October, 1944

On October 7, Division General Rudolf Viest arrived to Slovakia and took over the command of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia.
On October 18, main attack of German troops in order to defeat insurgent territory started by heavy bombing of Banská Bystrica, Liptovská Osada and Brezno.
Chairmanship of the Slovak National Council discussed war situation in presence of Generals R. Viest and J. Golian. They sanctioned plan for military defence of central uprising area in triangle Zvolen - Banská Bystrica - Brezno and assigned three new centres of combat against German occupants: Velký and Malý Šturec area, Slovenské Rudohorie (Polana-Vepor), Certovica area and eastern part of Low Tatras region. Commisionary of Slovak National Council decided, that Slovak National Council and Army headquarter of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia would move to Donovaly.
The next day, partisan headquarter started intensive preparation and selection of partisan units that should fight behind enemy lines.

Ocotber 25, K. Šmidke and Colonel A.N. Asmolov issued military order of Partisan headquarter number 21 to start partisan war behind enemy lines.
The next day, military unit Schill continued in attack and penetrated to defence lines of 2nd Czechoslovak paratroop unit. First units of 18 SS division Horst Wessel penetrated through Ocová, Zolná, Cerín to Horná Miliná and threatened Banská Bystrica from south- east.

October 27, 1944
German air force bombed retreating partisan and insurgent units in Stare Hory. First units of German land army entered Banská Bystrica in the morning and were followed by units of 18th SS division Horst Wessel.
Board for defence of Slovakia met in Donovaly. It was decided to continue in partisan fighting till joining with the Red Army. Commander of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia General Rudolf Viest gave during night on October 27-28 special operative order to start partisan fighting. It is written there: “Organised resistance of the army is after disintegration of some units no more possible and that is reason why units of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia would according to the situation start partisan war against Germans in night on October 29, 1944.”

Army units were supposed to form separate units by order of particular commanders, 2nd Czechoslovak paratroop unit should form partisan groups on south and north parts of Prasivá mountain. Partisan groups should be formed out of 100-200 volunteers and people willing to “gave everything for freedom of the country”. It was decided, that material and vehicles will be moved to deep forest valleys and take important parts (like sensors) or destroy them. Then, Army Headquarters, situated in Sport Hotel in Donovaly, lost contact with military and partisan units. Slovak government(the one with Tiso in lead) gave a special “appeal to Slovak public” in honour of German troops that conquered Banská Bystrica. Free Slovak Radio was shut down.
Units of 178 division Tatra broke through defence lines of 1st tactic group in Kordiky and occupied Harmanec and Ulanka.
On October 28, after finishing occupation of Banska Bystrica fascists started forest searching. They advanced in three directions. Dirlewagner brigade went from Liptovské Revúce toward Liptovská Osada, SS Schill group towards Donovaly and 18th SS Horst Wessel division from Mostenická valley toward Kyslá Voda. Combat unit Wittenmeyer closed road from Vysná Boca and Certovica.

On October 30, 1944, military parade was organised in Banská Bystrica by General Herman Hoffle and representatives of people regime of Dr. Jozef Tiso, who celebrated mass. Dr. J. Tiso awarded SS soldiers and publicly expressed thanks to Hitler. To this day Germans arrested more than 10.000 insurgents took about 80 canons, 600 heavy vehicles, 1 panzer train, 300 horses and state treasury with 2.8 milliards Slovak crowns cash.

Back to the main page