Minister Sklenár: We commemorate the Battle of the Dukla Pass as one of the most important operations involving Slovak soldiers
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- Date: 06.10.2023
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To mark Battle of the Dukla Pass Heroes Day, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár, Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer, and Chief of Defence Daniel Zmeko paused to pay homage to the heroes of the Battle of the Dukla Pass at Dukla's 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps Memorial and at Svidník's World War II memorials.
In his Battle of the Dukla Pass 79th Anniversary speech, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “Dukla has an exceptional place in Slovakiaʼs military and state tradition. After engaging in heavy fighting in Poland, it was here, on 6 October 1944, that the members of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps fought their way into Slovakia and began to liberate their homeland.”
The Dukla Memorial is a powerful reminder of the combat operations of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps, led by General Ludvík Svoboda, which saw over 3,000 soldiers of Slovak nationality in action at the beginning of the Battle of the Dukla Pass by Soviet Army troops. It is, therefore, one of the most important combat engagements of the Czechoslovak Army's units that were formed abroad during World War II, with significant participation from Slovak forces.
Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “For us, the gathering here at Dukla is about paying tribute to the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the Dukla battlefield and the other members of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps who went through extremely difficult battles here. The memory of them remains inspiring even today.”
The Battle of the Dukla Pass, launched on 8 September 1944, marked the beginning of Czechoslovakia's liberation. The aim of the operation was to battle through the foothills of the Carpathians and crush the Army Group units under German command, to secure quick movements of troops over the Carpathian ridges into Slovakia, and to support the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). At the start of the operation, 3,326 soldiers claimed Slovak nationality in the Czechoslovak Army Corps. This number went up to 4,601 over the course of the first month of combat operations.
Director of the Institute of Military History Bratislava Col Miloslav Čaplovič said: “The Battle of the Dukla Pass, part of Op Eastern Carpathians, was one of the most difficult mountain warfare operations throughout the entire Second World War. During the 51 days of combat operations, it claimed heavy losses, with many wounded on both sides.”
For more information on the Dukla Pass battlefield, go to the Institute of Military History's website at: 79. výročie Karpatsko-duklianskej operácie a Deň hrdinov Karpatsko-duklianskej operácie
In his Battle of the Dukla Pass 79th Anniversary speech, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “Dukla has an exceptional place in Slovakiaʼs military and state tradition. After engaging in heavy fighting in Poland, it was here, on 6 October 1944, that the members of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps fought their way into Slovakia and began to liberate their homeland.”
The Dukla Memorial is a powerful reminder of the combat operations of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps, led by General Ludvík Svoboda, which saw over 3,000 soldiers of Slovak nationality in action at the beginning of the Battle of the Dukla Pass by Soviet Army troops. It is, therefore, one of the most important combat engagements of the Czechoslovak Army's units that were formed abroad during World War II, with significant participation from Slovak forces.
Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “For us, the gathering here at Dukla is about paying tribute to the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the Dukla battlefield and the other members of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps who went through extremely difficult battles here. The memory of them remains inspiring even today.”
The Battle of the Dukla Pass, launched on 8 September 1944, marked the beginning of Czechoslovakia's liberation. The aim of the operation was to battle through the foothills of the Carpathians and crush the Army Group units under German command, to secure quick movements of troops over the Carpathian ridges into Slovakia, and to support the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). At the start of the operation, 3,326 soldiers claimed Slovak nationality in the Czechoslovak Army Corps. This number went up to 4,601 over the course of the first month of combat operations.
Director of the Institute of Military History Bratislava Col Miloslav Čaplovič said: “The Battle of the Dukla Pass, part of Op Eastern Carpathians, was one of the most difficult mountain warfare operations throughout the entire Second World War. During the 51 days of combat operations, it claimed heavy losses, with many wounded on both sides.”
For more information on the Dukla Pass battlefield, go to the Institute of Military History's website at: 79. výročie Karpatsko-duklianskej operácie a Deň hrdinov Karpatsko-duklianskej operácie
