After several months of preparation the Slovak National Uprising began in late summer 1944, on the eve of the German invasion of Slovakia.
At 20:00 on 29 August 1944, in response to the rapid occupation of the wartime Slovak state by Nazi forces, Army Colonel Ján Golian sent out a message that launched the uprising. It was to last 60 days.
There were several reasons, military and political, that triggered the SNP. But did the battle against Slovakia’s fascist government and Nazi Germany succeed? And why did central Slovakia become the centre of the SNP?
For the answers, listen to this week’s episode of the Spectacular Slovakia podcast, featuring James Thomson.
Listen to the episode:
The uprising officially ended on 28 October 1944, but partisan operations continued into the spring of 1945.
Listeners will learn about the best places to visit if they want to discover more about the uprising.
And the most adventurous tourists can even set out on the SNP Trail of Heroes, stretching from northeastern Slovakia all the way to Devín Castle in Bratislava.
More articles on the SNP can be found on The Slovak Spectator website, as well as in ‘Slovakia in History’, an English-language history book published by Cambridge University Press.
Information about how young Slovaks today see the SNP is available here.
Listen to Spectacular Slovakia podcast via:
The Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. This programme is also part of The Slovak Spectator subscription.
More information:
Print+audio: shop.spectator.sme.sk/newspaper
Online+audio: www.sme.sk/predplatne-spectator
29. Aug 2019 at 1:04 | Peter Dlhopolec