Minister Gajdoš honours heroes of Carpatho-Dukla Operation

During a ceremony at the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps Memorial at the Dukla Pass, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš today (5 October) honoured the heroes who fought in the Carpatho-Dukla Operation 74 years ago.

 
In his speech, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “Here at the Carpatho-Dukla Pass, thousands of soldiers of different nationalities spilt their own blood for the dream of freedom. I am convinced that it is our duty to preserve the legacy of this place, since we owe it to every single participant of this operation.” In this context, he added that there arises the question whether we are doing enough to prevent history from repeating itself and evil, in the form of extremism, racism and xenophobia, from spreading.
 
To mark tomorrowʼs Carpatho-Dukla Operation Heroes Day, the Minister awarded 9 WWII veterans at the ‘Gate to Freedomʼ, as the Dukla Pass is symbolically known.
 
Following the commemoration at the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps Memorial at Dukla, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš also attended wreath-laying ceremonies at the Statue of Army General Ludvík Svoboda and the Soviet Army Memorial in Svidník. The official programme wrapped up with a tour of the Museum Section Svidník, of the Military History Museum Piešťany, and the Lookout Tower at Dukla.