A significant part of the fighting during World War II took place in the air, and tactical bombing became the primary method of destroying war production and the enemy's morale. As the Allied bombing of German positions intensified, the area of Lower Styria was also exposed to the danger of bombs in the final years of the war. Considering the aerial danger, the German authorities resorted to various measures to reduce the number of potential victims and the extent of material damage. They operated actively and passively in anti-aircraft defence. Active operations included the placement of anti-aircraft artillery units around important tactical and industrial targets and urban centres. Passive activities included the construction of shelters and the organization of various warning, rescue, and auxiliary units to prevent and mitigate the effects of air raids.
The master's thesis provides an outline of German anti-aircraft defence in the Lower Styria region during World War II, with a focus on the main urban centres, Maribor and Celje. Using archival materials and secondary literature, the thesis presents the methods of passive measures, including the construction of shelters, rescue, and auxiliary services in the event of air raids, as well as the methods of active measures, with an outline of the deployment areas of anti-aircraft artillery units in the vicinity of urban centres.
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