Royal Tobacco Factory in Pola-Pula

Sa？etak Tobacco Factory in Pola-Pula was officially founded on May 30th 1920, with the intention to alleviate the crisis which befell this largest Istrian city after the World War I. The official opening ceremony was only held on the 3rd of July, 1923, however, due to the delay of the works on the renovation of the building. The imposing structure of the former infantry barracks of the Austrian army (Infanteriecaserne) on the waterfront, was chosen as the headquarters of the factory. About a decade later, an additional new building was erected on the site of a former military parking lot. This manufacturing activity was of great importance for the city, due to the significant number of the citizens employed, especially women. Production continued, with some interruptions due to war damage caused by air bombings in 1944, until the16th of September 1947, when the factory was definitely closed by the new Yugoslav government