Vinko Poljanec

Vinko Poljanec was born in Sveti Urban near Ptuj in present-day Croatia, the son of Catholic farmers. He attended elementary school and grammar school there and graduated in 1894. He then went to the seminary in Klagenfurt and was ordained a priest on July 19, 1900. He then became a cooperator (chaplain) in Guttaring and from 1901 in St. Kanzian. Just two years later, he became parish priest in St. Georgen. He also became parish priest in St. Margarethen ob Töllerberg. In 1908, he finally became parish priest of St. Kanzian.

His main concern was to help the poor and needy. He also saved his own money in order to give it to those in his parish who needed it.

Poljanec was involved in minority politics and represented the Carinthian Slovenes party in the Carinthian parliament between 1921 and May 21, 1927. He declared his support for the results of the Carinthian referendum and demanded the implementation of the promises of the Provisional Carinthian Provincial Assembly and the minority protection provisions of the Treaty of Saint-Germain. After leaving parliament, Vinko Poljanec represented the Carinthian Slovenes in the Carinthian Chamber of Agriculture and its predecessor organization between 1928 and 1937, was chairman of the Slovenian Cultural Association from 1932 to 1937 and then deputy chairman. Poljanec was one of the leading Slovenian cultural representatives, was committed to the remaining Slovenian educational institutions and supported in particular the school of the School Sisters in Sankt Ruprecht near Völkermarkt. He also worked for the weekly newspaper "Koroški Slovenec" ("Carinthian Slovene").

Like many priests of Slovenian origin, Vinko Poljanec was also imprisoned after the occupation of Austria by the Third Reich. He was arrested on the day of the invasion, March 12, 1938, as he was preparing to travel to Yugoslavia. He was first sent to prison in Bleiburg and from there to Klagenfurt on March 14, 1938. The official accusation against him was that he had violated foreign currency regulations by commercially transferring money to Yugoslavia. After these accusations could not be substantiated, Vinko Poljanec was released from prison on April 22, 1938.

After his release, Vinko Poljanec received several threatening letters and asked the Ordinariate to allow him to go on sick leave. The Ordinariate complied with this request on May 13, 1938. On May 18, 1938, Vinko Poljanec was informed by the Ordinariate that the Security Director for Carinthia demanded that he leave St. Kanzian.

Vinko Poljanec's state of health was very poor at the time, however. After stays in various hospitals, he died in St. Kanzian.