike, this time the members will set off on mountain bikes along the historical route. In six stages, they will cover the route from Podravje to Bela Krajina, thus honoring the memory of one of the most successful rescue operations of World War II on our soil – the liberation of Allied prisoners of war from the Maribor camp Stalag XVIII-D and their passage across the occupied territory to freedom.
The activity is based on historical facts and routes recorded in Ralph F. Churches’ book The Crow’s Flight to Freedom. In August 1944, the liberated Allied prisoners, accompanied by Slovenian partisans, walked the demanding route from Maribor to the partisan airport Otok pri Metliki, from where they were transported to the Bari base in Italy by Allied Dakota DC-3 aircraft.
The cycling route runs along an original route adapted for cycling, on which ŠPE members will overcome 334 kilometers and over 7,800 meters of altitude difference in 6 stages:
· August 26 (1st stage): Opening of activities and introductory speech at the former Stalag XVIII-D camp in Melje in cooperation with the International Research Center (MRC Maribor, Iza Verdel) to mark the 82nd anniversary of the escape of Allied prisoners, followed by the start of cycling on the route Ožbalt– Pohorje- Lešnik Farm (48 km, 1750 nm+).
· August 27 (2nd stage): Lešnik Farm– Golte- Ljubno ob Savinji (57 km, 1520 nm+).
· August 28 (3rd stage): Ljubno ob Savinji– Menina planina-Terme Snovik (52 km, 1340 nm+).
· August 29 (4th stage): Terme Snovik– GEOSS- Gostišče Krka (71 km, 1420 nm+). As part of this stage, a memorial ceremony will be held at GEOSS (Geometric Center of Slovenia) in cooperation with the GEOSS Association (member of the Board Miloš Kimovec).
· August 30 (5th stage): Gostišče Krka– Barracks Franc Uršič Novo mesto (62 km, 1070 nm+).
· August 31 (6th stage and final day): Novo mesto– Semič– Otok pri Metliki (44 km, 710 nm+).
The activity “Flight of the Crows 2026”, in addition to nurturing the memory of allied comradeship and historical events, serves to test and strengthen the psychophysical readiness, unit cohesion and the implementation of elements of general fitness training of members of the Slovenian Armed Forces Sports Unit. The activity will conclude on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the DC-3 memorial aircraft on Otok pri Metliki, with a short memorial ceremony and the official conclusion of the cycling race.
