WW2 veteran Vladimír Strmeň fulfils his musical dream with his partisan songs to be aired on Monday evening

What was once 93-year-old WW2 veteran Vladimír Strmeň's dream of singing and recording his partisan songs with professional musicians has now become a reality thanks to the Slovak Armed Forces Band Banská Bystrica in close cooperation with Slovak Radio and Television (RTVS) and the Military Support Foundation (MSF).

Based on Vladimír Strmeň's personal notes and singing, the two WW2 songs were put to music by composer Cpl Jakub Laco and recorded in the autumn of 2021 by the Slovak Armed Forces Band Banská Bystrica with Capt Ján Goliaš as conductor. Post-production work was done by Ľuboš Kovačech of RTVS Banská Bystrica. The project was initiated and supported by the Military Support Foundation. Both songs will make their debut in a joint show entitled 'The Band, Start Playing!' by Radio Regina's three studios at 20:05 on 3 January 2022.

Speaking after the recording session, Vladimír Strmeň said: “I'm happy all has turned out well. While recording the songs, I was thinking about my friends from the Major Morozov and Captain Sokolov Partisan Groups and the Revengers Unit. I recorded the songs in memory of all those who had courage to fight against the Nazis. And what a tremendous experience singing with such wonderful musicians as those in the Slovak Armed Forces Band Banská Bystrica that was for me!” Speaking on the occasion, Capt Ján Goliaš said: “For us, it was a great honour to have accompanied such a great legend as Vladimír Strmeň.”

For Vladimír Strmeň, music has been his life-long love. In 1942, he joined the Army Band Banská Bystrica as a 14-year old minor recruit and learned to play the bass horn and the trombone. After the outbreak of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) he was sent home because he was a minor. However, no sooner had he come to his native village of Staré Hory than he joined a partisan group on 1 September 1944. As the partisan group was pushed back into the mountains, he was wounded in fighting. He remained with the partisan group in the mountains until they linked up with the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps. After WW2 Vladimír Strmeň played with the Tesla Band Banská Bystrica for many years. Until recently, he showcased his accordion musicianship in front of residents of care homes in Banská Bystrica.