Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BRATISLAVA874
2004-09-23 14:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
Slovak National Uprising (SNP): Commemorating 60
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000874
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO LO
SUBJECT: Slovak National Uprising (SNP): Commemorating 60
Years of Slovak-American Partnership
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000874
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO LO
SUBJECT: Slovak National Uprising (SNP): Commemorating 60
Years of Slovak-American Partnership
1. August 29 was the 60th anniversary of the commencement
of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) - the largest (on a
per capita basis) popular uprising against Nazi forces
during World War II. The U.S. Embassy in Slovakia used the
occasion to highlight both American involvement in the
uprising against fascism and the continuing story of
Americans and Slovaks fighting together against tyranny.
Activities included the visit of six veterans and numerous
family members and academics, a book translation, a speaker
program, and two receptions. Embassy staff and visitors
from the Indiana National Guard participated in over a dozen
wreath-layings throughout the country. The extensive press
coverage surrounding the American presence, plus the high-
level Slovak government involvement, further contributed to
the success of the series of activities, which took place
August 26 through September 1. This significant historical
and cultural exchange was especially beneficial since the
involvement of Americans in the 1944 Slovak National
Uprising had received little attention during the years when
the Communists controlled the writing of history.
American SNU Veterans Return to Slovakia
--------------
2. The six veterans and their families who returned to
Slovakia met with the families who hid and aided them during
the Uprising, visited their airplane crash sites and
Prisoner of War camps, provided pictures and oral histories
to the Slovak National Uprising Museum, gave multiple media
interviews, and attended embassy receptions. Major General
Jozef Dunaj, Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Air Force,
presented the veterans with "Golden Wings" for their heroic
efforts in aiding the Uprising. Private fundraising paid
for the transportation of the veterans within Slovakia and a
commemorative flight over the partisans' escape route sixty
years ago. Private fundraising will also boost the American
content of the SNP Museum webpage.
Political Involvement
--------------
3. President Ivan Gasparovic, Prime Minister Mikulas
Dzurinda, National Council Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky, and
Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross addressed a standing-
room only event on SNU Day in Banska Bystrica, the central
Slovakian city where the SNP was headquartered. Thirty-two
countries' representatives paid their solemn respects to
those fallen at the same ceremony, including the U.S.
Charge. President Bush's Presidential Statement appealed to
an audience the mission usually finds more difficult to
reach. The older group that vocally expressed disapproval
of PM Dzurinda's remarks against the former communist regime
seemed to welcome Bush's comments and recognize the U.S.
involvement in the SNU.
Receptions and Book Launch
--------------
4. The embassy translated into Slovak a book by an
American historian, Jim Downs, on U.S. involvement in the
SNU. One reception in Bratislava and one in Banska
Bystrica, the SNU headquarters in central Slovakia, honored
the veterans and launched Downs' book. Downs presented his
research in two speeches at a two-day conference at the SNU
Museum, which brought together mainly Czech, Slovak, and
German historians. 200 copies of the book are being
distributed to Slovak libraries, universities, academics,
and political figures; Downs personally presented signed
copies to President Gasparaovic, Prime Minister Dzurinda,
and Parliament President Hrusovsky.
Press Coverage
--------------
5. All major Slovak television stations, Slovak
newspapers, the Armed Forces Network, and several foreign
European journalists covered the events. Press content
related to the U.S. was all positive and focused on the U.S.
veterans who fought in the SNU who returned to Slovakia for
the events, a public affairs-supported historian who wrote
about the U.S. involvement in the SNU, and the remarks of
the Charge, who drew the parallels between Slovaks and
Americans supporting each other both in 1944 and today. The
embassy-sponsored receptions, as well as wreath layings and
smaller ceremonies, also received substantial coverage.
WEISER
NNNN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO LO
SUBJECT: Slovak National Uprising (SNP): Commemorating 60
Years of Slovak-American Partnership
1. August 29 was the 60th anniversary of the commencement
of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) - the largest (on a
per capita basis) popular uprising against Nazi forces
during World War II. The U.S. Embassy in Slovakia used the
occasion to highlight both American involvement in the
uprising against fascism and the continuing story of
Americans and Slovaks fighting together against tyranny.
Activities included the visit of six veterans and numerous
family members and academics, a book translation, a speaker
program, and two receptions. Embassy staff and visitors
from the Indiana National Guard participated in over a dozen
wreath-layings throughout the country. The extensive press
coverage surrounding the American presence, plus the high-
level Slovak government involvement, further contributed to
the success of the series of activities, which took place
August 26 through September 1. This significant historical
and cultural exchange was especially beneficial since the
involvement of Americans in the 1944 Slovak National
Uprising had received little attention during the years when
the Communists controlled the writing of history.
American SNU Veterans Return to Slovakia
--------------
2. The six veterans and their families who returned to
Slovakia met with the families who hid and aided them during
the Uprising, visited their airplane crash sites and
Prisoner of War camps, provided pictures and oral histories
to the Slovak National Uprising Museum, gave multiple media
interviews, and attended embassy receptions. Major General
Jozef Dunaj, Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Air Force,
presented the veterans with "Golden Wings" for their heroic
efforts in aiding the Uprising. Private fundraising paid
for the transportation of the veterans within Slovakia and a
commemorative flight over the partisans' escape route sixty
years ago. Private fundraising will also boost the American
content of the SNP Museum webpage.
Political Involvement
--------------
3. President Ivan Gasparovic, Prime Minister Mikulas
Dzurinda, National Council Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky, and
Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross addressed a standing-
room only event on SNU Day in Banska Bystrica, the central
Slovakian city where the SNP was headquartered. Thirty-two
countries' representatives paid their solemn respects to
those fallen at the same ceremony, including the U.S.
Charge. President Bush's Presidential Statement appealed to
an audience the mission usually finds more difficult to
reach. The older group that vocally expressed disapproval
of PM Dzurinda's remarks against the former communist regime
seemed to welcome Bush's comments and recognize the U.S.
involvement in the SNU.
Receptions and Book Launch
--------------
4. The embassy translated into Slovak a book by an
American historian, Jim Downs, on U.S. involvement in the
SNU. One reception in Bratislava and one in Banska
Bystrica, the SNU headquarters in central Slovakia, honored
the veterans and launched Downs' book. Downs presented his
research in two speeches at a two-day conference at the SNU
Museum, which brought together mainly Czech, Slovak, and
German historians. 200 copies of the book are being
distributed to Slovak libraries, universities, academics,
and political figures; Downs personally presented signed
copies to President Gasparaovic, Prime Minister Dzurinda,
and Parliament President Hrusovsky.
Press Coverage
--------------
5. All major Slovak television stations, Slovak
newspapers, the Armed Forces Network, and several foreign
European journalists covered the events. Press content
related to the U.S. was all positive and focused on the U.S.
veterans who fought in the SNU who returned to Slovakia for
the events, a public affairs-supported historian who wrote
about the U.S. involvement in the SNU, and the remarks of
the Charge, who drew the parallels between Slovaks and
Americans supporting each other both in 1944 and today. The
embassy-sponsored receptions, as well as wreath layings and
smaller ceremonies, also received substantial coverage.
WEISER
NNNN