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Hlinka Guard

The Hlinka Guard (Slovak: Hlinkova garda; German: Hlinka-Garde; abbreviated as HG) was the militia maintained by the Slovak People's Party in the period from 1938 to 1945; it was named after Andrej Hlinka.[1]

Hlinka Guard
Emblem of the Hlinka Guard

Commander of Hlinka Guard Interior Minister Alexander Mach and German Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick visit in Germany
Agency overview
Formed1938
Preceding agency
Dissolved1945
TypeParamilitary
Jurisdiction Slovak State
HeadquartersBratislava
Ministers responsible
Parent agency Hlinka's Slovak People's Party (HSLS-SSNJ)
The "autonomist flag", 1938–45 party flag of the Ludaks and their Organizations Hlinka Guard and Hlinka Youth

The Hlinka Guard was preceded by the Rodobrana (Home Defense/Nation's Defense) organization, which existed from 1923 to 1927, when the Czechoslovak authorities ordered its dissolution. During the crisis caused by Hitler's demand for the Sudetenland (in the summer of 1938), the Hlinka Guard emerged spontaneously, and on October 8 of that year, a week after Hitler's demand had been accepted at the Munich conference, the guard was officially set up, with Karol Sidor (1901–1953) as its first commander.

The Hlinka Guard was known for its participation in the Holocaust in Slovakia; its members appropriated Jewish property and rounded up Jews for deportation in 1942. In the post-war, under one of the Beneš decrees, No. 16/1945 Coll., membership of the Hlinka Guard was punishable by 5 to 20 years imprisonment.

Duties edit

The guard was the Hlinka party's military arm for internal security, and it continued in that role under the autonomous government of Slovakia in federated Czecho-Slovakia. The Hlinka Guard were Slovakia's state police and most willingly helped Hitler with his plans. It operated against Jews, Czechs, Hungarians, the Left, and the opposition. By a decree issued on October 29, 1938, the Hlinka Guard was designated as the only body authorized to give its members paramilitary training, and it was this decree that established its formal status in the country. Hlinka guardsmen wore black uniforms and a cap shaped like a boat, with a woolen pompom on top, and they used the raised-arm salute. The official salute was "Na stráž!" ("On guard!").

Membership edit

Until March 14, 1939, when Slovakia declared its independence, the Hlinka Guard attracted recruits from all walks of life. On the following day, March 15, Alexander Mach became its commander, retaining the post up to the collapse of the pro-Nazi regime in Slovakia in 1945. Its functions were laid down in a series of government decrees: it was to be a paramilitary organization attached to the party, fostering love of country, providing paramilitary training, and safeguarding internal security. By assuming these tasks, the guard was meant to counterbalance the army and the police. In 1941 Hlinka Guard shock troops were trained in SS camps in Germany, and the SS attached an adviser to the guard. At this point many of the guardsmen who were of middle-class origin quit, and thenceforth the organization consisted of peasants and unskilled laborers, together with various doubtful elements. A social message was an integral part of the radical nationalism that it sought to impart.

Deportation of the Jews edit

In November 1938, the Hlinka Guard participated in the deportation of thousands of Jews.[2] In 1942, the guard was involved in the deportation of almost 60,000 Slovak Jews to occupied Poland.[3] The victims were given only four hours' warning, to prevent them from escaping. Beatings and forcible shaving were commonplace, as was subjecting Jews to invasive searches to uncover hidden valuables. Some guards took advantage of their power to rape Jewish women.[4]

Political competition edit

A small group called Náš Boj (Our Struggle), which operated under SS auspices, was the most radical element in the guard. Throughout its years of existence, the Hlinka Guard competed with the Hlinka party for primacy in ruling the country. After the anti-Nazi Slovak National Uprising was crushed in August 1944, the SS took over and shaped the Hlinka Guard to suit its own purposes. Special units of the guard (Hlinka Guard Emergency Divisions – POHG) were employed against partisans and Jews.

Legacy edit

In the 2010s, the Hlinka Guard's uniforms made a reappearance in Slovakia as the preferred dress of far-right politician Marian Kotleba and his Our Slovakia party. Kotleba's group made minor alterations to the uniforms, as wearing the original uniforms remains illegal in Slovakia.[5]

References edit

  • Rajcan, Vanda; Vadkerty, Madeline; Hlavinka, Ján (2018). "Slovakia". In Megargee, Geoffrey P.; White, Joseph R.; Hecker, Mel (eds.). Camps and Ghettos under European Regimes Aligned with Nazi Germany. Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos. Vol. 3. Bloomington: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. pp. 842–852. ISBN 978-0-253-02373-5.
  • Sokolovič, Peter (2013). Hlinkova Garda 1938 – 1945 [Hlinka Guard 1938 – 1945] (PDF). Bratislava: Ústav pamäti národa. ISBN 978-80-89335-10-7.

Further reading edit

  • Jelinek, Yeshayahu (1971). "Storm-Troopers in Slovakia: The Rodobrana and the Hlinka Guard". Journal of Contemporary History. 6 (3): 97–119. doi:10.1177/002200947100600307. JSTOR 259881. S2CID 159713369.
  • Hruboň, Anton (2010). 5. poľná rota Hlinkovej gardy [The Fifth Company of the Hlinka Guard] (PDF) (in Slovak). Ružomberok: Historia nostra. ISBN 978-80-9700-80-2-4. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)

References edit

  1. ^ Niewyk, Donald L. (24 July 2012). The Columbia Guide to the Holocaust. United States: Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231528788.
  2. ^ Rajcan, Vadkerty & Hlavinka 2018, p. 844.
  3. ^ Rajcan, Vadkerty & Hlavinka 2018, p. 847.
  4. ^ Sokolovič 2013, pp. 346–347.
  5. ^ Walker, Shaun (14 February 2019). "How a Slovakian neo-Nazi got elected". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2019.

hlinka, guard, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 2013, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Hlinka Guard news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Hlinka Guard Slovak Hlinkova garda German Hlinka Garde abbreviated as HG was the militia maintained by the Slovak People s Party in the period from 1938 to 1945 it was named after Andrej Hlinka 1 Hlinka GuardEmblem of the Hlinka GuardCommander of Hlinka Guard Interior Minister Alexander Mach and German Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick visit in GermanyAgency overviewFormed1938Preceding agencyRodobranaDissolved1945TypeParamilitaryJurisdictionSlovak StateHeadquartersBratislavaMinisters responsibleJozef Tiso High Commander 1938 45 Karol Sidor Minister of Interior 1938 39 Alexander Mach Minister of Interior 1939 44 Otomar Kubala Minister of Interior 1944 45 Parent agencyHlinka s Slovak People s Party HSLS SSNJ The autonomist flag 1938 45 party flag of the Ludaks and their Organizations Hlinka Guard and Hlinka YouthThe Hlinka Guard was preceded by the Rodobrana Home Defense Nation s Defense organization which existed from 1923 to 1927 when the Czechoslovak authorities ordered its dissolution During the crisis caused by Hitler s demand for the Sudetenland in the summer of 1938 the Hlinka Guard emerged spontaneously and on October 8 of that year a week after Hitler s demand had been accepted at the Munich conference the guard was officially set up with Karol Sidor 1901 1953 as its first commander The Hlinka Guard was known for its participation in the Holocaust in Slovakia its members appropriated Jewish property and rounded up Jews for deportation in 1942 In the post war under one of the Benes decrees No 16 1945 Coll membership of the Hlinka Guard was punishable by 5 to 20 years imprisonment Contents 1 Duties 2 Membership 3 Deportation of the Jews 4 Political competition 5 Legacy 6 References 7 Further reading 8 ReferencesDuties editThe guard was the Hlinka party s military arm for internal security and it continued in that role under the autonomous government of Slovakia in federated Czecho Slovakia The Hlinka Guard were Slovakia s state police and most willingly helped Hitler with his plans It operated against Jews Czechs Hungarians the Left and the opposition By a decree issued on October 29 1938 the Hlinka Guard was designated as the only body authorized to give its members paramilitary training and it was this decree that established its formal status in the country Hlinka guardsmen wore black uniforms and a cap shaped like a boat with a woolen pompom on top and they used the raised arm salute The official salute was Na straz On guard Membership editUntil March 14 1939 when Slovakia declared its independence the Hlinka Guard attracted recruits from all walks of life On the following day March 15 Alexander Mach became its commander retaining the post up to the collapse of the pro Nazi regime in Slovakia in 1945 Its functions were laid down in a series of government decrees it was to be a paramilitary organization attached to the party fostering love of country providing paramilitary training and safeguarding internal security By assuming these tasks the guard was meant to counterbalance the army and the police In 1941 Hlinka Guard shock troops were trained in SS camps in Germany and the SS attached an adviser to the guard At this point many of the guardsmen who were of middle class origin quit and thenceforth the organization consisted of peasants and unskilled laborers together with various doubtful elements A social message was an integral part of the radical nationalism that it sought to impart Deportation of the Jews editMain article The Holocaust in Slovakia In November 1938 the Hlinka Guard participated in the deportation of thousands of Jews 2 In 1942 the guard was involved in the deportation of almost 60 000 Slovak Jews to occupied Poland 3 The victims were given only four hours warning to prevent them from escaping Beatings and forcible shaving were commonplace as was subjecting Jews to invasive searches to uncover hidden valuables Some guards took advantage of their power to rape Jewish women 4 Political competition editA small group called Nas Boj Our Struggle which operated under SS auspices was the most radical element in the guard Throughout its years of existence the Hlinka Guard competed with the Hlinka party for primacy in ruling the country After the anti Nazi Slovak National Uprising was crushed in August 1944 the SS took over and shaped the Hlinka Guard to suit its own purposes Special units of the guard Hlinka Guard Emergency Divisions POHG were employed against partisans and Jews Legacy editIn the 2010s the Hlinka Guard s uniforms made a reappearance in Slovakia as the preferred dress of far right politician Marian Kotleba and his Our Slovakia party Kotleba s group made minor alterations to the uniforms as wearing the original uniforms remains illegal in Slovakia 5 References editRajcan Vanda Vadkerty Madeline Hlavinka Jan 2018 Slovakia In Megargee Geoffrey P White Joseph R Hecker Mel eds Camps and Ghettos under European Regimes Aligned with Nazi Germany Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos Vol 3 Bloomington United States Holocaust Memorial Museum pp 842 852 ISBN 978 0 253 02373 5 Sokolovic Peter 2013 Hlinkova Garda 1938 1945 Hlinka Guard 1938 1945 PDF Bratislava Ustav pamati naroda ISBN 978 80 89335 10 7 Further reading editJelinek Yeshayahu 1971 Storm Troopers in Slovakia The Rodobrana and the Hlinka Guard Journal of Contemporary History 6 3 97 119 doi 10 1177 002200947100600307 JSTOR 259881 S2CID 159713369 Hrubon Anton 2010 5 poľna rota Hlinkovej gardy The Fifth Company of the Hlinka Guard PDF in Slovak Ruzomberok Historia nostra ISBN 978 80 9700 80 2 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a journal ignored help References edit Niewyk Donald L 24 July 2012 The Columbia Guide to the Holocaust United States Columbia University Press ISBN 9780231528788 Rajcan Vadkerty amp Hlavinka 2018 p 844 Rajcan Vadkerty amp Hlavinka 2018 p 847 Sokolovic 2013 pp 346 347 Walker Shaun 14 February 2019 How a Slovakian neo Nazi got elected The Guardian Retrieved 14 February 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hlinka Guard amp oldid 1177084295, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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