Re-enactment of the last battle of the Prussian-Austrian war, near Bratislava. (source: TASR)
THE LAND between the Bratislava boroughs of Lamač and Záhorská Bystrica was revived in mid-October by a historical re-enactment of the Prussian-Austrian war. On October 11 and 12, the re-enactment of the 1886 battle near Lamač that ended the war between these two 19th-century superpowers was organised by the members of the BS-13/Stoh (Haystack) civic association collaborating with the borough of Lamač.
“We wanted to show the background, as well as the course of this battle which took place on the territory of today’s Bratislava boroughs of Lamač, Záhorská Bystrica, Devínska Nová Ves and Dúbravka,” Tomáš Achs of the association told the TASR newswire. [Back then, these boroughs of the capital were independent villages, ed. note.]
The two-day event began on October 11 morning with a parade of “soldiers” in period uniforms along the streets of Lamač. After noon, the re-enactment took place on a meadow near the Bratislava crematorium. The historical moments from 148 years ago were brought to life by enthusiasts from the clubs of military history from the Czech Republic: from Brno, Klimkovice, Náchod, Hradec Králové, Josefov and Liberec. In narrated demonstrations, they explained the roles and activities of the historical army units of the Prussian, Saxon, and Austrian infantry, Austrian artillery or Prussian Calvary.
“Visitors were able to see also how a period military camp looked, and a night battle scene was also prepared,” Achs explained.
The event in October 2014 was a “dress rehearsal” for the 150th anniversary of the Lamač battle, to come in 2016, intended also as an opportunity to test some steps and do away with flaws.
The battle near Lamač took place on July 12, 1866. The attack by the Prussians on Austrian armies – which made a defence wall in front of Bratislava – started in the early morning hours with heavy cannon fire on Dúbravka and Lamač. Meanwhile, other troops attempted to outflank the Austrian defence lines through Kamzík. Then, the ceasefire, which was concluded in Mikulov, saved Bratislava from a decisive attack by the Prussians. The ceasefire meant the end of the war.
