The upper Vipava Valley was significantly affected by the First World War, when Italy entered the war on 23 May 1915 and the Soča battlefield was opened, making it part of the war home front. The war situation and the aforementioned inland location have given the valley many new functions and the population has undergone many changes. The military authorities introduced new rules and restrictions that had a profound impact on daily life. The army and its needs have been given priority in every respect. This, in addition to the constant fear and deprivation brought about by the war, placed an additional burden on the local population and made the situation noticeably worse. The Vipava Valley was thus a transit area for soldiers going to the front and for the fleeing population, who had to leave their homes because of the danger. Various businesses and offices have also moved there. Many buildings were converted or built to serve the needs of the army. The predence of war prisoners should be also mentioned. As a result, the population of Ajdovščina and its surroundings has grown considerably in a short period of time. The Vipava Valley also played an important transport role during the First World War. Apart from the road connection, the main point of interest in terms of supplying the Austro-Hungarian troops was the railway, which was also connected to the Ajdovščina cableway. The military also took advantage of the favourable location to set up airfields. . Military units also came to Ajdovščina and the surrounding villages, returning exhausted from the battlefields to rest and gather new strength. The safe hinterland location was also used for recovery and treatment in local hospitals. The presence of members of various nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in Vipava is evidenced by the lists of names and graves of soldiers buried in the surrounding cemeteries.
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