Jože Brilej

Jože Brilej (nom de guerre "Bolko," 1 January 1910 – 8 May 1981) was a Yugoslav jurist, politician, diplomat, Communist revolutionary, and close associate of Josip Broz Tito.

Brilej was the youngest of ten children born in Presecno near Dobje pri Planini, then still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

He conducted many covert undercover intelligence operations during the war, as well as fighting in guerrilla campaigns and maintaining troop morale and political literacy.

Due to his education and command of German he led numerous hostage negotiations and exchanges with Nazi officials often with his friend and comrade Aleš Bebler.

He was well received in England also due to his and his wife's wartime bravery, during which he rescued and safely returned many Allied and British personnel particularly from the RAF, most prominently Major Randolph Churchill.

As a result, he and President Tito hosted Anthony Eden at Lake Bled, Slovenia as the first western leader to formally recognise the new country.

His involvement with the United Nations began in London and Rome almost immediately after its founding after World War II, later in New York where he was also Ambassador of Yugoslavia.

He is buried at Žale cemetery in Ljubljana alongside his wife Marta Brilej and opposite his lifelong friend, Partisan comrade and diplomat Aleš Bebler.