Marta Brilej

Marta Brilej (née Guček; born 30 April 1917) is a Slovenian diplomat, partisan, revolutionary, philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was born in Dobje pri Planini. She was the wife of the late Yugoslavian ambassador and war hero Jože Brilej until his death in 1981. She is the former head of PR for the board of Yugoslav tourism. She was the first woman to drive a car in the city of Belgrade.

World War II and the Partisans

During World War II she was an active member of the partisan resistance, operating under a codename to avoid capture and to protect the whereabouts of her husband and family. She served as a political courier and later also commanded a battalion. The Nazis and their collaborators made many unsuccessful attempts to catch and execute her, mainly in an attempt to get to her husband Jože Brilej who was a prominent partisan. The Italian fascists caught and arrested her in Ljubljana, deporting and imprisoning her in Perugia. There she was given a 12-year sentence, but was later released when the Italians surrendered and joined the allies. Upon her release she immediately made her way back to Slovenia and re-joined the partisans.

Awards and Decorations

Award	Class	Country	Notes
Order of the Virtues (Egypt) (Nishan al-Kamal)	1st Class	Egypt	Egyptian order of knighthood