Defence Minister Naď commemorates 76th anniversary of Bratislava's liberation

To commemorate the 76th anniversary of Bratislava's liberation today (6 April), Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď laid a wreath at the Victory Memorial during a silent wreath-laying ceremony in Eugen Suchoň Square, Bratislava. He was joined by Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer and Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko in paying tribute to those fallen in liberating Bratislava and Slovakia.

“We owe our thanks and recognition to all those heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their own lives for the freedom and future of next generations. May every human life extinguished as result of war serve as a permanent reminder that freedom is not for granted, which is why we must approach it with utmost responsibility,” emphasised the head of the MOD, adding “Even today, our future freedom demands a certain personal sacrifice by each of us in the form of following restrictions. Nevertheless, I believe Slovakia is on the right track.”

Bratislava was liberated in the Bratislava-Brno Offensive in two stages between 25 March 1945 and 5 May 1945. A total of 742 Soviet troops, 470 German and Hungarian soldiers, and 121 civilians lost their lives in the Battle of Bratislava.

Those claiming most credit for liberating Bratislava were troops fighting in the formation of the 7th Soviet Guard Army, commanded by Col Gen M. S. Shumilov, the 46th Army, commanded by Lt Gen A. V. Petrushevsky, and the Danube Flotilla, commanded by Rear Admiral G. N. Cholostakov.