The Slovak Army in World War II: the Slovak Expeditionary Army Group

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  • Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
  • The Slovak Army fought on the Eastern Front as the Slovak Expeditionary Army Group. What about Slovakia during World War II? Before WWII Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia. As the Germans took control of the Czech lands and renamed these the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was established. Slovakia became 'independent' as the Slovak Republic (Slovenská republika) which was a German puppet state. It was also known as the Slovak State. This state was led by the Hlinka’s Slovak People’s Party (Slovenská ľudová strana, HSĽS) ruled by Monsignor Jozef Tiso. Later they sent the Slovak Expeditionary Army Group to the Eastern Front. The Slovak National Uprising occured in 1944 where a part of the Slovak armed forces rebelled against the Slovak authoritarian government.
    History Hustle presents: The Slovak Army of World War II: the Slovak Expeditionary Army Group.
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    SOURCES
    - Joining Hitler's Crusade. European Nations and the Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941 (David Stahel) Slovakia (Jan Rychlik).
    - The Unknown Eastern Front. The Wehrmacht and Hitler's Foreign Soldiers (Rolf-Dieter Müller).
    - brendonshelmets... (29-09-2021).
    IMAGES
    Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
    VIDEO
    Video material from:
    • Slovakian Axis 1939-19...
    Slovakian Axis 1939-1945 (2)
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 486

  • @HistoryHustle
    @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +27

    SLOVAKIA IN WW2:
    ua-cam.com/video/L2vFJDav_AA/v-deo.html
    HUNGARIAN ARMY IN WW2:
    ua-cam.com/video/6OlyxHpzsx4/v-deo.html

  • @ipsylon7297
    @ipsylon7297 2 роки тому +243

    Small countries and they role in wars are often forgotten by historians. Great work by History Hustle. Thank you.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +7

      Many thanks, Milan!

    • @gabemando7823
      @gabemando7823 2 роки тому +1

      Even large countries at times. Like how little there is about the Sino Japanese war compared to other and much smaller fronts.

    • @user-es3dr5xk8f
      @user-es3dr5xk8f 2 роки тому

      Gud angliština *m i l a n*

    • @spunkymonkey5305
      @spunkymonkey5305 2 роки тому +1

      I'm actually slovak

    • @Derederi
      @Derederi 2 роки тому

      My comment is simply deleted? This is history according to you?

  • @Martinko_Pcik
    @Martinko_Pcik 2 роки тому +105

    My grandfather was one of those who ran to the side of Soviets during one of the attacks. Soviets didn't shoot since they have heard it was happening. They were in the Soviet prison camp for some time but they were treated relatively well after they learned to speak basic Russian very quickly. Later Soviets gathered and organized Czechoslovak army. My grandfather was trained paratrooper and later dropped to Slovakia in 1944 during Slovak uprising. I have never learned many details as he shielded me as a small boy from all the horrors he had to witness as 18 years old. He was a very kind and stoic man. I miss him.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +9

      Thanks for sharing this. He must have seen a lot.

    • @caifothiazz
      @caifothiazz 2 роки тому

      Tvůj děda byl frajer, to furt ale nemaže tu vlastizradu většiny národa v roce 38.

    • @IjeskrewRBMC
      @IjeskrewRBMC 2 роки тому +1

      to iste aj s mojim pradedom

    • @peterkra9454
      @peterkra9454 2 роки тому

      Večna česť a Slava Hrdinom!

    • @peterkra9454
      @peterkra9454 2 роки тому +2

      @@caifothiazz vLASTIZRADA??? Cechy a Morava bola pod spravou Nemecka,nas Slovakov by rozobrali Madari z juhu a Poliak zo severu...Myslel si Beneša že by šiel bojovať za republiku??? Ten mal visieť,ako aj Tiso..A koniec koncov ludia ktori bojovali v povstani,čo boli obrovske obete! bojovali aj za novu republiku !!! A vieš čo moj zlaty vonovavy ti ešte poviem? Tito ludia dostali,myslim povstalcov..Pankrac od tej bohumilej novej vlady a tresty smrti..Tak ži si svoj sen...

  • @StaraPakaSk
    @StaraPakaSk 2 роки тому +48

    When the Fall Blau began, the recently motorised Slovak Fast Division, had smashed into the enemy with such ferocity and speed, that the Red Army was unable to establish a proper front line and many thousands, including their equipment, had fallen captive. And not only that, but the Fast Division advanced incredibly fast, so fast, that some units had outrun the German frontlines by 50 km and had managed to establish a beachhead on the eastern bank of the river Don. The first Axis state to do so. For this and for the help in capture of Rostov, the commander of the division, Jozef Turanec, was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +7

      Thanks for sharing this additional information.

    • @mariusbabkovic9337
      @mariusbabkovic9337 Рік тому

      vidim, ze niekto cital Micianikovu monografiu poctivo a pozorne

  • @tonnywildweasel8138
    @tonnywildweasel8138 2 роки тому +38

    So much going on on the Eastern Front. This history is still so close, and yet oblivion sometimes seems imminent. Thanks for keeping all the stories alive, teach!
    Groet 🌷, T.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +2

      Much appreciated, T.! Glad you found it interesting.

  • @MrTvolaCZ
    @MrTvolaCZ 2 роки тому +93

    The Slovak soldiers with swastika armbands being decorated at 7:21 are actually ethnic Germans serving in the Slovak army (Carpathian Germans). I remember this photo from a book.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +17

      That must explain it. Thanks for sharing. My guess wasn't correct.

  • @cthrly
    @cthrly 2 роки тому +14

    Another video about Slovakia
    Awesome

  • @philbachmann6398
    @philbachmann6398 2 роки тому +26

    As an Australian, for years after the war the narrative of WWII was over simplified from Hollywood or the Allied point of view.
    The many wars between nations in Hitler's era as resulting from the Treaty of Versailles were perhaps misunderstood by anyone outside of Europe. Including Calvary support for Germans as described by Hoess inside Poland between Wars and conflicts between Czechoslovakia, Poland and Ukraine it was a complex political landscape.
    As more part of Asia down here it all seems so distant but relevant. Thank you for your insight everyone. I remain a neutral observer 🇦🇺. There are just too many cases of individual injustice for me to come to any other conclusion.

  • @alexzamborsky5790
    @alexzamborsky5790 2 роки тому +41

    Hi, another great video as always. It is interesting that in one battle Slovak and Hungarian forces had to fight along on the Eastern Front but they started to shoot at each other and had to be separated by Germans.
    Could you please make a video about the Slovak National Uprising in 1944 too? Greetings from Slovakia.

    • @alexandergowriluk1687
      @alexandergowriluk1687 2 роки тому +10

      I believe there were similar issues with Hungary and Romania, which was why the Italian 8th army had to be sandwiched between them.

    • @alexzamborsky5790
      @alexzamborsky5790 2 роки тому +18

      Ok, so I found the historical journal where it was written: 'During the second day of the battle of Lipovec (23.7.1941), Hungarian forces were operating nearby Slovak ones and both of them started to shoot. The shooting lasted for half an hour and both parties claimed that they thought they are fighting the Soviets. Slovak soldier Jozef Belko however stated: 'Hungarians started to shoot at us. Animosity from previous years towards them motivated us to shoot too. We told to Germans that we thought it was Soviets, however, we know that it was Hungarians.'' Hungarians then were substituted by the German 97-th division to prevent similar events. (from journal WW2 - Slovak State 1939-45)

    • @jozefgarab
      @jozefgarab 2 роки тому

      La ugariciu bola pripojená Pusta.
      Na žiadosť pápeža. Ostatný mohamedani
      ušli do Bosny. Kde žijú doteraz.

    • @jozefgarab
      @jozefgarab 2 роки тому

      Beautiful word onder. Like from Africa.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +4

      Hi Alex, hope to travel to Slovakia and cover more on location.

  • @cryha821
    @cryha821 2 роки тому +5

    Thank you very much for this one.I am Slovakian comming from military family.My family members were fighting in WW1 & WW2 proudly and unconditionaly.Sadly a lot of historians forget about countries like us as a part of victorious army unions. So I am thankfull you mentioned us 🙏❤️🇸🇰

  • @mikewest5529
    @mikewest5529 2 роки тому +6

    How sweet 2 a week!!!!
    Bravo!! 100k special makes me happy!
    I’ll forever be proud of a stranger I watched grow!! And that I’ve never meet but been so happy to see!!
    Thanks so much for all that hard work!!!

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Good news: in December 3 vids per week :D
      Many thanks for your support and everlasting enthusiasm!

    • @mikewest5529
      @mikewest5529 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle
      Holy cow 3 per week!!!
      Omg that’s great!! I can’t wait!!!
      Can’t wait to see that 100k award!!
      We don’t need hate, we need love and respect!!
      Long live the Hustle!!!

  • @stevebrindle1724
    @stevebrindle1724 Рік тому +3

    History hustle is a great channel for all history buffs like myself! Stephans coverage of the movements of eastern Europe and the smaller groups who supported the nazis is second to none

  • @sturovci
    @sturovci 2 роки тому +8

    My grandpas served there. One by telephone switch unit operator in chief, other by artillery. Both were interviewed by Martin Lacko historian and their testimonies were used in his books.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Thanks for sharing. Can you tell us something about their experiences?

  • @StaraPakaSk
    @StaraPakaSk 2 роки тому +14

    It is important to note that large scale desertions happened after October 1943, when the units in the southern Ukraine were decimated (also by accidental friendly fire from the German artillery, btw), before then, only about 500 soldiers deserted which is less than 1% of the total amount of soldiers, who were at one point in time stationed in the East. So not a large number by any means.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Interesting. I read different amounts.

    • @StaraPakaSk
      @StaraPakaSk 2 роки тому +7

      @@HistoryHustle It was more or less the communists, who were responsible for introducing this myth into history books. It, in some form or another, prevails in Slovakia to this day. But recently, more and more information about this subject was gathered, original sources analysed, new sources found, diaries read etc. that the historians, most notably Martin Lacko, who has written many books about the Slovak Republic and her involvment in WW2, were able to challenge this narrative with factual evidence and proper argumentation.

    • @grandadmiral1874
      @grandadmiral1874 2 роки тому +1

      @@HistoryHustle After war, many soldiers from Czech Goverment army/Regierungstruppe (smal army of Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia) reported that Slovaks soldiers in Italy was on that time very loyal to Germans. Almost all Slovaks soldiers changed side only in last days of war.

    • @peterkra9454
      @peterkra9454 2 роки тому

      @@grandadmiral1874 Talking shit ,mate...big time..

    • @daxdax4528
      @daxdax4528 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle be careful Who you believe. Nationalists among Slovaks try to persuade others that the Slovaks were true allies of germans and soldiers saw germans as friends. It was the opposite. They saw Slavic Russians as more close to them than the germans. That was the reason for desertions.

  • @blast3028
    @blast3028 2 роки тому +7

    Your videos keep getting better with every one! Love the archive footage and photos

  • @robertm.8653
    @robertm.8653 2 роки тому +4

    Nice video Stephan! The fight towards the end against the Germans was something unknown to me until now, so thank you for it!

  • @nickpapagiorgio5056
    @nickpapagiorgio5056 2 роки тому +17

    Great video professor Stefan! After watching several of your videos on axis armies helping the Germans on the eastern front I’ve came to my own personal conclusion that these nations; mainly the Slovaks and Hungarians were just a big mess. Going thru their own turmoils prior to ww2 with internal struggles of various governments and ideologies trying to take control of these people and then being used and abused by the nazis and the soviets you can’t help but feel somewhat bad for them. As you said they saw the terrors of the red army on its people and then the Terrors of the nazis oppressing every person that wasn’t German as the blitzkrieg tore thru Eastern Europe and Russia.They seemed to want to put up a good fight for who they thought was just at the time and they were duped at every turn by those greater powers and their own leaders in many ways. A constant struggle for the Hungarians and Slovaks trying to form nations under extremely harsh circumstances. It is hard to feel for them when they joined the nazis and/or deserted to the Russians because both powers had very dark histories. You can understand them wanting something better for reasons that unfortunately would never come to fruition.

    • @milosjanos5058
      @milosjanos5058 2 роки тому +1

      thing is that both Slovaks and Hungarians offered help to Hitler, because they wanted "their" land back. Hungarians dreamed about restorations of "kingdom of Hungary" and Slovaks wanted back land that was lost after Vienna arbitrage. Both sides thought that Hitler will guarantee that. That was also reason why Slovakia joined Germans and invaded Poland, to get land back.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      Hi Nick, indeed, many of them performed poor. Hope to cover that more indepth in the future.

    • @aesop8694
      @aesop8694 2 роки тому

      Nick Papagiorgiou. Why don't you just accept the fact that just about every European country, with the exception of Greece and Serbia, either willingly collaborated with the Nazis, or had citizens who volunteered to join the SS and fight alongside them. Claims that the Soviet Union was a threat to them are excuses, even the Germans now try to rewrite history by claiming they went to war against the Soviet Union to save Europe.

    • @nickpapagiorgio5056
      @nickpapagiorgio5056 2 роки тому +1

      @@aesop8694 I don’t have a problem accepting or not accepting anything man. I mentioned some of my thoughts to a friend and fellow history teacher on a subject and that’s where it ends. People from every country including mine (the United States) have had Nazi sympathizers aka: (The German American Bund). Not just Europe but all over the world there are known sympathizers including South America where especially in Argentina there are to this day still German named villages where many Nazis on the run after the war found solitude and sympathy to start over. And if you think Greece and Serbia had no Nazis you are very misguided and much more narrow minded about this topic than you are claiming I am. Lol

    • @aesop8694
      @aesop8694 2 роки тому

      @@nickpapagiorgio5056 Sorry my friend neither Greece nor Serbia had citizens that fought with the SS. I suggest you check out the situation in these two countries more fully.

  • @xvsj-s2x
    @xvsj-s2x 2 роки тому +9

    Great bit of history, details that I never new. Thank You Stephon for your interesting research!!! 👍

  • @matthewwhitton5720
    @matthewwhitton5720 2 роки тому +4

    Well done, Stefan. It’s simply stunning. Your videos, crammed with goodness only knows how much extremely hard work, never cease to disappoint. Thank you for providing SO much to your viewers.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Very nice to read this, Matthew. As always: many thanks for your ongoing support.

  • @kevincahill1204
    @kevincahill1204 2 роки тому +7

    I worked with Slovakians ..great people

  • @ANTONMOKOS
    @ANTONMOKOS 2 роки тому +4

    Slovak people fought and died many times for the interests of others because we are a small country and we were almost still subordinate to someone. I hope it never happens again.

  • @vanillaicecream9126
    @vanillaicecream9126 2 роки тому +3

    One of the Slovak make actually assasination on Reinhard Heinrich ..His name was Jozef Gapcik He was from Antropoid operation...

  • @humphreygokart2135
    @humphreygokart2135 2 роки тому +13

    Brilliant. How about a video on the Danish resistance and the conflict between the military and the civilian underground groups in relation to the deliveries of weapons from neutral Sweden, including the history of the Danish Brigade in Sweden? I would also love to see a video on the Swedish and Danish volunteer groups in Finland during the Continuation War.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +4

      Thanks for your reply. Hopefully more on Scandinavia in the future.

    • @humphreygokart2135
      @humphreygokart2135 2 роки тому +3

      @@HistoryHustle Hint: read "Hitler's Nordic Ally? Finland and the Total War 1939-45".

    • @humphreygokart2135
      @humphreygokart2135 2 роки тому

      @Mutant Pig I think your version of events is a bit exaggerated, but the book you are referring to does exist and the author runs a bilingual (Danish/Hungarian) website. If you google "De ungarske soldater i Danmark" it should come up. Finally, when you write Ylland I suppose you mean Jylland (the peninsular that sticks up from Germany), and the Hipo Corps is not normally seen as German since its members were Danish collaborators.

  • @incursus1401
    @incursus1401 2 роки тому +2

    thanks for the video, was wondering about the slovak army for a while, i don't comment a lot but i appreciate your channel!

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Awesome, great to read. Thanks for your comment.

  • @jamie7026
    @jamie7026 2 роки тому +8

    Great Video, The Slovak Army, and Airforce, Had there own German based Insignia, With a Slovak War Badge for the Krim, and one for the Swift Division, (In two types) Also like many Eastern countries they had a German Volksdeutsche population and Gave these people greater Freedom, for a price, So cannot wait for the Volksdeutche units, in Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Rumania. Keep up the Good work

  • @vincentkosik403
    @vincentkosik403 2 роки тому +4

    Great video! AH called these his Slavic Wedge and chuckled about Slovakia Tiso on his recorded Table Talks...
    Wow 30,000 men initial to 90,000 soldiers.
    Boy. They penetrated very far in Russia.
    Very thorough video and did not know much that was discussed?
    Well done.

  • @tomek5019
    @tomek5019 2 роки тому +3

    My family came from the part of Poland invaded by the Slovak Army in September 1939. They were the nice guys who, unlike the Germans, Russians, and Ukrainians, did not commit atrocities, so no one in Poland had a problem with them.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      Hope to cover this little known invasion on location one day in the future.

  • @daveanderson3805
    @daveanderson3805 2 роки тому +10

    A very interesting video on a little known subject Everybody thinks of the eastern front as a german endeavor only But that is not the case at all

  • @pippohispano
    @pippohispano 2 роки тому +4

    Once more, a well-made and insightfull short video. Thanks, Stefan!

  • @BHuang92
    @BHuang92 2 роки тому +11

    Should cover the little known area, the Governorate of Subcarpathia.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +2

      Interesting! Perhaps in the future one day.

  • @Dany-mi2lv
    @Dany-mi2lv 2 роки тому +5

    Hello very good video, the soldiers on the photo in 7:10 are not wearing the swastika as a part of Slovak's army insignia per se, this is how Carpathian Germans (German minority in Slovakia, basically what they then called "Volksdeutsche"). Franz Karmasin, leader of KdP, basically their equivalent of Heinlein's SdP, pushed through this so units composed of them had this swastika as distinguishing sign.

  • @milankrishna2550
    @milankrishna2550 2 роки тому +7

    Thank you sir for this video. Feels really good to start this month with an amazing video.
    edit: Also Sir can you do a video on the unknown Free Russian Air Force which consisted of a few pilots and planes only

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      Thanks for your reply. Since I'm not an airforce guy I won't cover the Free Russian Air Force anytime soon.

    • @milankrishna2550
      @milankrishna2550 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle Alright sir thank you

  • @vladimirskala
    @vladimirskala 2 роки тому +12

    Something for the Hungarian trolls: Some time ago I've read an article about the Vienna Award from perspective of ordinary people who lived in Kosice. It described the absurd scene of a modern army in tanks giving up a city to not much more than a rag tag militia on horses (a veritable Horse-ved). Though it's nice to see a youtube historian covering this little known part of ww2, I harbor no illusions about my country's role in this conflict. Judging by many comments under this video, it seems many of my Hungarian friends have fallen victim to chauvinist self-delusion.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +2

      Animosity between Hungary and Slovakia still remains I'm afraid.

    • @pedroprague
      @pedroprague 2 роки тому +1

      @@HistoryHustle I am from Slovakia and honestly I have no problems with Hungarians. Yes there are some trolls, but oveall good people and least thise I have meet. They are very pround of their history and have more sensitivity, when opening some topics, but it is normal ;-)

    • @Tovalokodonc
      @Tovalokodonc 2 місяці тому

      Says the Slovak troll 😂😂😂 No self-reflection of course

  • @marcoskehl
    @marcoskehl 2 роки тому +4

    I appreciate your work. I hope you stay safe through this pandemic of authoritarianism, and never tolerate another tyranny disguised as "sanitary restrictions" by your government. History teaches that freedom is the most important thing, more them the vague government promisses of health.
    Obrigado! 🇧🇷

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      We'll be alright, thanks for watching!

  • @alexandergowriluk1687
    @alexandergowriluk1687 2 роки тому +8

    Additional info:
    A lot of the reason for the 1944 insurgency had to do with social mobility in pre-war Czechoslovakia. The political, economic, military, and cultural centre of the country was Prague, so being able to speak Czech was an asset. Slovak Protestants used a Czech translation of the New Testament, and tended to be overrepresented in the army and politics (note that 75% of Slovaks were Catholic). This explains the strong Catholic-nationalism of Hlinka, and repression of Protestants in Slovakia. Of course, many of the officers in the Slovak army were Protestants, and wanted the Hlinka People's Party out.

    • @Studio.Op5001
      @Studio.Op5001 2 роки тому +1

      Not entirely true. Czech and Slovak languages are very similar, so similar infact that were you to compare them to each other closely you could almost consider it a dialect. While it is true that there were problems with cohesion, the main reason for Slovaks wanting to break away was that they had no nation to call their own since the fall of Nyitrian principality and Big Moravia. The overrepresentation can be easily explained by the fact that Slovaks only came to 1/3 of the entire population.

    • @jozefgarab
      @jozefgarab 2 роки тому

      Moravský jazyk nejestvuje. Je to len geografický názov.
      Tam sú len nárečie slovácko valasko sliesko lasko kde hovoria poľský.
      Na Morave sa hovorí česky.

    • @jozefgarab
      @jozefgarab 2 роки тому

      Toto sa o mňa postaralo. Poľsko a Rusko sú ozbrojené
      mega z Madasy skočiť na nich. Niekto okrem nich
      nemôže byť slovenské. Prekladač google musel
      z toho jazyka skolabovať.

    • @Studio.Op5001
      @Studio.Op5001 2 роки тому +1

      @Gábor Banciu I do not speak hungarian.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      @Alexander: thanks for sharing this additional information.

  • @alesprvy8274
    @alesprvy8274 2 роки тому +3

    I from Slovakia and thanks for this video

  • @jakubrosler510
    @jakubrosler510 2 роки тому +3

    I believe that reason why those Slovak soldiers are wearing swastika armbands is because they are members of Carpathian German community and they still serve among Slovak State army. Carpathian Germans had their own political party which was still active during WW2 unlike Sudeten German Party in Bohemia and Moravia. This Slovak German community was mainly living around the city of Košice I believe.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      If that's the case, then I stand corrected.

  • @MBP1918
    @MBP1918 2 роки тому +9

    The Slovak Republic was interesting

  • @vladimirskala
    @vladimirskala 2 роки тому +10

    Nice video. After the battle of Stalingrad, the Slovak Rapid Division was in the midst of negotiating with the Soviets to switch sides. The entire division! However, the retreat orders came in and thwarted any such attempts. Later on, Stalin used this instance as a bargaining chip in his dealing with the Czechoslovak provisional government.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Thanks for sharing this.

    • @milosjanos5058
      @milosjanos5058 2 роки тому +5

      @Gábor Banciu and hungarians were up to boots in german back part of body ;-) Get over it and be nice neighbor!

  • @fredazcarate4818
    @fredazcarate4818 2 роки тому +2

    Another great mini documentary. Well research and extremely informative. kudos lad!

  • @pistahufnagel4608
    @pistahufnagel4608 2 роки тому +7

    Slovakia army best

  • @SgtT7
    @SgtT7 Рік тому +1

    Thank you very much from Slovakia❤🇸🇰

  • @mmarkotan
    @mmarkotan 2 роки тому +12

    Hi, great video. I´m Slovak and I think you got most of the facts right (if not all). Dispatching Slovak soldiers on the Eastern front could never have worked, and I suppose the Germans were well aware of that. They were only meant to serve as auxiliary forces and probably as a living targets for the Russians to temporarily keep the Russians busy. Their military training was far from that of the Germans, and they also lacked the motivation and the will to fight another Slavic nation, not to mention the lack of propaganda compared to the Germans. Slovakia at that time was a very religious country and it´s true that the communism was considered a common enemy. However, I do express some reservation to the ending of the video, when you referred to us as pro-axis nation. Slovakia was a rural country, with most of the population only having a minimum literacy and minding their own business, not really knowing or caring much about the foreign politics. Sure, you might say that about the government, but it was very distinct from what the nation thought. In general, people were horrified of the war and the government's support was only there because of the religious and nationalistic aspect, not it's axis political orientation. Of course, hearing about the horrors that were taking place, people were thankful for the relative safety in the early stages of the war, which had then turned sour, but it did not mean we were pro-axis as a nation. Except for this little "play of words" great job as always. Thank you.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +2

      Many thanks for your reply and taking the time to write your insights.

    • @timetraveler2405
      @timetraveler2405 2 роки тому +2

      They willingly attacked Poland, tho.

    • @stanostano7674
      @stanostano7674 2 роки тому +3

      @@timetraveler2405 Thats actually true.Only you forgot to mention Poland was first who attacted Slovak territory before WWII!

    • @timetraveler2405
      @timetraveler2405 2 роки тому +2

      @@stanostano7674 Attacked, that's too big of a word, and it was disputed territory. The Slovaks held a victory parade in Zakopane, the capital of Polish Highlanders.

    • @stanostano7674
      @stanostano7674 2 роки тому +1

      @@timetraveler2405 All territories could be questioned,depends how you look at it.Im not making any exuses,but from perspective of people living back that and not from what we know now,we were on side of our Allies,but other options was Not existence of Slovak state and All Slovak territory split up between Germany,Poland and dreaming Magyars.Slovak didnt have any other requests on Polish land apart from what you taken after Czechoslovakia was flushed down the drain in Munich agreement.Nobody knew alomost anything about nacism real face in 1939 and enemy as such were certainly commies in Soviet union.

  • @kristiandobias5533
    @kristiandobias5533 7 місяців тому +1

    Great and Educative Video 👍👌👌👍

  • @Seleniu-v8o
    @Seleniu-v8o 2 роки тому +5

    I am from slovakia

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +4

      Great country. Hope you liked the video.

  • @ToMoOhKa
    @ToMoOhKa 2 роки тому +6

    Great Video s always ! I would be interested to know what the Vatican thought about the execution of one if its clergy members like Tiso by the Soviet. I've failed to find much information about this.

    • @vendo7878
      @vendo7878 2 роки тому +1

      it was not executed by the Soviets, Tiso was executed by the Czechs for breaking the republic for the fact that Slovakia cannot be an independent state, the Slovaks loved it, it is part of our history, which is in today's democracy - forbidden to even talk about it

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      @E.L. Thanks for replying. Perhaps I should cover more on the Vatican during WW2.

  • @otisfreeman8766
    @otisfreeman8766 2 роки тому +3

    Yet again professor, dropping knowledge like bombs. I love learning about stuff I didn't know. Cheers my friend.

  • @lukaellach9264
    @lukaellach9264 2 роки тому +4

    Based Slovakia

  • @ZinkyArizona
    @ZinkyArizona 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you for explaining this, my country is forgotten alot :)

  • @gibraltersteamboatco888
    @gibraltersteamboatco888 2 роки тому +4

    An excellent presentation with great footage. BZ.
    Slovak troops took part in Operation Bamberg, an anti-partisan action in which 5,000 alleged partisans were shot. Slovak soldiers also participated in numerous pogroms and frequently robbed Jews during the first days and weeks of the occupation in the summer of 1941. Many Slovak soldiers and the army leadership approved of the Holocaust while others were kind to the locals they encountered.
    Already during the invasion of Poland many Slovaks that became POWs of the Soviets voluntarily joined them.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Thanks for sharing this additional information, BZ!

  • @TheRudoch
    @TheRudoch 2 роки тому +2

    very good job , thank you

  • @renataherself
    @renataherself 2 роки тому +1

    my great granda was general during slovak national uprising, this is cool video

  • @jakubd4612
    @jakubd4612 2 роки тому +1

    Yo thx for doing video about army which was based in my country

  • @user-tq9ls5qq6g
    @user-tq9ls5qq6g 2 роки тому +1

    Very interesting video, well made.

  • @humphet
    @humphet 2 роки тому +4

    awesome, it's about time!

  • @coling3957
    @coling3957 2 роки тому +3

    another great video covering little known events and units. sadly, too late did these smaller nations understand the Germans had no time for them. Hitler's grand plan for the world saw them as nothing more than pawns. any territorial aspirations or liberty would not have happened .. Slovaks should have seen how Germany bullied Czechoslovakia into submission.. making Slovakia declare independence or suffer occupation...

  • @imaskiir2664
    @imaskiir2664 2 роки тому +1

    My great grandfather fought with the partisans. Not sure but I think he had around 4 confirmed kills. He gained a lieutenant rank and his uniform is exposed in the memorial and museum of the Slovak National Uprising.

  • @andrewlambert7246
    @andrewlambert7246 2 роки тому +2

    You really do good videos. Europe has never been serious aboutdefence

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Thanks. Not sure what you mean with your last claim.

  • @TimoWW2
    @TimoWW2 Місяць тому

    On the photographs from the polish front they didnt wear swastikas because of uniform similarities with the poles. Those soldiers were Volksdeustche german people living in Slovakia.

  • @marekjarabica6630
    @marekjarabica6630 2 роки тому +1

    Hello again nice to see you are interest im my country

  • @romanhrdlicka6223
    @romanhrdlicka6223 2 роки тому +1

    Great video,man!

  • @milosjanos5058
    @milosjanos5058 2 роки тому +1

    At one point slovak and hungarian units were stationed next to each other, but german unit had to be stationed between them, as there we cases of "friendly fire" between slovak and hungarian unit.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +2

      I see! I knew this was also the case between the Hungarians and Romanians where the Italians were placed between them.

  • @ja_reakcjonista
    @ja_reakcjonista Рік тому +1

    The soldiers visible at 7.20 minutes (with swastikas) are volunteer soldiers of the German minority in Slovakia - that's why they wear swastikas.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  Рік тому +1

      I understand, thank you for sharing this.

  • @schizoidboy
    @schizoidboy 2 роки тому +1

    I first heard of the Slovak Army in book on military uniforms by John Mollo and it showed two of their uniforms in the book. If I recall correctly I remember asking a reenactor who followed the Polish Army about where the Polish Home Army got their weapons, one source he claimed was from the allies of the German Army who simply left their weapons with the Poles. I believe the Slovaks were included in this group.

  • @caifothiazz
    @caifothiazz 2 роки тому +1

    This is part of history which Slovaks want to forget. But we are know who Slovaks betrayed - Czechoslovakia - state which they gave them freedom, education, industry and their future.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      Sounds like a Czech point of view (which I do understand for the most part).

    • @caifothiazz
      @caifothiazz 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle ok, tell me: what is false?

    • @PD-qs6rp
      @PD-qs6rp 2 роки тому

      The Czech government, which also ruled over Slovak territory, even DONATED the Slovak territories to the Polish Republic in exchange for Poland respecting the Czech government and borders. since 1920, Slovakia has tried to resolve these disputes diplomatically, but nothing has worked. so don't be surprised that we finally wanted to become independent.

    • @PD-qs6rp
      @PD-qs6rp 2 роки тому +1

      fun fact: That was also the reason why Slovakia entered the war against Poland. In order to obtain the territories that belonged to us, but the Czechs donated them to Poland. The Slovak army was very good in Poland, we gained our territory on the first day of the war. When he saw it, AH tried to persuade the Slovaks to continue the attack all the way to Krakow. Slovakia refused, saying that we would not continue, we only wanted our territory.

  • @vanoy13
    @vanoy13 2 роки тому +3

    *1940s Eastern Europe being fearful of Axis powers*
    AXIS POWERS: Slovakia vs Hungary vs Romania
    Germans: 😒

  • @kubomister8916
    @kubomister8916 2 роки тому +1

    Im Slovak and I thank you for explaining to English people

  • @panchorancho643
    @panchorancho643 2 роки тому +2

    You should teach my Kids! Best regards! 👍🏻🙋‍♂️

  • @philipprowe4457
    @philipprowe4457 2 роки тому +1

    good and interesting video.

  • @vjekoslavhorvat4733
    @vjekoslavhorvat4733 2 роки тому +3

    I newer heard something bad about that country and nation.🇭🇷

  • @skrepitroll
    @skrepitroll 2 роки тому +1

    7:10 soldiers on that photo are volunters from Carpathian germans settled in slovakia, also it vas from polish campain @History Hustle

  • @johnkilmartin5101
    @johnkilmartin5101 2 роки тому

    As always a great video. I have an unrelated query.
    I was listening to a BBC program about refugees and a person who had been part of the Kinder Transport to Britain mentioned the reception he received on crossing the border into the Netherlands. Do you know anything about the Dutch role in the Kinder Transport? Thanks.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      Not much (yet). Hope to research it one day in the future.

  • @LordByron38
    @LordByron38 2 роки тому

    proud and happy to see this : )
    Enjozed it .But čatloš is pronounced as ,,Chutlosh "in Slovak : ).And as far as i know swastikas were worn by Slovaks of german descency .

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      I see! Didn't know this.

    • @pedroprague
      @pedroprague 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle BTW Ferdinant Čaltos was a protestant and not catolic as the Slovak regime. He was wery active in preparation of uprising but at the end he didnt join. He was even forces to confuse soldiers by asking then to not join over radio. There is a story that he indirectly saved a lot of jews. The reason is that he insist that before they will be deported they need to make compulsory military service in Slovak army. When uprising started there were even some jew units and fought bravely. He was in prision after was for his role in Slovak state but he was release after few years and worked in state administration. Died in 70s. Very interesting person in our history. Thans Stefan for video about Slovakia.

  • @philipryan25
    @philipryan25 2 роки тому +5

    Eastern Front always interesting,

  • @shutup2751
    @shutup2751 2 роки тому +13

    slovakia had most powerful army in ww2

  • @FortressHunters
    @FortressHunters 2 роки тому

    Nice summary. 2177 Slovaks changed sides voluntarily in southern Ukraine and they formed the core of our 2nd Czechoslovak Airborne Brigade, that was deployed in the Battle of the Dukla Pass and the Slovak National Uprising. If you want to know more about Czechs, Slovaks and Rusyns fighting in WWII, read my book The Corner of Death.

  • @Nomisteaks80
    @Nomisteaks80 2 роки тому +1

    Nice video. Small comment; You keep saying 'Marovia' but it's 'Moravia'.

  • @marekmacik5910
    @marekmacik5910 2 роки тому +1

    I am from Slovakia so I would like to know were there any of our soldiers on western front?

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      As far as I know this wasn't the case.

  • @elveheim
    @elveheim 2 роки тому +1

    Great

  • @jamesmarkey5946
    @jamesmarkey5946 9 місяців тому

    Don't mean to be off topic but he says in Guadalcanal they would live off a cap of water in the jungle what do you like cold weather are the hot desert are cold weather

  • @mirosojka8080
    @mirosojka8080 2 роки тому

    ahoj máš môj lajk za video.

  • @tomastoth637
    @tomastoth637 2 роки тому

    great , thx

  • @daveythe2nd146
    @daveythe2nd146 2 роки тому +3

    We weren't pro axis. We were friends with Russia and didn't want to fight them, but we were bullied by Germany. We declared independence so we wouldn't be invaded by Hungarians mainly.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      That also played a part. Therefore the nation joined the Triparte Pact = Axis. In this video I explain about the population:
      ua-cam.com/video/L2vFJDav_AA/v-deo.html

  • @c32amgftw
    @c32amgftw 2 роки тому

    Guys, could you please recommend a book on the early German conquests (pre Barbarossa)

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      Blitzkrieg Legend is one. Also Beevors boom about WW2 deals a great deal with the earlier conquests.

  • @komodoindustrial1195
    @komodoindustrial1195 2 роки тому +1

    I m so amberested that i am from Slovakia for this, i hope we never help the bad guys again

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      We're at peace now and that's what counts.

  • @jarinko.travel3620
    @jarinko.travel3620 2 роки тому +5

    Na stráž! 🇸🇰

  • @jarko7392
    @jarko7392 2 роки тому +3

    Yeah, we are not so proud of this time in our history

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому +1

      I understand.

    • @jarko7392
      @jarko7392 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle But still i appreciate your work on this.
      Thank you for teaching people the history of my country.

  • @talusn9405
    @talusn9405 2 роки тому

    @History Hustle I did not expect that Slovakia attacked Poland ...

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      It was a very minor offensive.

    • @kamilsvana9769
      @kamilsvana9769 2 роки тому +1

      After the First Wold War regions with Slovak populations (Spiš and Orava) were traded by Prague for parts of Silesia. After the weakening of CSR there was even real threat of Hungarians and Polish partitioning Slovakia so the relationship between the two countries were rather cold. Offensive was undertaken only into the mentioned parts of Poland with said minority, Slovak army was then prohibited to continue further attacks by country leadership.

  • @Arizona-ex5yt
    @Arizona-ex5yt 2 роки тому

    Germany in WW1 and WW2 treated its allies so dismissively and they were surprised when they didn't perform well. Why didn't Germany reorganize and equip the Slovak army (or Romania, or Hungary) along German lines at their leisure in 1939 or 1940 as opposed to doing it after they were in the middle of their war with the USSR? The Germans did a lot of things ad hoc when it was too late-- like a kid who only started studying for a test the night before. "I didn't know the Slovak Army would be on the quiz!"

    • @simon7790
      @simon7790 2 роки тому +1

      All the other countries in Europe fell in a few weeks, so the Germans were expecting another quick war. Once Moscow was not taken in December 1941 they had to switch to a war of attrition and try to get resources like oil in the south.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Thanks for your reply, Simon.

  • @stephengoodwin6403
    @stephengoodwin6403 2 роки тому +2

    their cavalry was good

  • @roybennett9284
    @roybennett9284 2 роки тому

    Problem being each allied had different weapons and of different standards of quality, unlike the allied armies who had a common goal, German allies seemed prehaps disjointed and of various ability.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Thanks for sharing.

    • @roybennett9284
      @roybennett9284 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle no problem if I had the opportunity I'd go to the Netherlands to see some gravestones of my late father's school friends who lied about their age so the could be dropped in for anhem...dead at 17

  • @18roselover
    @18roselover 2 роки тому +1

    Interesting review of slovak complicity in ww2 with nazis.thAnk you

  • @michalmichalides9082
    @michalmichalides9082 2 роки тому +1

    In Slovakia in depth discussions about first Slovakian state do not exist in school history books.
    We are not supposed to talk about it.
    Puppet governments over the years even crafted special anti terrorist, extremist laws that can shut you down if you try it.
    Any sort of nationalism or patriotism is regarded as undesirable.
    If you do not know who you are, you are no one.

  • @filipbotka2161
    @filipbotka2161 2 роки тому +1

    XD I am from Slovakia

  • @martinmelisko8986
    @martinmelisko8986 2 роки тому

    Wrong translation mister. After separate czechoslovakia before ww2 were established Slovak State not republic. Slovak republic were established after separate USSR. Iam native born slovak . Please correct yourself.

    • @HistoryHustle
      @HistoryHustle  2 роки тому

      Nope, I refer to my sources. Although Slovaks may call it a state, historians refer to the 1939-45 state as a republic.

    • @martinmelisko8986
      @martinmelisko8986 2 роки тому

      @@HistoryHustle there is difference between state and republic in translation. Sourceces are all right well known historians . But you Made mistake in translation . Nothing more. We are just people and its human nature doing mistakes. I told you about this in yours previous video about Slovakia WW2. You cannot speak about Slovak republic between 1939 -1945 because there were no republic there were state. Yes system od goverment were republic. But . One big but official name of state 1939-1945 is Slovak state.

  • @karlmarx4405
    @karlmarx4405 2 роки тому +1

    Mountain General would be happy!

  • @eki3s
    @eki3s 2 роки тому +1

    they betrayed their brothers

  • @medicann_coping
    @medicann_coping 2 роки тому +2

    im slovak

  • @domarothovci2691
    @domarothovci2691 Рік тому +2

    🇸🇰♥️

  • @adomantm
    @adomantm 2 роки тому

    We had cool and unique helmets