Slovak National Uprising Museum pays a special tribute to the bravery of Kalište residents in WW2
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- Date: 17.03.2023
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Still today, a vista of ruins and burnt-out homes, two reconstructed houses, a chapel, and a cemetery with the graves of the victims come to remind us of the Nazi reprisal raid on the village of Kalište that occurred on 18 March 1945 during the Second World War.
Representing the MOD in today's ceremony at the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Museum in Banská Bystrica, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák paid a special tribute to the enduring legacy of the bravery of Kalište residents.
Speaking in front of the next-of-kin of some former residents of Kalište, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák said: “After the formation of the Slovak State, residents of this picturesque mountain village became actively involved in the national liberation struggle and selflessly supported the partisans as well as those persecuted on racial grounds, without any thought for their personal safety or benefit. They did so despite facing the risk of persecution from the repressive bodies of the wartime Slovak State and, later on, from the German occupation forces. We owe them a debt of gratitude for this model of courage in the most decisive moments.”
Speaking about the tragic events in Kalište, Director of the SNP Museum Marian Uhrin said: “Today more than ever before, it is inevitable to remind ourselves of the horrors of war insofar as this frequently quoted statement holds true: ‘A man who forgets his past is condemned to repeat it.’”
The responsibility for the preservation of Kalište lies with the SNP Museum, whereas it holds an annual commemoration event for the Kalište tragedy victims. Kalište has been a National Heritage Site since February 1961.
Representing the MOD in today's ceremony at the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Museum in Banská Bystrica, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák paid a special tribute to the enduring legacy of the bravery of Kalište residents.
Speaking in front of the next-of-kin of some former residents of Kalište, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák said: “After the formation of the Slovak State, residents of this picturesque mountain village became actively involved in the national liberation struggle and selflessly supported the partisans as well as those persecuted on racial grounds, without any thought for their personal safety or benefit. They did so despite facing the risk of persecution from the repressive bodies of the wartime Slovak State and, later on, from the German occupation forces. We owe them a debt of gratitude for this model of courage in the most decisive moments.”
Speaking about the tragic events in Kalište, Director of the SNP Museum Marian Uhrin said: “Today more than ever before, it is inevitable to remind ourselves of the horrors of war insofar as this frequently quoted statement holds true: ‘A man who forgets his past is condemned to repeat it.’”
The responsibility for the preservation of Kalište lies with the SNP Museum, whereas it holds an annual commemoration event for the Kalište tragedy victims. Kalište has been a National Heritage Site since February 1961.
