Slovak invasion of Poland (1939)
Encyclopedia
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
's invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
in 1939. The recently-created Slovak Republic joined the attack, and the Slovak field army (Field Army Bernolák
Field Army Bernolák
The Field Army Bernolák was an infantry unit during World War II. In Jozef Tiso's Axis WWII Slovak Republic, it took part in the German invasion of Poland in 1939 and the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941....
) contributed over 50,000 soldiers in three divisions. As the main body of the Polish forces were engaged with the German armies farther north of the southern border, the Slovak invasion met only weak resistance and suffered minimal losses.
Background
On March 14, 1939, the Slovak Republic was created as a puppet statePuppet state
A puppet state is a nominal sovereign of a state who is de facto controlled by a foreign power. The term refers to a government controlled by the government of another country like a puppeteer controls the strings of a marionette...
of Germany within the area of Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Prior to this, on November 2, 1938, a part of Slovakia containing a substantial Hungarian population (due to its having been part of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
between 1001 and 1920) was taken by the Hungarian Army as a result of the First Vienna Award
First Vienna Award
The First Vienna Award was the result of the First Vienna Arbitration, which took place at Vienna's Belvedere Palace on November 2, 1938. The Arbitration and Award were direct consequences of the Munich Agreement...
. Small parts of these disputed areas with mixed Polish and Slovak inhabitants belonged to Germany and Poland.
The official political pretext for the Slovak participation in the Polish Campaign
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
was a disagreement over a small disputed area (totalling 226 km² in area, with 4,280 inhabitants of mixed Polish-Slovak ethnicity) on the Poland-Slovakia border. Poland had appropriated this area on December 1, 1938, in the aftermath of the Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement
The Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
. In addition, some Polish politicians supported Hungary in their effort to include into their state parts inhabited mostly by Hungarians.
During secret discussions with the Germans on July 20-July 21, 1939, the Slovak government agreed to participate in the aggression against Poland. The Slovaks also agreed to allow Germany to use its territory as the staging area for its troops. On August 26, the Slovak Republic mobilized
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
its armed forces and created a new field army, codenamed "Bernolák
Anton Bernolák
Anton Bernolák Anton Bernolák Anton Bernolák (1 October 1762 in Slanica (a now inundated village near Námestovo – 15 January 1813 in Nové Zámky) was a Slovak linguist and Catholic priest and the author of the first Slovak language standard.-Life:...
," that comprised 51,306 soldiers. Additionally, 160,000 reservists were called, with 115,000 entering service until September 20 1939.
Order of battle
The army group Bernolák was led by the Slovak Minister of Defense Ferdinand ČatlošFerdinand Catloš
Ferdinand Čatloš was a Slovak military officer and politician. Throughout his short career in the administration of the Slovak Republic he held the post of Minister of Defence. He was also the commanding officer of the Field Army Bernolák during the Invasion of Poland...
, and had its initial headquarters in Spišská Nová Ves, though after September 8 this was moved to Solivar near Prešov
Prešov
Prešov Historically, the city has been known in German as Eperies , Eperjes in Hungarian, Fragopolis in Latin, Preszów in Polish, Peryeshis in Romany, Пряшев in Russian and Пряшів in Rusyn and Ukrainian.-Characteristics:The city is a showcase of Baroque, Rococo and Gothic...
. It consisted of:
- 1st infantry division "JánošíkJuraj JánošíkJuraj Jánošík was a famous Slovak Carpathian Highwayman....
" led by Anton Pulanich in sector Spišská Nová Ves - PrešovPrešovPrešov Historically, the city has been known in German as Eperies , Eperjes in Hungarian, Fragopolis in Latin, Preszów in Polish, Peryeshis in Romany, Пряшев in Russian and Пряшів in Rusyn and Ukrainian.-Characteristics:The city is a showcase of Baroque, Rococo and Gothic...
. - 2nd infantry division "ŠkultétyAugust Horislav ŠkultétyAugust Horislav Škultéty was a Slovak writer, pedagogue ethnographer and director of a first Slovak Gymnasium in Revúca.-Early years and career:...
" led by Alexander Čunderlík in sector Brezno – PopradPopradPoprad is a city in northern Slovakia at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains famous for its picturesque historic centre and as a holiday resort. It is the biggest town of the Spiš region and the tenth largest city in Slovakia with a population of approximately 55,000.The Poprad-Tatry Airport is...
. - 3rd infantry division "RázusMartin RázusMartin Rázus was a Slovak poet, dramatist, writer, politician and evangelical priest -References:...
" led by Augustín MalárAugustín MalárAugustín Malár was a Slovak General during World War II.-Awards:* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross -References:...
in sector east of High Tatra. - A motorized unit "Kalinčiak" was created on September 5 but the campaign ended before it arrived on the front.
The group was part of the German Army Group South and was subordinated to the 14th Army led by Wilhelm List, contributing to the 14th Army's total of five infantry divisions, three mountain divisions, two tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
divisions and one air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
division. Bernolák's task was to prevent a Polish incursion into Slovakia and to support German troops.
Their opposition was the Polish Karpaty Army
Karpaty Army
Karpaty Army , formed on 11 July 1939 under Major General Kazimierz Fabrycy, was created after Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and created a puppet state of Slovakia.-Tasks:...
(Carpathian Army), which consisted of infantry units with some light artillery support and no tanks.
Campaign
The attack started on September 1, 1939 at 05:00.The 1st division occupied the village of Javorina
Tatranská Javorina
Tatranská Javorina is a village in Poprad District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia.-History:The beginnings of the municipality are in the 18th century. The name of the village stems from the former maple forests, after which some geographical objects were named...
and the town of Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
, then continued toward Nowy Targ
Nowy Targ
Nowy Targ is a town in southern Poland with 34,000 inhabitants , and the historical capital of the mountain region . The town is situated in the confluence of the rivers Biały and Czarny Dunajec, in a valley beneath the Gorce Mountains. It's in Nowy Targ County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship...
, protecting the German 2nd mountain division from the left. During September 4-5, it engaged in fighting with regular Polish army units. On September 7 the division stopped its advance, 30 km inside Polish territory. Later, the division was pulled back, with one battalion remaining until September 29 to occupy Zakopane, Jurgów
Jurgów
Jurgów is a small village in the Spisz region of southern Poland, near the border with Slovakia and the town of Bukowina Tatrzańska, on the Białka river. It used to be a part of Slovakia...
and Javorina.
The 2nd division was kept in reserve and participated only in mopping-up operations. In this it was supported by the Kalinčiak group.
The 3rd division had to protect 170 km of the Slovak border between Stará Ľubovňa
Stará Lubovna
Stará Ľubovňa is a town with approximately 16,000 inhabitants in northeastern Slovakia. The town consists of the districts Podsadek and Stará Ľubovňa.-Geography:...
and the border with Hungary. It fought minor skirmishes and after several days moved into the Polish territory, stopping on September 11.
Two or three Slovak air squadrons (codenamed Ľalia, Lily) were used for reconnaissance, bombing and close support for German fighters. Two planes were lost (one to anti-aircraft fire, one to an accidental crash), and one enemy plane was shot down.
Total Slovak infantry losses during the campaign were 37 dead, 114 wounded and 11 missing.
Aftermath
Poprad
Poprad is a city in northern Slovakia at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains famous for its picturesque historic centre and as a holiday resort. It is the biggest town of the Spiš region and the tenth largest city in Slovakia with a population of approximately 55,000.The Poprad-Tatry Airport is...
. The mobilized units were gradually demobilized and the Army Group Bernolák was disbanded on October 7.
The Slovak Army took around 1,350 prisoners in Poland. In February 1940, around 1,200 of these were handed to Germans, and some of the remainder to the Soviets. The rest were kept in a Slovak prison camp in Lešť
Lešt
.Lešť is a village and municipality of the Zvolen District in the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia....
.
All the disputed territory, whether part of Poland from 1920 or from 1938, was given to Slovakia (this was confirmed by a Slovak parliamentary resolution on December 22 1939). Hitler's offer to annex Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
was rejected. This arrangement lasted until July 1945, when the border line was returned to its 1920 position.
In invading Poland, the Slovak Army regained some prestige lost during the Slovak-Hungarian War
Slovak-Hungarian War
The Slovak–Hungarian War or Little War , was a war fought from March 23 to March 31/April 4, 1939 between the First Slovak Republic and Hungary in eastern Slovakia.-Prelude:...
. In 1941, Slovakia participated in the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
from its start.
Literature
- Charles K. Kliment and Břetislav Nakládal: Germany's First Ally, Schiffer Publishing, 1998, ISBN 07-643-0589-1. The book covers the Slovak Armed Forces in World War II. Czech edition in 2003, ISBN 80-206-0596-7.
- Igor Baka: Slovensko vo vojne proti Poľsku v roku 1939 (Slovakia during the war against Poland in 1939), Vojenská história, 2005, No 3.
