Slovak National Uprising
August 29, 2010
Slovak National Uprising is a public holiday in Slovakia.
Right at the heart of Europe and with a history intertwined with that of its neighbours, Slovakia has proudly preserved its own language and distinct cultural traditions.
Slovak National Uprising (SNP) was an armed rebellion that broke out in Slovakia in late August 1944 and continued until October 1944 during World War II.
The uprising was launched on August 29, 1944 in an attempt to overthrow the pro-Nazi government of Jozef Tiso. Since then, August 29 has been celebrated every year in Slovakia to mark the anniversary of the uprising.
History of Slovak National Uprising in Slovakia
One of the chief aims of the Slovak National Uprising was to oust the puppet Slovak government and to establish the state of Czechoslovakia. Although the uprising didn’t get clear political support, the supporters of this movement represented each religion, age, class, and gender as well as the anti-Nazi political faction of the nation.
The preparations for the potential revolt were initiated in 1943 when Edward Benes made contacts with dissenting sections of the Slovakian army. During December 1943, the Slovak National Party was formed under the leadership of Edward Benes.
In March 1944, preparations for the rebellion began under the charge of Lieutenant Colonel Ján Golian. Slovak soldiers deserted and joined partisan groups or the Soviet Red Army.
The Slovak Jews, who escaped from the German death camps of Auschwitz, spoke about the horrors in the camps. This eventually gathered the support of the Jews to the movement. On August 28, 1944, German troops invaded Slovakia to suppress the country’s partisan forces.
Finally, the uprising began on August 29,
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ján Golian.
The Germans expected to crush the rebellion in a few days. However, the rebel Slovak army and partisan groups proved to be much hardier than anticipated. On August 30, the rebels entered Banská Bystrica and made it their headquarters. Vigorous clashes ensued between the German and the insurgent Slovak army. Many Slovak soldiers were captured and sent to camps in Germany, while some of the defeated soldiers escaped to join the Soviet-controlled partisans.
By September, the rebels had gained control of large areas of eastern and central Slovakia. However, the momentum was lost due to dissenting opinion between the Slovak insurrectional army and the Soviet-controlled partisan. In October, a major German counter-offensive began when 35,000 German troops entered the country via Hungary. The Soviet Union lost interest in the Czech and Slovak lands and became focused on Hungary, Austria, and Poland. By the end of October, German forces had reclaimed most of the territories and surrounded the insurgent forces. On October 27, the rebellion headquarters was crushed. This signaled the end of the uprising. Even after the uprising was crushed, the insurgents continued guerilla warfare until the Soviet army seized Slovakia in 1945.
Slovakia’s Slovak National Uprising Traditions, Customs and Activities
The Slovak National Uprising is commemorated every year to maintain the SNP heritage for future generations.
It is a national holiday in Slovakia.
On this day, wreaths are placed on the memorial to the Slovak National Uprising in Bratislava, commemorating the anniversary of the outbreak of anti-fascist uprising. Once a predominant mining town in Central Slovakia, Banska Bystrica is also known as the center of the 1944 SNP (Uprising) against the Nazi occupation.
The anniversary is also celebrated in the historic town of Banska Bystrica.
