After the administration of the Province of Ljubljana was established in the autumn of 1943, an important role in its propaganda apparatus was assumed by young and belligerent anti-communists and the main guidelines were set by the circle surrounding the president of the provincial administration, Leon Rupnik. In newspaper articles and at anti-communist rallies they mostly criticised intellectuals for their purported sympathies with communist ideas and another important target of criticism was the University of Ljubljana. Its leaders, especially the rector Milko Kos, were exposed to numerous attacks and scorn. They responded decisively, demanding respect for university autonomy, but soon realised that they could not expect any support from the governorship of the Ljubljana Province. Pressure on the university grew until the end of 1943, when the university leadership was forced to sign the infamous »Christmas anti-communist memorandum«.