Defence Minister Naď: General M. R. Štefánik significantly influenced the course of our national history with his life's work
- Author:
- Photo:
- Date: 04.05.2023
- Share: Zdieľať na Facebook
To mark the 104th anniversary of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik's tragic death, a commemoration ceremony took place at the Tomb of General Štefánik in Ivanka pri Dunaji today, with Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď paying his respects to the memory of General Štefánik as one of the most prominent figures in Slovak history.
In a statement, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Today we mark the 104th anniversary of the tragic death of a great man who significantly influenced the course of our national history with his life’s work. He was one of the central figures in the struggle for a free Czechoslovakia, which formed the basis of our modern statehood. In addition, he greatly contributed to the formation of the forces that were there at the very beginning of the Slovak Armed Forces’ combat traditions. Not only words, but, even more importantly, action made General Štefánik a true patriot and a timeless role model for future generations.”
As Jaroslav Naď reminded us, General Štefánik came up with the idea of establishing an independent republic as he met with his acquaintances and representatives of Western countries on the stage of international diplomacy. What's more, he was credited with standing up the Czecho-Slovak Legion units and deploying them on the battlefields of the First World War, making it possible for our state's right to self-determination to be recognised.
Elsewhere, his legacy was also honoured by Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák with his presence and in his speech during today's commemoration at the General Štefánik Memorial on Štefánik Embankment in Bratislava.
General Milan Rastislav Štefánik, the first and last Czechoslovak Minister of War, died in a tragic plane crash on Sunday 4 May 1919, when his Caproni Ca.33 biplane went down close to Ivanka pri Dunaji. The entire crew perished in the accident.
In a statement, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Today we mark the 104th anniversary of the tragic death of a great man who significantly influenced the course of our national history with his life’s work. He was one of the central figures in the struggle for a free Czechoslovakia, which formed the basis of our modern statehood. In addition, he greatly contributed to the formation of the forces that were there at the very beginning of the Slovak Armed Forces’ combat traditions. Not only words, but, even more importantly, action made General Štefánik a true patriot and a timeless role model for future generations.”
As Jaroslav Naď reminded us, General Štefánik came up with the idea of establishing an independent republic as he met with his acquaintances and representatives of Western countries on the stage of international diplomacy. What's more, he was credited with standing up the Czecho-Slovak Legion units and deploying them on the battlefields of the First World War, making it possible for our state's right to self-determination to be recognised.
Elsewhere, his legacy was also honoured by Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák with his presence and in his speech during today's commemoration at the General Štefánik Memorial on Štefánik Embankment in Bratislava.
General Milan Rastislav Štefánik, the first and last Czechoslovak Minister of War, died in a tragic plane crash on Sunday 4 May 1919, when his Caproni Ca.33 biplane went down close to Ivanka pri Dunaji. The entire crew perished in the accident.
