Jani, I am actually somewhat indebted - and very grateful - to Raimey that he has inducted me to research deeper into Ferlach's history, and notably into wider Carinthian history.

From the Cillier Sprachenstreit (pettiness extreme on the part of the German speakers) over the Kärntner Abwehrkampf (heroical and successful, yet soon jingoistically abused by sabre-rattling "alldeutsche" nationalists), to the important US role (Lt.Col. Sherman Miles and the Miles Commission) for the future of Austrian Carinthia, back then.

A quick foray via Google Street View at least comforted me to learn that the vicious Kärntner Ortstafelstreit, although that violent "convoy of shame" originally departed from Ferlach in 1972, seems not to be reflected in any way by the Ferlacher city limit signs ;-).

Still, I am ashamed as a German speaker about the role and the past intransigence of the Kärntner Heimatdienst; its appears that the old trenches have very long been manned and staffed, with fixed bayonets, and are only slowly being left since 2005 or so?

Regards und beste Grüße,
Carcano