Slovak Defence Ministry pays tribute to the memory and legacy of Slovak National Uprising heroes
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- Date: 29.08.2023
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To commemorate the 79th anniversary of the outbreak of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) today, Defence officials led by Defence Minister Martin Sklenár, Slovakia's highest constitutional representatives, and the top echelon of the Armed Services laid wreaths at the SNP Memorial in Banská Bystrica.
Speaking from Banská Bystrica, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “For all Slovakians, the Slovak National Uprising is a symbol of the struggle for freedom and human rights. The participants of the Uprising stood up against Nazism together, openly and determinedly, placing the fate of the nation in its own hands. In addition, they also expressed their clear interest in a State established to protect the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. It was during these hard and merciless battles – in the trenches, in the mountains, and on the wide fields – that the foundations of our modern statehood, national consciousness, patriotic feeling, and military tradition were laid and we are rightly proud of that.”
1st Czechoslovak Army Command Headquarters was located in Banská Bystrica. It was responsible for defending the Resistance territory, with a population of approximately 1.7 million people and an area of 20,000 km2, until the arrival of the Soviet Red Army. This ambitious intent was to be fulfilled by soldiers of the 1st Czechoslovak Army and partisans. As fighting was into its second month, the number of the Resistance forces was at about 77,500. Despite the military defeat of the Uprising in October 1944, there was no complete destruction of the forces, no surrender, and no end of the armed resistance against Nazis, which continued as partisan warfare until Slovakia's final liberation.
Speaking from Banská Bystrica, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “For all Slovakians, the Slovak National Uprising is a symbol of the struggle for freedom and human rights. The participants of the Uprising stood up against Nazism together, openly and determinedly, placing the fate of the nation in its own hands. In addition, they also expressed their clear interest in a State established to protect the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. It was during these hard and merciless battles – in the trenches, in the mountains, and on the wide fields – that the foundations of our modern statehood, national consciousness, patriotic feeling, and military tradition were laid and we are rightly proud of that.”
1st Czechoslovak Army Command Headquarters was located in Banská Bystrica. It was responsible for defending the Resistance territory, with a population of approximately 1.7 million people and an area of 20,000 km2, until the arrival of the Soviet Red Army. This ambitious intent was to be fulfilled by soldiers of the 1st Czechoslovak Army and partisans. As fighting was into its second month, the number of the Resistance forces was at about 77,500. Despite the military defeat of the Uprising in October 1944, there was no complete destruction of the forces, no surrender, and no end of the armed resistance against Nazis, which continued as partisan warfare until Slovakia's final liberation.
