Smrje (; ) is a village south of Prem in the Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.Ilirska Bistrica municipal site
Name The name Smrje is probably derived from *Smьrďane, a plural demonym from the Slavic common noun *smьrdъ 'simple man'. However, it may also be derived from the identical Slavic common noun *smьrdъ 'juniper' and may therefore refer to the local vegetation.Snoj, Marko. 2009. Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan and Založba ZRC, p. 385.
Mass graves Smrje is the site of five known mass graves or unmarked graves the end of the Second World War. They all contain the remains of German soldiers from the 97th Corps that fell at the beginning of May 1945. The Ravence Mass Grave () is located in a meadow south of Smrje and contains the remains of three soldiers. The Ločice 1 Mass Grave () lies in a swampy meadow south of the village and contains the remains of two soldiers. The adjacent Ločice 2 Mass Grave () lies on the edge of the meadow and contains the remains of 10 or 11 soldiers. The Breg Grave () is located about northwest of the church and about north of the house at Smrje no. 5, and contains the remains of one soldier. The Rob Grave () is located on the edge of a meadow southeast of the village and contains the remains of one soldier.
Church The local church in the settlement is dedicated to John the Baptist and belongs to the Parish of Prem.Koper Diocese list of churches
References
External links Smrje on Geopedia