The Slovak National Uprising (SNU) is one of the major events that has not only gone down in Slovak history but also in the history of the European resistance against Nazism. The news, reporting the first clashes between the Žilina garrison and German units, reached Banská Bystrica on 29th August 1944. On the evening of the same day, Lieutenant Colonel J. Golian gave the order to begin the Slovak National Uprising, using the secret code: “Start the eviction!” During the early days, some of the garrisons, especially those in Western Slovakia, were disarmed and thus were unable to join the Uprising. The disarming of two divisions in Eastern Slovakia, which were supposed to form the major part of the rebel army, was another great loss. Despite these unfavourable events, combat operations against the attacking German army that began in Central Slovakia were gradually joined by approximately 60,000 soldiers, 15,000 partisans and participants from 35 nations and various nationalities from all over the world. They were commanded by General J. Golian. In October, Divisional General Rudolf Viest, who had been intended to be in command of the Uprising from the beginning, took over. However, this change in the leadership and structure of the rebel army was not enough to stop the German army, which had launched a general offensive. Banská Bystrica was occupied on 27th October 1944, but combat operations continued in the surrounding mountains. Due to this change in circumstances General Viest gave orders that the army should begin partisan operations.
