A Meeting of Generations at Kalište revives the memory of WW2 resistance fighters

Today's Meeting of Generations in the former village of Kalište, a National Heritage Site, commemorated the victims of Nazi reprisals. These led to the burning down of the village 77 years ago.

Representing the SVK Ministry of Defence at the event was Secretary General of the Service Office Peter Kozák, he said: “Kalište was an important resistance centre. Today, it serves as a silent memorial to the heroes who stood on the side of freedom and democracy in the decisive moments. They have left behind an important model of commitment to the struggle for values.”

Of the 42 houses in Kalište, only six have remained standing to date since the Nazi raid on the village on 18 March 1945. The village itself ceased to exist after the raid. Since 1961, Kalište has been a National Heritage Site under the remit of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Museum in Banská Bystrica. The Meeting of Generations in Kalište is annually co-organised by the SNP Museum.

Director of the SNP Museum Marian Uhrin said: “For the SNP Museum, historical research into the Kalište tragedy is a big challenge, given that even today we do not know who is to be blamed for the sad events of March 1945. We attach great importance to caring for this National Heritage Site. This year we have taken the first steps to revitalise the site. Also, we are reaching out to secondary school goers to bring the tragic destiny of the village and the importance of history and historical background for the present closer to the young generation.”