Defence Minister Martin Sklenár posthumously awards the Veteran War Cross to an unrecognised WW2 Resistance hero
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- Date: 02.10.2023
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The Veteran War Cross was awarded posthumously and handed over to the family of WW2 Resistance fighter and veteran Vladimír Chovan by Defence Minister Martin Sklenár in a special medal presentation ceremony at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) today (2 October 2023).
Speaking at the ceremony, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “I believe that true heroic stories will live on and will never be forgotten. I am very pleased, indeed, to meet you today to recognise one of them. Vladimír Chovan was a man of our country and a man of courage.”
Vladimír Chovan was a participant of Slovakia's illegal WW2 Resistance. He was a member of a resistance group involved in preparing the Slovak National Uprising. Among other things, they helped Czech patriots cross the border from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia into Slovakia, provided them with temporary accommodation and forged documents, designed and distributed prints and posters, recruited the youth as Resistance supporters in Trenčín, and raised funds. With the outbreak of the Uprising, he became a member of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia. After the suppression of the Uprising, he joined the Jegorov Partisan Group and engaged in partisan warfare.
For his participation in the Slovak National Uprising, he was awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939, an Order and several medals, including the Order of the Slovak National Uprising 2nd Class, Medal For Merits 1st Class, Medal for Gallantry in Action Against Enemy, and Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Partisan Medal.
Given that he never signed up for the Communist Party, his war efforts went totally unrecognised by the Communist government. “He was a man who did the right thing at the right time and stood the test of character in the face of the two totalitarianisms destroying Slovakia in the 20th century,” the head of the MOD stressed.
Vladimír Chovan passed away on 11 October 1999. His record of service, stored at the MOD Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) Branch, reads as follows: “He was an important participant of the national struggle for liberation from 20 March 1939 to Slovakia's liberation.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “I believe that true heroic stories will live on and will never be forgotten. I am very pleased, indeed, to meet you today to recognise one of them. Vladimír Chovan was a man of our country and a man of courage.”
Vladimír Chovan was a participant of Slovakia's illegal WW2 Resistance. He was a member of a resistance group involved in preparing the Slovak National Uprising. Among other things, they helped Czech patriots cross the border from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia into Slovakia, provided them with temporary accommodation and forged documents, designed and distributed prints and posters, recruited the youth as Resistance supporters in Trenčín, and raised funds. With the outbreak of the Uprising, he became a member of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia. After the suppression of the Uprising, he joined the Jegorov Partisan Group and engaged in partisan warfare.
For his participation in the Slovak National Uprising, he was awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939, an Order and several medals, including the Order of the Slovak National Uprising 2nd Class, Medal For Merits 1st Class, Medal for Gallantry in Action Against Enemy, and Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Partisan Medal.
Given that he never signed up for the Communist Party, his war efforts went totally unrecognised by the Communist government. “He was a man who did the right thing at the right time and stood the test of character in the face of the two totalitarianisms destroying Slovakia in the 20th century,” the head of the MOD stressed.
Vladimír Chovan passed away on 11 October 1999. His record of service, stored at the MOD Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) Branch, reads as follows: “He was an important participant of the national struggle for liberation from 20 March 1939 to Slovakia's liberation.”
