Minister of Defence P. Gajdoš in visit to Serbia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the greatest munity of Slovak infantrymen in WWI
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- Date: 14.06.2018
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SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš today commemorated last weekʼs 100th anniversary of the mutiny of Trenčín-based 71st Infantry Regiment in WWI, known as the Kragujevac Mutiny. It was the largest and most tragic revolt in the Austro-Hungarian Army in WWI. After it was crushed in 1918, 44 Slovak infantrymen were convicted and executed.
Reflecting on the tragedy, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “The modern world often forgets the horrors that armed conflicts bring with them. Today I have paid tribute to 44 Slovak soldiers who rose up against war and oppression 100 years ago, even though they knew what consequences would follow if they failed…”
71st Infantry Regiment (Trenčín) was formed in 1860, with its HQ based in Trenčín from 1882 onwards. It was a regiment with the highest number of Slovak soldiers in the Austrian, and later, Austro-Hungarian Army. Members of the Regiment came from the Trenčín, Orava and Turiec Counties.
Feelings of defiance towards war, tiredness, and the resolve to stand up against their deployment to the Southern Front only shortly after their arrival from the hard captivity in Russia created tension amidst Trenčín-based Regiment soldiers in Serbiaʼs Kragujevac. This led to a mutiny, whereupon 81 soldiers were officially charged on 8 June 1918. Of them, 44 soldiers were convicted and sentenced by military court to death by a firing squad. Later still that day, they were executed.
Head of the MOD also paid tribute to the civilian casualties of WWII at the Broken Wing Memorial, located close to Kragujevac.
Reflecting on the tragedy, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “The modern world often forgets the horrors that armed conflicts bring with them. Today I have paid tribute to 44 Slovak soldiers who rose up against war and oppression 100 years ago, even though they knew what consequences would follow if they failed…”
71st Infantry Regiment (Trenčín) was formed in 1860, with its HQ based in Trenčín from 1882 onwards. It was a regiment with the highest number of Slovak soldiers in the Austrian, and later, Austro-Hungarian Army. Members of the Regiment came from the Trenčín, Orava and Turiec Counties.
Feelings of defiance towards war, tiredness, and the resolve to stand up against their deployment to the Southern Front only shortly after their arrival from the hard captivity in Russia created tension amidst Trenčín-based Regiment soldiers in Serbiaʼs Kragujevac. This led to a mutiny, whereupon 81 soldiers were officially charged on 8 June 1918. Of them, 44 soldiers were convicted and sentenced by military court to death by a firing squad. Later still that day, they were executed.
Head of the MOD also paid tribute to the civilian casualties of WWII at the Broken Wing Memorial, located close to Kragujevac.
