The treatise is based on some of the chapters from the author's book »The
History of Slovene Literature«, volume 7, and describes the relationship between the
National War of Liberation and cultural tradition. The author believes that the new
culture is the heritage of all that was beautiful and great in our cultural past. The
relationship between the National Liberation Movement and the Slovene cultural
past in summed up, especially the strengthening of cultural tradition during the
War of Liberation — e. g. the growth of popular songs of the Liberation Movement
and War from songs sung before the war. Partisans and activists chose their names
(Iztok, Matjaž, Peter Klepec, Črtomir) from the works of cultural classics. Five partisan
brigades and some underground presses were named after Slovene classic
writers; on the anniversaries of their births and deaths, brochures, song-books and
anthologies of Gregorčič, Jurčič and Cankar were published. The highest respect
was paid to Prešeren. The anniversaries of his birth and death were celebrated in the
whole of Slovenia' and the presidium of SNOS (Slovene National Liberation Council)
proclaimed the day of his death a Slovene cultural holiday.
The second part of the treatise demonstrates by examples how, during the
National War of Liberation, folk songs were given new or partly changed texts and
melodies, without losing the characteristics of folk songs. The treatise also presents
songs which grew from the revolutionary feelings of the Party workers and sympathizers
of the revolutionary movement and were sung even before the war.