Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII

Czechoslovakia was originally formed in 1918 after the end of the First World War. The majority of the people of the new Nation of Czechoslovakia were of either Czech or Slovak heritage, the two main ethnic groups in the region for the last many years. When Czechoslovakia was formed, the basis of power and authority lay in the hands of the dominate Czechs. The Capital was choosen as Praha (Prague) which was in the traditional lands of the Czech people. Slovaks had desired autonomy from the very begining of the formation of the Czech Nation, and this desire helped prompt the formation of independent Slovakia in March of 1939. In 1939, when Germany invaded the Sudetenland, the stage was set for the eventual autonomy of the Slovak people, although their autonomy was to be guided by the will of the Germans, for they alone had allowed the Slovaks to form their pseudo-independent Nation. After the start of WWII, what began for Slovakia as a proud, enthusiastic and eager venture, would, like so many other Axis Allied Nations, eventually lead to an attempted revolt, and the disbandenment of all Slovak Armed forces by the Germans into harmless construction units.

 

Initially the Slovak Military was thought to be a capable and potentially stong ally of the Germans. The Slovak people were considered to be stong, brave and capable of enduring a great deal. Initial problems in the Slovak Army consisted of a general lack of modern and reliable weapons and equipment (in the wake of the German take over of the former regions of Bohemia-Moravia, basically the western region of the former Nation of Czechoslovakia), as well as problems with experianced commanders and NCOs, as Slovaks were discriminated against in the Czech Army and therefore only the native Slovkian officer corps and a small pool of Slovak NCOs existed to lead their new army. A number of Slovaks were sent to Germany to train as officers and a small German Military training mission existed in Slovakia to attempt to make up for the problems with Slovakian leadership, but the problem was never fully resolved.

Slovak Axis Forces during the Campaign against Poland, 1939

Slovakia was the only Axis-Allied Nation to take part in the Campaign against Poland. With the impending German invasion of Poland slated for September of 1939, OHW requested the assitance of Slovakia. Although the Slovakian military was only six months old, it formed a small mobile combat group consisting of a number of infantry and artillery battalions. Two combat groups were created for the Campaign in Poland for use along side the Germans. The first group was a brigade sized formation that consisted of six infantry battalions, two artillery battalions, and a company of combat engineers, all commanded by Anton Pulanich. The second group was a mobile formation that consisted of two battalions of combined cavalry and motorcycle recon troops along with nine motorized artillery batteries, all commanded by Gustav Malar. The two groups were organized around the HQ of the 1st and 3rd Slovakian Infantry Divisions. The two combat groups saw fighting while pushing through the Nowy Sacz and Dukeilska Mountain Passes, advancing towards Debica and Tarnow in the region of southern Poland.

The Slovakian Axis Expeditionary Army Group in Russia

Four days after the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Slovakia sent its own units forward against the Russian lines in the form of the Slovakian Expeditionary Army Group. The Slovak Army Group was commanded by the Slovak Minister of Defense, Ferdinand Catlos.

As the Campaign in the East drew on, the Slovak forces began to fall behind the massive German sweep across the Soviet Union. This was mainly because of a general lack of mobile forces able to transport the 45,000 stong Slovak Army Group along side the German advance.

Brigade Pilfousek

As a result of the inability of the Slovak Army Group to keep up with the German advance, it was decided to create a mobile unit that would be capable of doing so. This was done by forming all the mototized units of the former Slovak Army Group into a single formation termed the Slovak Mobile Command, otherwise known as Brigade Pilfousek, commanded by the former commander of the 2nd Slovak Division, Rudolf Pilfousek.

Brigade Pilfousek consisted of the I/6 Mot.Inf.Bn., I/11 Mot.Art.Bn., the 1st Tank Bn. with the 1st and 2nd Tank Co. and the 1st and 2nd Anti-Tank Co., 2nd Recon.Bn., 1st Weapons Co., 2nd Motorcycle Co., and the I/3/I Mot.Eng. Platoon.

Brigade Pilfousek advanced through Lvov and towards Vinnitsa. Around July 8th, 1941, the Brigade had advanced beyond the tactical control of the Slovak command, so control of the unit was handed over to the German 17.Armee. It was at this time that the remaining forces of the former Slovak Army Group (no longer an independent formation), were used behind the German lines in conjunction with the 103rd Rear Area Command of Army Group South in security duties and helping to eliminate pockets of Soviet resistance. By July 22nd, the Brigade, now under German control, had advanced to Vinnitsa and had pushed on towards Lipovets. The Brigade experianced heavy fighting against the Soviets during this time. Next, the Brigade moved north through Berdichev, Zhitomir, and on towards the region of Kiev.