29.8. 1944 Slovak National Uprising began

The Slovak National Uprising broke out on 29 August 1944, with Banská Bystrica becoming its centre. The aim was to liberate Slovakia in cooperation with the advancing Red Army and to restore the existence of Czechoslovakia.

The uprising was prepared by the Slovak National Council together with the military headquarters. The uprising was a reaction to the gradual occupation of Slovakia by the German army.

"The preparations initially developed along two independent lines, proceeding slowly and secretly. The Czechoslovak government in London made contact both with Czechoslovak circles and directly with Slovak army officers. However, the uprising began before all the necessary preparations were completed. Its coordination with the Red Army and the actions of the partisans was still not settled, and the"Jaroslav Pánek and Oldřich Tůma write in their book History of the Czech Lands.

Banská Bystrica rose spontaneously on 30 August 1944, but the uprising broke out prematurely and without the completion of preparations. The uprising remained confined to the area of central Slovakia with its centre in Banská Bystrica. The commanders of the uprising were Ján Golian and Rudolf Viest. The SNP took power in the insurgent territory and declared the overthrow of the People's Government and the restoration of Czechoslovakia.

However, the slow advance of the Red Army and reinforcements for the German army resulted in the shrinking of the territory controlled by the insurgent partisans. "By the turn of September and October 1944, the military situation of the insurgents was becoming critical. They did not have enough heavy weapons and the German troops took advantage of their superiority. Today, from 18 to 20 October, German troops launched a general offensive in Slovakia," Tůma and Pánek write.

To help the Slovak National Uprising, Soviet troops undertook a campaign from 8. However, it encountered prepared German defences and brought heavy losses to the attacking Soviet troops and the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps. This corps was formed from the spring of 1944 in Volhynia, where the 1. Czechoslovak Independent Brigade and expanded with numerous members of the local Czech colony and by Slovak soldiers who had previously joined the ranks of the Red Army.

But even the efforts of the Red Army did not help. On 27 October 1944, Bánská Bystrica was captured, and both leaders of the uprising were killed. The SNP must be considered a significant anti-German action, as it tied a significant number of German forces to itself for several months.

Petr Kovář, General Overview of Topics, Jaroslav Pánek and Oldřich Tůma, History of the Czech Landswww.historum.com