I. Gablech Awarded by President
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- Date: 09.01.2014
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„I highly value all the awarded and I am most glad that one of the state awards handed out by the President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič went to the retired colonel Imrich Gablech, since we must not forget those who had fought against fascism. When we talked at the Ministry of Defence last year, it was apparent that the said award is regarded highly by Mr. Gablech,” said the Minister of Defence Martin Glváč on the occasion of awarding Col. (Ret.) Imrich Gablech with the Order of the White Double Cross 2nd Class on 7 January in the Bratislava Castle for his active engagement in the fight against fascism and for his life-long effort to defend democracy.
On the occasion of the New Year and the anniversary of the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic, the President Ivan Gašparovič presented the state awards to sixteen personalities. Col. (Ret.) Imrich Gablech was the only soldier among those awarded. He was born on 4 November 1915 in Hrachovište. During his military service he came to a resolution to fight against fascism and in June 1939, he and the other five soldiers flew their aircraft, under the dramatic circumstances, from Slovakia to Poland. In autumn 1939, after the defeat of Poland and the consequent withdrawal, he got to the Soviet internment camp. In 1941, after the political arrangement between Moscow and London, he was transferred, together with the other two hundred airmen from internment camps, to Great Britain, where he served in the Czechoslovak squadrons of the RAF. After the war, as a western resistance fighter he was dismissed from the army, interrogated by police and repeatedly fired from jobs, and was subjected to all sorts of persecution. He settled in Havlíčkův Brod, where he has lived up to now. After 1990 he was rehabilitated. He is a recipient of the highest Czech award – the Order of the White Lion.
“I am most glad that I have lived to receive this honour from my native country, the Slovak Republic, being presented with the state award” said Col. (Ret.) Imrich Gablech. “I am proud to say that in Slovakia, they first paid attention to my story at the Ministry of Defence and the Minister Martin Glváč presented me with the highest award in the defence department last year,” he added. “I am glad to see that Mr. Gablech still looks very well, I daresay even better than when we met at the Ministry of Defence last year. He is full of energy, smiling and easy, and we owe him a debt of respect and gratitude,” concluded the Minister Martin Glváč after the discussion with Col. Imrich Gablech.
On the occasion of the New Year and the anniversary of the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic, the President Ivan Gašparovič presented the state awards to sixteen personalities. Col. (Ret.) Imrich Gablech was the only soldier among those awarded. He was born on 4 November 1915 in Hrachovište. During his military service he came to a resolution to fight against fascism and in June 1939, he and the other five soldiers flew their aircraft, under the dramatic circumstances, from Slovakia to Poland. In autumn 1939, after the defeat of Poland and the consequent withdrawal, he got to the Soviet internment camp. In 1941, after the political arrangement between Moscow and London, he was transferred, together with the other two hundred airmen from internment camps, to Great Britain, where he served in the Czechoslovak squadrons of the RAF. After the war, as a western resistance fighter he was dismissed from the army, interrogated by police and repeatedly fired from jobs, and was subjected to all sorts of persecution. He settled in Havlíčkův Brod, where he has lived up to now. After 1990 he was rehabilitated. He is a recipient of the highest Czech award – the Order of the White Lion.
“I am most glad that I have lived to receive this honour from my native country, the Slovak Republic, being presented with the state award” said Col. (Ret.) Imrich Gablech. “I am proud to say that in Slovakia, they first paid attention to my story at the Ministry of Defence and the Minister Martin Glváč presented me with the highest award in the defence department last year,” he added. “I am glad to see that Mr. Gablech still looks very well, I daresay even better than when we met at the Ministry of Defence last year. He is full of energy, smiling and easy, and we owe him a debt of respect and gratitude,” concluded the Minister Martin Glváč after the discussion with Col. Imrich Gablech.
