V.V. MARYINA
SLOVAKIA IN THE WAR AGAINST THE USSR. 1941-1945
The Slovak state arose by the will of Hitler on March 14, 1939. In the fall of the same year, it received the official name of the Slovak Republic. Having its own president, Monsignor Josef Tiso, and its own government, it essentially became a satellite of Nazi Germany. The Soviet Union, which signed a non-aggression pact with Germany on August 23, 1939, and a friendship and border treaty with it on September 28, 1939, decided to establish diplomatic relations with Slovakia. At the end of 1939 - beginning of 1940, diplomatic missions of both states began to function in Moscow and Bratislava1. Berlin used the fictitious independence of Slovakia to implement its strategic and geopolitical plans, including preparing an attack on Poland and the USSR. In May 1941, rumors about an impending war between Germany and the Soviet Union took on an avalanche-like character in Slovakia. They were based on the hasty construction of railways and highways in the eastern part of the country, on the massive transfer of German troops to the area of the former Polish-Soviet border. At the end of May, the Soviet envoy to Slovakia G.M. Pushkin reported that “the Germans are seriously preparing Slovakia for future military operations”, that it “is now showing particular activity in carrying out measures to defend the country”2. The Slovak “trailer” became increasingly attached to the German military machine and almost automatically followed it when it openly turned east.
June 23, 1941 V.M. Molotov received the Slovak envoy J. Shimko, who stated that the Slovak government was breaking off diplomatic relations with the USSR. At the same time, he noted that the Slovak authorities assured him three weeks ago that “no threatening events were foreseen,” and explained their decision by saying that “Slovakia took the side of Germany and pledged to coordinate its policy with it.” Molotov, emphasizing that “it is up to Slovakia to decide the question of its attitude towards the USSR,” nevertheless asked whether it had reasons for “dissatisfaction with respect to the USSR.” Shimko replied that “according to his information, there are no such reasons”3. On June 23, Slovakia declared war on the USSR and sent its troops to the Soviet-German Eastern Front. In December 1941, she also declared war on Great Britain and the United States. It should be noted, however, that neither the Soviet Union nor its main allies in the Anti-Hitler coalition, Great Britain and the USA, declared war on Slovakia. Why? Czechoslovakia was a member of the anti-Hitler coalition, where it was represented by the diplomatically recognized Czechoslovak exile government and President E. Benes. One of the goals of the coalition was to restore Czechoslovakia to its former state.
Maryina Valentina Vladimirovna - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Chief Researcher Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
1 See for more details: Maryina V.V. Slovakia in the politics of the USSR and Germany. - Eastern Europe between Hitler and Stalin 1939-1941. M., 1999, p. 198-240; hers. The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Question during World War II. 1939-1945 Book 1. 1939-1941 M., 2007.
3 Ibid., f. 06, op. 3, p. 21, d. 275, l. 1-3.
Munich borders, for which Benes waged a stubborn diplomatic struggle4. Therefore, the Allies ignored the de facto existing Slovak state, believing that its creation was contrary to international law and therefore illegitimate. Benes was quite happy with this position; moreover, he himself contributed in every possible way to its approval. The Czechoslovak note sent to the allied governments in December 1941 and concerning the attitude towards Slovakia stated with satisfaction that the Soviet Union did not declare war with Slovakia and that the British government, when declaring war on Finland, Hungary and Romania, “did not mention this at all.” called the Bratislava government." It was emphasized that the Czechoslovak government “accepts this decision with sincere satisfaction and concludes from this that the British government, like the government Soviet Union, recognizing the government of the Czechoslovak Republic ... simply ignores the existence of the so-called Slovak state and considers it rightfully for what it really is: an artificial and temporary construction of German policy."5
But the Bratislava rulers, having decided to enter the war on the side of Germany, did not think so at all and hoped to benefit from its victory. Therefore, Slovak troops were sent to the Eastern Front, participating in battles from the first days of the war. But at the same time, it should be noted that regardless of the desire or unwillingness of the Bratislava authorities to participate in this war, Slovakia was forced to play the role assigned to it in the script written by Hitler. Tiso was also forced to do this, although in all likelihood, especially at the beginning of the war, he played the role of an accomplice of Nazi Germany quite willingly, which was explained by his decisive rejection of the theory and practice of Bolshevism. Justifying Slovakia's participation in the war against the USSR, Tiso said: “The danger from the East threatened not only us, but the entire European culture, civilization, social well-being and political independence of the European peoples. We will never refuse to participate in the fight against Bolshevism, which is also a struggle for our state, for our people."6.
Official Slovak propaganda, taking into account the traditional Russo- and Slavophile sentiments of the Slovak people and at the same time playing on their national feelings, emphasized precisely the anti-Bolshevik goals of the war and the need to protect the first national Slovak state from the “red infection”. An article by Tiso appeared in the army newspaper “Slovak Soldier”, which said: “Soldiers, we are all proud of you. For the first time in a thousand years you are fighting for your given name, for the Slovak nation, for the Slovak state. You have taken your place in the line of defense against the Bolshevik danger. You have pledged to take part in the glorious German front in order to prevent (as in the translation of the document, correctly - to protect. - V.M.) your people and Europe from the danger of the Bolshevik hell."7 In one of his speeches in August 1941, Tiso asserted: “Adolf Hitler and I will remain until the very end.”8 As for the Slovak president, this is what happened: he remained faithful to the Fuhrer until last days and “blessed” the suppression by German troops of the Slovak national uprising of 1944, directed against the existing regime under the slogan of restoring Czechoslovakia.
The motive for the war against Bolshevism was also heard in the order for the army issued by the Minister of National Defense of Slovakia and the Commander-in-Chief Slovak army F. Chatlos June 24, 1941 The Slovak army under the leadership of the victorious German
4 See for more details: Maryina V.V. Diplomacy of E. Benes after the Munich agreement. 1939-1945. - New and recent history, 2009, № 4.
5 Benes E. Sest let exilu a druhé svétové valky. Reci, projevy a document z r. 1938-1945. Praha, 1946, s. 471, 473.
6 Pokus o politicky a special profil Jozefa Tisu. Bratislava, 1992, s. 233.
7 WUA RF, f. 0138, op. 22, p. 130a, d. 1, l. 83.
8 Ibid., f. 138b, op. 21, p. 34, d. 6, l. eleven.
The Mansky army, the order said, “installed a steel curtain against the mortal danger that threatened Europe and its civilization... Adolf Hitler, the leader of the great German Empire, correctly assessed this danger and ordered his army to eliminate it in Europe, and give the unfortunate Russian people freedom. There is no talk here of the struggle against the Russian people, nor against the Slavs. In this struggle, the result of which is completely clear, a better future in new Europe will also be found by the Russian people."9 However, not everyone approved of Slovakia’s entry into the war against the USSR, even at the Slovak top, although they preferred to talk about this only among relatives and friends. Some Slovak politicians and supporters spoke openly about support for the USSR in speeches on London radio E. Benes, for example, General R. Viest and J. Slavik.10 There were many Slovaks in the Czechoslovak military units formed in the West even before the German attack on the USSR.
According to Russian researcher M. Meltyukhov, Slovakia allocated 42.5 thousand soldiers and officers for the war against the Soviet Union, i.e. almost the same as Hungary (44.5 thousand), 2.5 divisions, 246 artillery and mortar barrels, i.e. more than Hungary (200), but fewer tanks and aircraft: 35 and 160, 51 and 10011, respectively. Other data on this matter are also given: two infantry divisions and three separate artillery regiments took part in the fighting against the Red Army and the partisans ( howitzer, anti-tank and anti-aircraft), tank battalion, aviation regiment consisting of 25 B-534 fighters, 16 VG 109E-3 fighters, 30 S-32812 light bombers. Chatlosh also cited other figures, which will be discussed below.
In the previous historiography, before 1989, little was known about the participation of the Slovak army on the Soviet-German front. If this was discussed, it was only in terms of the reluctance of its soldiers and officers to fight against the Red Army, about their Russo- and Slavophile sentiments, going over to the side of the Soviet troops and partisans. Undoubtedly, this also happened, especially after the final turning point in the war in 1943, but there was something else that they preferred not to talk about. The “conspiracy of silence” was broken at the end of the twentieth century, and special credit for this belonged to the director of the Institute of Military History, J. Bystritsky, who based his research on both the material of Slovak and Russian archives13. In 2000, the Military Historical Institute of the Ministry of Defense of Slovakia and the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Slovak Republic held an international scientific conference on the topic “Slovakia and the Second World War”14, at which Bystritsky made a report on the actions of the ground forces of the Slovak army on the Soviet-German front15.
SERAPIONOVA E.P. - 2012
MARYINA VALENTINA VLADIMIROVNA - 2008
In March 1939, Adolf Hitler summoned the leaders of the Slovak People's Party to Berlin and threatened them that if they did not withdraw Slovakia from Czechoslovakia, he would allow the Hungarians to take over their country. And the Slovaks decided to join the Axis. In the twentieth anniversary between the two world wars, relations along the Warsaw-Prague line were, to put it mildly, strained. By the beginning of the Second World War, a significant amount of mutual claims had accumulated between the two states, Poland and Czechoslovakia. The collapse of Czechoslovakia, which began after the Munich Agreement, led to the inclusion of Cieszyn Silesia (Zaolzia) into Poland, the conduct of a sabotage operation by Polish intelligence on Czechoslovak territory, codenamed “Scrap”, and the emergence of a new power on the European map - the Slovak Republic.
The declaration of “independence” took place on March 23, but the territory of Transcarpathian Rus', which was part of Slovakia, was occupied by Hungary, and on March 23 Bratislava signed an agreement with the Third Reich. With this document, Berlin guaranteed Slovakia the integrity of its borders, but at the same time the Slovak authorities were not to interfere with the passage of German troops through their territory. By signing a pact with Berlin, the Slovaks, in fact, assumed allied obligations in relations with Nazi Germany. At the same time, the Third Reich well understood that in a future war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the southern, Slovak flank could play a significant role.
Warsaw also understood this, so immediately after the organization of the Polish embassy in Bratislava, its employees began to work to establish a dialogue with the Slovak authorities and even hoped for possible military cooperation with them. On March 21, Polish Ambassador Mieczyslaw Chalupczynski informed his leadership that General Ferdinand Czatlas spoke positively about the development of Polish-Slovak relations and asserted that “cooperation with Germany is a bitter necessity for his country.” On June 15, 1939, the Polish embassy informed Warsaw that "Catlash refused to participate in the development of an operational plan for a German attack on Poland." But the reality turned out to be somewhat different.
Already in the spring of 1939, officers of the German General Staff, with the help of the Slovak authorities, began to actively study the territories bordering Poland. In accordance with the Weiss plan, a strike from the territory of Slovakia was of very important strategic importance and was supposed to lead to the encirclement of parts of the Polish Army east of the Vistula. In addition, the offensive from the south eliminated the possibility of organizing logistics support Polish troops. In the summer of 1939, anti-Polish propaganda intensified in the Slovak press. The development of events was also influenced by information from Slovak diplomats in Warsaw that politicians of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were seriously considering the issue of the possibility of dividing Slovakia between Poland and Hungary.
At the request of Germany, Slovakia quickly formed three divisions: the 1st Infantry Division "Janosik" (commander - General of the Second Rank Anton Pulanich); 2nd Infantry Division "Shkultety" (Second Rank General Alexander Chunderlik); 3rd Infantry Division "Razus" (certified Colonel Augustin Malar). All of them were united into the Bernalak army. In addition to the divisions, the army included the mobile group "Kalinchak" under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jan Imr.
The Slovak army had at its disposal 50 light tanks LT vz.35; 27 light tanks LT vz. 34; 30 wedges Tc.Vz. 33; three Skoda armored vehicles; 18 Tatra armored vehicles. In addition, the Slovaks were armed with 271 anti-tank guns, 24 medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns, 62 small-caliber anti-aircraft guns, 375 light field guns, 151 heavy howitzers, 150 mortars. The Air Force of the Army of the Slovak Republic consisted of 90 Czechoslovak-designed fighters, 88 reconnaissance aircraft and 3 bombers. The overall command of the Slovak army was assumed by the Minister of Defense, General Ferdinand Čatlas. The task of the Slovak troops during military operations against Poland was to cover the eastern wing of the 14th German army(Army Group South) under the command of General Wilhelm List. At the same time, the Slovaks had to be prepared for a possible Polish offensive on their own territory. German officers led by General Erwin Engelbrecht were seconded to the main headquarters of the Slovak army. Also on the territory of Slovakia, the Luftwaffe headquarters was formed, which coordinated German air raids on Warsaw and Krakow.
And so at 5 o’clock in the morning on September 1, 1939, the Slovak army crossed the Polish border. This ally of Hitler operated in the Zakopane-Bukovina-Jurgau directions; Piwniczna-Nowy Soncz-Grybov-Tylich; Kamancha-Sanok-Lesna-Cisna. The first blow of the Slovaks was taken by the outposts of the Polish border guard. Under enemy attacks, units of the Border Guard Corps in most areas were forced to retreat. But in the Pivnichnaya area, the Slovak units were repulsed by the Polish border guards, and the soldiers of the 1st company of the KPO "Zhatyn" even went on a counter-offensive and were able to take control for some time of the Slovak villages of Mniszak nad Paprad, Kacze and Pilhavcek. However, in other areas the situation for the Poles was catastrophic. Near Barvinov, a platoon of Polish border guards "Karpaty" fell into a Slovak ambush, resulting in the death of its commander, Lieutenant Raymond Sventakhovsky. In response, the Poles crossed the border and destroyed the building of one of the Slovak border posts along with its garrison.
The 1st Slovak Infantry Division under General Anton Pulanić occupied Jaworzyn and Zakopane, and then began to advance towards Nowy Targ. These actions forced units of the 3rd Polish Mountain Brigade to retreat, and the Slovaks then captured the town of Jaslisk. The 2nd Infantry Division practically did not participate in the fighting. The 3rd Division advanced in the direction of Jasly-Krosny-Sanok and penetrated 90 km into Polish territory.
On September 17, 1939, Slovak aviation attacked a Polish military train that was transporting... units of the Czechoslovak Legion as part of the Polish Army. As a result of the bombing, several legionnaires were wounded and one was killed. Even earlier, on September 6, 1939, a Slovak fighter piloted by Sergeant Hanowiec shot down a Polish reconnaissance plane in the Astravana area.
Soon the "Polish campaign" of the Slovak troops was completed. The losses of the Slovak military were 18 dead, 46 wounded and another 11 people missing. During the fighting, the Poles managed to shoot down two Slovak aircraft and destroy one armored car. But the Slovaks captured 1,350 soldiers and commanders of the Polish Army. In January 1940, the Slovak authorities handed over about 1,200 prisoners to the German and Soviet authorities, and the rest were placed in a special camp in Lesce.
On the territory of Spis, local residents joyfully greeted the Slovak troops. For example, in Jawazina Spiszka, local residents built a “triumphal gate” similar topics which were built in some places Western Ukraine and Western Belarus as a sign of greeting to the Red Army units that came there during the so-called Liberation Campaign in September 1939. Among those who rejoiced at the arrival of the Slovaks were representatives of the Ukrainian national minority.
At the end of September 1939, Hitler publicly thanked the leadership of “independent” Slovakia for their assistance in the Polish campaign. Soon, new ones appeared in the Slovak system of awards - the “Military Cross” and the “Javažina-Arava” medal. In the town of Zakopane, the Slovaks held a “victory parade”, which was hosted by General Ferdinand Chatlash. Finally, on November 21, 1939, the main event for Slovakia took place - it was given part of the territories conquered from Poland (the northern part of Spis and Arava - approximately 770 sq. km with 34.5 thousand inhabitants). During the Second World War, the new authorities pursued a brutal policy of “Slovakization” in these lands, destroying everything that reminded them of these territories being part of Poland.
Interesting fact is that the Slovak ambassador in Warsaw Ladislav Shatmar was critical of Slovakia’s attack on Poland and in the first days of the war, in a conversation with Polish diplomats, admitted that he really would not want “fate to grant Slovakia participation in the war on the side of Nazi Germany.”
Sources: Melnik I. Myazha la Zaslavya 1921-1941. - Minsk: Galiyafi, 2015. - 328 p.
Translation from Belarusian is our own. :)
Little was written about Slovakia's participation in World War II in the USSR. The only thing memorable from the Soviet history course is the Slovak National Uprising of 1944. And the fact that this country fought for five whole years on the side of the fascist bloc was mentioned only in passing. After all, we perceived Slovakia as part of the united Czechoslovak Republic, which was one of the first victims of Hitler’s aggression in Europe...
A few months after the signing in September 1938 in Munich by the prime ministers of Great Britain, France and Italy Neville Chamberlain, Edouard Daladier, Benito Mussolini and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler of the agreement on the transfer of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to the Third Reich, German troops occupied other Czech regions, proclaiming them the "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia". At the same time, Slovak Nazis, led by Catholic Bishop Josef Tiso, seized power in Bratislava and proclaimed Slovakia an independent state, which entered into an alliance treaty with Germany. The regime established by the Slovak fascists not only copied the rules in force in Hitler’s Germany, but also had a clerical bias - in addition to communists, Jews and gypsies in Slovakia, Orthodox Christians were also persecuted.
Defeat at Stalingrad
Slovakia entered World War II as early as September 1, 1939, when Slovak troops, along with Hitler's Wehrmacht, invaded Poland. And Slovakia declared war on the Soviet Union on the very first day of Germany’s attack on the USSR - June 22, 1941. A 36,000-strong Slovak corps then went to the Eastern Front, which, together with Wehrmacht divisions, passed through Soviet soil to the foothills of the Caucasus.
But after the defeat of the Nazis at Stalingrad, they began to surrender en masse to the Red Army. By February 1943, more than 27 thousand Slovak soldiers and officers were in Soviet captivity, who expressed a desire to join the ranks of the Czechoslovak Army Corps, which was already being formed in the USSR.
The people have spoken the word
In the summer of 1944, troops of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts reached the borders of Czechoslovakia. The government of Josef Tiso understood that units of the Slovak army would not only not be able to hold back the advance of the Soviet troops, but were also ready to follow the example of their comrades, who surrendered en masse to the Red Army in 1943. Therefore, the Slovak fascists invited German troops to the territory of their country. The people of Slovakia responded to this with an uprising. On the day the Wehrmacht divisions entered the country - August 29, 1944 - in the city of Banska Bystrica, the Slovak National Council, created by underground communists and representatives of other anti-fascist forces in the country, declared the Tiso government deposed. Almost the entire Slovak army, at the call of this council, turned its arms against the Nazis and their Slovak henchmen.
In the first weeks of fighting, 35 thousand partisans and Slovak military personnel who went over to the side of the rebels took control of the territory of 30 regions of the country, where more than a million people lived. Slovakia's participation in the war against the Soviet Union was effectively over.
Help for the Red Army
In those days, the President of the Czechoslovak Republic in exile, Edvard Beneš, turned to the USSR with a request to provide military assistance to the rebel Slovaks. The Soviet government responded to this request by sending experienced instructors in organizing partisan movement, signalmen, demolitions and other military specialists, as well as organizing the supply of partisans with weapons, ammunition and medicine. The USSR even helped preserve the country's gold reserves - from the Triduby partisan airfield, Soviet pilots took 21 boxes of gold bars to Moscow, which were returned to Czechoslovakia after the war.
By September 1944, the rebel army in the mountains of Slovakia already numbered about 60 thousand people, including three thousand Soviet citizens.
They called Bandera’s members “the very bastards”
In the fall of 1944, the Nazis sent several more military formations against the Slovak partisans, including the SS Galicia division, staffed by volunteers from Galicia. Slovak partisans deciphered the letters SS in the name of the division “Galicia” as “the very bastard.” After all, Bandera’s punitive forces fought not so much with the rebels as with the local population.
The Soviet command, specifically to help the rebel Slovaks, conducted the Carpathian-Duklinskaya from September 8 to October 28, 1944 offensive operation. Thirty divisions, up to four thousand guns, over 500 tanks and about a thousand aircraft took part in this battle on both sides. Such a concentration of troops in mountain conditions There has never been a war in history. Having liberated a significant part of Slovakia in difficult battles, the Red Army rendered decisive help to the rebels. However, even before the approach of the Soviet troops on October 6, 1944, the Nazis stormed Banska Bystrica, captured the leaders of the uprising, executed several thousand partisans, and sent about 30 thousand to concentration camps.
But the surviving rebels retreated to the mountains, where they continued the fight.
During the national uprising in Slovakia, Soviet officers Pyotr Velichko and Aleksei Egorov commanded large partisan brigades (over three thousand people each). They destroyed 21 bridges, derailed 20 military trains, and destroyed a lot of fascist manpower and military equipment. For his courage and heroism, Egorov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. And in Czechoslovakia, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, the “Egorov’s Star” badge was established.
Slovaks do not glorify Hitler's collaborators
Of course, the Slovak rebels played a significant role in the liberation of their homeland, but even today in Slovakia no one doubts that without the Red Army their victory over the Nazi invaders would have been impossible. The liberation of the main part of the country's territory and its capital city of Bratislava became part of the Bratislava-Brnov operation of the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky. On the night of March 25, 1945, several advanced divisions of the 7th Guards Army of this front suddenly crossed the flooded Gron River for the enemy. On April 2, the advanced units of the army broke through the line of fortifications on the approaches to Bratislava and reached the eastern and northeastern outskirts of the capital of Slovakia. Another part of the 7th Guards forces made a roundabout maneuver and approached the city from the north and northwest. On April 4, these formations entered Bratislava and completely suppressed the resistance of its German garrison.
Josef Tiso managed to flee the country with the retreating German troops, but was arrested by the US Army military police and handed over to the Czechoslovak authorities. On charges of high treason and collaboration with the German Nazis, a Czechoslovak court in 1946 sentenced him to death penalty by hanging.
Today in many countries of Eastern Europe The history of the Second World War is being revised. However, Slovakia considers itself not the legal successor of the Slovak state of Josef Tiso, but of the common Czechoslovak Republic with the fraternal Czech Republic. According to surveys, the majority of the country's citizens consider the period of Slovak history from 1939 to the start of the national uprising to be at least undeserving of a positive attitude, and even simply shameful. No one in Slovakia would think of declaring Josef Tiso a national hero, although his last words spoken before his execution were the pompous phrase: “I am dying as a martyr for the sake of the Slovaks.”
In April 1945, troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front liberated Nazi invaders the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Little was written about Slovakia's participation in World War II in the USSR. The only thing memorable from the Soviet history course is the Slovak National Uprising of 1944. And the fact that this country fought for five whole years on the side of the fascist bloc was mentioned only in passing. After all, we perceived Slovakia as part of the united Czechoslovak Republic, which was one of the first victims of Hitler’s aggression in Europe...
They copied the orders of Nazi Germany
A few months after the signing in September 1938 in Munich by the prime ministers of Great Britain, France and Italy Neville Chamberlain, Edouard Daladier, Benito Mussolini and Reich Chancellor of Germany Adolf Hitler agreement on the transfer of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to the Third Reich, German troops occupied other Czech regions, proclaiming them the “protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.” At the same time, Slovak Nazis led by a Catholic bishop Josef Tiso seized power in Bratislava and proclaimed Slovakia an independent state, which entered into an alliance treaty with Germany. The regime established by the Slovak fascists not only copied the rules in force in Hitler’s Germany, but also had a clerical bias - in addition to communists, Jews and gypsies in Slovakia, Orthodox Christians were also persecuted.
Defeat at Stalingrad
Slovakia entered World War II on September 1, 1939, when Slovak troops, together with Hitler's Wehrmacht, invaded Poland. And Slovakia declared war on the Soviet Union on the very first day of Germany’s attack on the USSR - June 22, 1941. A 36,000-strong Slovak corps then went to the Eastern Front, which, together with Wehrmacht divisions, passed through Soviet soil to the foothills of the Caucasus.
But after the defeat of the Nazis at Stalingrad, they began to surrender en masse to the Red Army. By February 1943, more than 27 thousand Slovak soldiers and officers were in Soviet captivity, who expressed a desire to join the ranks of the Czechoslovak Army Corps, which was already being formed in the USSR.
The people have spoken the word
In the summer of 1944, troops of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts reached the borders of Czechoslovakia. The government of Josef Tiso understood that units of the Slovak army would not only not be able to hold back the advance of the Soviet troops, but were also ready to follow the example of their comrades, who surrendered en masse to the Red Army in 1943. Therefore, the Slovak fascists invited German troops to the territory of their country. The people of Slovakia responded to this with an uprising. On the day the Wehrmacht divisions entered the country - August 29, 1944 - in the city of Banska Bystrica, the Slovak National Council, created by underground communists and representatives of other anti-fascist forces in the country, declared the Tiso government deposed. Almost the entire Slovak army, at the call of this council, turned its arms against the Nazis and their Slovak henchmen.
In the first weeks of fighting, 35 thousand partisans and Slovak military personnel who went over to the side of the rebels took control of the territory of 30 regions of the country, where more than a million people lived. Slovakia's participation in the war against the Soviet Union was effectively over.
Help for the Red Army
In those days, the President of the Czechoslovak Republic in exile Edward Benes turned to the USSR with a request to provide military assistance to the rebel Slovaks. The Soviet government responded to this request by sending experienced instructors in organizing the partisan movement, signalmen, demolitions and other military specialists to Slovakia, as well as organizing the supply of weapons, ammunition and medicine to the partisans. The USSR even helped preserve the country's gold reserves - from the Triduby partisan airfield, Soviet pilots took 21 boxes of gold bars to Moscow, which were returned to Czechoslovakia after the war.
By September 1944, the rebel army in the mountains of Slovakia already numbered about 60 thousand people, including three thousand Soviet citizens.
They called Bandera’s members “the very bastards”
In the fall of 1944, the Nazis sent several more military formations against the Slovak partisans, including the SS Galicia division, staffed by volunteers from Galicia. Slovak partisans deciphered the letters SS in the name of the division “Galicia” as “the very bastard.” After all, Bandera’s punitive forces fought not so much with the rebels as with the local population.
The Soviet command, specifically to help the rebel Slovaks, carried out the Carpathian-Dukla offensive operation from September 8 to October 28, 1944. Thirty divisions, up to four thousand guns, over 500 tanks and about a thousand aircraft took part in this battle on both sides. Such a concentration of troops in mountainous conditions has never happened before in the history of wars. Having liberated a significant part of Slovakia in difficult battles, the Red Army provided decisive assistance to the rebels. However, even before the approach of the Soviet troops on October 6, 1944, the Nazis stormed Banska Bystrica, captured the leaders of the uprising, executed several thousand partisans, and sent about 30 thousand to concentration camps.
But the surviving rebels retreated to the mountains, where they continued the fight.
By the way
During the national uprising in Slovakia, Soviet officers Pyotr Velichko and Aleksei Egorov commanded large partisan brigades (over three thousand people each). They destroyed 21 bridges, derailed 20 military trains, and destroyed a lot of fascist manpower and military equipment. For his courage and heroism, Egorov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. And in Czechoslovakia, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, the “Egorov’s Star” badge was established.
Slovaks do not glorify Hitler's collaborators
Of course, the Slovak rebels played a significant role in the liberation of their homeland, but even today in Slovakia no one doubts that without the Red Army their victory over the Nazi invaders would have been impossible. The liberation of the main part of the country's territory and its capital city of Bratislava became part of the Bratislava-Brnov operation of the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, commanded by the Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky . On the night of March 25, 1945, several advanced divisions of the 7th Guards Army of this front suddenly crossed the flooded Gron River for the enemy. On April 2, the advanced units of the army broke through the line of fortifications on the approaches to Bratislava and reached the eastern and northeastern outskirts of the capital of Slovakia. Another part of the 7th Guards forces made a roundabout maneuver and approached the city from the north and northwest. On April 4, these formations entered Bratislava and completely suppressed the resistance of its German garrison.
Josef Tiso managed to flee the country with the retreating German troops, but was arrested by the US Army military police and handed over to the Czechoslovak authorities. On charges of treason and collaboration with the German Nazis, a Czechoslovak court in 1946 sentenced him to death by hanging.
Today, many countries in Eastern Europe are revising the history of World War II. However, Slovakia considers itself not the legal successor of the Slovak state of Josef Tiso, but of the common Czechoslovak Republic with the fraternal Czech Republic. According to surveys, the majority of the country's citizens consider the period of Slovak history from 1939 to the start of the national uprising to be at least undeserving of a positive attitude, and even simply shameful. No one in Slovakia would think of declaring Josef Tiso a national hero, although his last words spoken before his execution were the pompous phrase: “I am dying as a martyr for the sake of the Slovaks.”
Like Stepan Bandera , Josef Tiso was a nationalist. Like Bandera, he formed a bloc with Nazi Germany, ostensibly in order to solve “the political problems of his nation.” But unlike the current Ukrainian leadership, which glorifies Bandera, the Slovaks have not forgiven their “national leader” for collaborating with Hitler.
So in 2015, when, having obeyed the shout from Washington, the leadership of a number of European Union countries refused to participate in the May 9 celebrations in Moscow in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, a large delegation headed by the Prime Minister of Slovakia arrived in the Russian capital Robert Fico .
Number
About 70 thousand Slovaks fought on the side of the fascist bloc from 1941 to 1944
- Published in No. 68 of 04/19/2017
Czech Republic and Slovakia during the Second World War
Policy of the occupiers in the protectorate: Formally, the Czech government remained in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, but in practice it was the main imperial Reichsprtector.
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Instead of the previously existing two parties - National Unity and the National Labor Party, one was created - National Solidarity. The media is promoting the futility of resistance. The occupiers transferred the economy to a military footing, and the entire industry worked for the needs of Germany. Herm subjugated the financial system, obligatory supplies of food and raw materials were imposed on agriculture. Aryanization Law - confiscation of Jewish property and sending them to concentration camps. From October 1941, the sending of Czechs to concentration camps began (the famous Terezin camp).
Resistance movement: The efforts of the occupiers encountered opposition from patriotic youth, intellectuals, and social activists; they supported optimism and polemicized against propaganda. Political character took place on the day of national independence on October 28, 1939ᴦ. During the attack, medical student Jan Opletal was wounded. He soon died and his funeral turned into a new manifestation. Repression followed on November 17. All higher education institutions were closed educational establishments. This date after the war is celebrated as International Student Solidarity Day. By the summer of 1939, the first underground resistance groups had formed. For example, “Political Center” - there were members from all parties, the edge of the communists - the organization is not very massive, but influential - there are connections with the London center of emigration Benes (since 1940). “Defense of the Nation” is an organization of former military personnel. ʼʼPetition Committee - we will remain faithful!ʼʼ-creative intelligence social-democracy orientation. Spring 1940 - a focal point for the Resistance movement emerged. But the communist underground retained organizational independence. In addition to the London emigration center, a communist center arose in Moscow, headed by Gottwald. The London emigrant government entered the anti-Hitler coalition. On July 18, 1941, Benes concluded a Czechoslovak-Soviet agreement on mutual assistance and the fight against Germany. The significance is that the Soviet side recognized the Czechoslovak Committee in London as the government of sovereign Czechoslovakia and a partner in the anti-Hitman coalition. The response to the intensification of the underground was Nazi terror.
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In September, Heydrich took over the post of tector, and under him there was an active fight against the underground. On May 27, 1942, the London Center organized a successful assassination attempt on Heydrich. After this, there was even more terror, arrests, the liquidation of all formed centers, the second one was destroyed since the beginning of the occupation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, but soon the communists created a third, but connections with Moscow were restored only in 1943. Since 1942, the formation of Czechoslovak military units began in the USSR, they took part in the battles for Kyiv, etc., then turned into an army corps. With the growing authority of the USSR, Benes recognized the Moscow center of the Resistance movement as an equal partner. On December 12, 1943, in Moscow, Benes and Stalin signed an agreement on friendship and post-war cooperation. Negotiations between the leaders of the centers: the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia demanded strengthening of armed methods of struggle, the National Benes refused to recognize the Slovaks as a distinctive nation. The Communist Party of Human Rights managed to insist on supplementing the pre-war system of power with new bodies - national committees. We outlined a program for the renewal of the country on a people's democratic basis. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia refused the offer to join the emigrant government of Benes, so two centers remained, although a line was outlined towards the creation of a united anti-fascist front.
Slovakia: In Slovakia, after the declaration of independence, the Tiso regime was formed. The country was led by supporters of the fascistization of the society. According to the Constitution of 1939, the state was called the Slovak Republic, they created an army, police, and state apparatus - all this at first in the euphoria of independence. Slovakia is the only newly created state in Europe that was used by Hitler for propaganda purposes. Slovakia achieved limited international recognition, including from the USSR in 1939-41. As fascisation progressed, liberal and leftist opposition to the regime intensified. During 1939-1943, 4 Central Committees of the Communist Party of Slovakia were destroyed, the fifth managed to establish contact with the Moscow leadership of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. The communists began to advocate for a free Slovakia as part of liberated Czechoslovakia. The course to prepare the national democratic revolution. As the crisis of the Tiso regime grew, anti-fascist sentiments in the Slovak army intensified. By the end of 1943, the Slovak National Council (SNC) was formed as a single center of resistance. This was the result of negotiations between anti-fascist forces and their conclusion on December 25, 1943 of the so-called Christmas agreement. The SNS advocated the renewal of the republic on new principles, for the equality of Czechs and Slovaks. Outside the framework of the SNA, the Shrobar group, oriented towards Benes, operated. Spring 1944 - agreement between the SNA and the military, who recognized the terms of the birth agreement. A serious force is the anti-fascist military. By the summer of 1944, partisan activity increased, and the regime could not cope with them. On August 29, German troops crossed the Slovak border, which served as a signal for an armed uprising. Banska Bystrica became the center. The rebel radio station started operating, the overthrow of the ruling Tiso regime was announced in the territory of Zvolen-Banska Bistrica-Brezno and a people's democratic republic was proclaimed. The uprising was the beginning of the national democratic revolution in Czechoslovakia. A new Slovak government corps of commissioners was created. The government in London recognized the SNA as the supreme authority in Slovakia. Help from the Soviet side. The General Staff of the partisan movement was created. On September 8, 1944, in support of the Red Army, the Carpathian-Dukel operation was launched, but it dragged on, it was not possible to involve military personnel from Eastern Slovakia, and there was no clear coordination of actions. On October 27, 1944, the center of the uprising, Banska Bystrica, fell. Everything was disbanded, some fled to the mountains. Suppression - Nazi terror.
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The uprising takes a place in the anti-fascist struggle. Together with the Red Army, Czechs and Slovaks fought in the north-east of Slovakia, on April 4, 1944 Bratislava was liberated, and by the end of April almost all of Slovakia.
Formation of the National Front of Czechs and Slovaks and the liberation of the country: In March 1945, negotiations between representatives of the London emigration, the Moscow Center (CHR) and the SNS on the composition of the Czechoslovak government and the program of action. The basis is the platform of the HRC. Six parties took part; these forces soon created the National Front of Czechs and Slovaks. Benes accepted the results. Kosice program (promulgated in Kosice). The government that moved there was formed on a parity basis - 4 people from each party. Prime Soc-Dem Fierlinger.
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The program recognized the identity of the Slovak nation and its equality with the Czechs. Czechoslovakia was proclaimed a state of two equal peoples. There are different forces in the United National Front. The end of the war was preceded by the strengthening of the resistance movement in Czech lands. May 5th uprising in Prague. The National Committee took over, barricades appeared, and Soviet units came to the aid of the rebels. The rebels have unequal heavy forces, aid is delayed. On May 8, the rebels signed an armistice agreement, according to which the Germans received the right to retreat unhindered, surrendering all heavy weapons. But they didn’t do everything; they burned and killed the population. On May 9, Soviet help arrived, very opportunely, before they had time to defeat Prague.
29) Poland in the years 2 WW. 1 Sep. 1939 ᴦ. Germany attacked Poland...Sept. 3. English and Franz. declared war on Ger.
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At Ger.
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Huge superiority in manpower and technology. Germany struck from Pomerania, East. Prussia, Silesia, Czech Republic and Slovakia. On the 3rd day of the war, the Poles were defeated. 8-27 Sep. - siege of Warsaw. K ser.
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Sep. It is obvious that Poland lost. In the West “Strange War”. 17 Sep. - USSR invasion of Poland under the pretext of protecting the population of the West. Ukraine and Western Belarus. On the night of 17 to 18 September. The country's civilian and military leadership left Poland. Poland's losses were 65 thousand people killed, 240 thousand in captivity. 28 Sep. Soviet-Ger. signed in Moscow.
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friendship treaty and borders => territory.
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partition of Poland => Lithuania in the sphere of interests of Moscow. Hitler dismembered Poland à Western, part of the center.
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and sowing districts are included in Ger.
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(10 million people) => there is immediately terror against the Poles... The rest of Poland - General - Governorate with the center in Krakow => terror against the Gypsies and Jews. It was hard for the West too. Ukraine and Western Belarus given over to the Soviets has a class approach (deportation - execution of the bourgeoisie, intelligentsia, wealthy peasantry). In total, about 400 thousand Poles were deported. In 1940, 21,857 Polish officers were shot. In total, during 2 MV. Poland lost approx. 6 million people Polish resistance: 30 Sep. A Polish government was created in Paris. in migration. In 1940 he moved to England. Prime Minister and commander of the troops, Gen. V. Sikorsky. Formed
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Polish army - 84 thousand soldiers. Already in 1939, on the occupier.
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ter.
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the Union of Armed Struggle is created (since 1942 - Home Army) => resistance to the Germans... End of Dec. 1941 - dropped into the occupier.
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zone Polish communists => 5 Jan. In 1942, the Polish Workers' Party (PWP) was formed. Another center of resistance to the fascists was the creation of the Ludova Guard, from the spring of 1944 - the Ludova Army.
Establishment of dual power: During Operation Bagration, the Red Army reached the state border in 1941. July 21 Sov. The army did not enter.
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Poland. On the same day, the Polish Committee of National Liberation (PKNO) was created in Moscow -> a government of leftist forces. PCNO announced the government. in England self-proclaimed and guilty of war... Since 1943, the head of the Polish government in England is S. Mikolajczyk. August 1, 1944 - uprising in Warsaw... but there was no help from the Soviets and the Germans drowned the uprising in blood... January 1945 - offensive of the Red Army in Poland => the entire territory of Poland was liberated. The Soviets lost 600 thousand killed.
The Czech Republic and Slovakia during the Second World War - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "Czech Republic and Slovakia during the Second World War" 2017, 2018.