Period of the duration

from 29 th August to October 19 th 1944 (1 st phase of Uprising)

Battle Group Von Ohlen; Battle Group Von Junck (on 5 th September 1944 from these two Battle Groups was established 178 th Grenadier Division “Tatra”); SS Battle Group Schäfer; Battle Group Volkmann; 17 th Assault Regiment; Bomber Squadron “Immelman”; SS Battle Group Schill, 14 th SS Grenadier Division “Galizien”.

from 20 th October to 28 th October 1944 (2 nd phase of Uprising)

178 th Grenadier Division “Tatra”; SS Battle Group Schill; SS Battle Group Schäfer; 271 st and 708 th Volksgrenadier Divisions; SS Brigade “Dirlewanger”; SS Battle Group Wittenmayer (3 Battalions of 14 th SS Grenadier Division “Galizien”); 18 th SS Grenadier Division “Horst Wessel”; Eastern Turkish SS Battle Group; several elements of Hlinka´s Guard and Hašík´s Militia.

Commander: Obgrf. C. Berger

Obgrf. H. Höfle (since 16 th September 1944 )

from 31 st August to 10 th September 1944

1 st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia (2 military defense areas established in Banká Bystrica and Liptovký Mikuláš): 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th and 6 th Infantry Regiments; Artillery Groups formed from 1 st , 2 nd , 11 th and 12 th Artillery Regiments; around 10 Partisan Battalions.

from 11 th September 1944 to 28 th October 1944

1 st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia: 1 st Tactical Group (1 st Infantry Regiment; 1 st Independent Company; 1 st Artillery Group; Combined Signal Company); 2 nd Tactical Group (2 nd Infantry Regiment; 2 nd Staff Company; Pioneer Company; Combined Signal Company; Reserve Infantry Battalion; 1 st , 2 nd and 4 th Batteries); 3 rd Tactical Group (3 rd Infantry Regiment; Reserve Battery; 1 st and 3 rd Batteries; Independent Battery; Pioneer Company; Combined Signal Company); 4 th Tactical Group (4 th Infantry Regiment; Tank Platoon; Anti-Tank Company; Company of aircraft personal; Anti-Aircraft Platoon; Mortar Platoon); 5 th Tactical Group (5 th Reserve Infantry Company; Combined Signal Company; Staff Automobile Group); 6 th Tactical Group (6 th Infantry Regiment; Pioneer Company; Telegraph Company; 1 st Howitzer Battery; 2 nd Heavy Artillery Battery; Anti-Aircraft Battery); Headquarters (3 Armored Trains; Pioneer Battalion; Signal Battalion; 11 th Automobile Battalion; Armored Regiment; Military Warehouses; Military Hospital; Supply and Maintenance Units; Field Post Office); 1 st Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment ; Air force Group ; Group of Antiaircraft guns ; 2 nd Czechoslovak Airborne Brigade (1 st and 2 nd Battalions; Artillery Group; Anti-Tank Group; Anti-Aircraft Group; Reconnaissance Group; Signal Group; Pioneer Group; Automobile Company)*.

Army Commander: col. J. Golian (later general)

gen. R. Viest (since 7 th October 1944 )

Casualties (KIA, MIA): 3,350 soldiers approx.

The first contact between German and Czechoslovak forces took place in Strecno´s Pass along riverbank of Váh. The Battle Group Von Ohlen attacked the position of Risers on 31 st August 1944 . The positions of Risers were permanently bombed by dive-bombers of Bomber Squadron “Immelman”. After 6 days´ combat the elements of 1 st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia retreated to the town of Turčiansky Sv. Martin . They carried out a few counterattacks supported by light and medium tanks but without any success. Although Area of Turiec was soon captured by Germans, the combat in Srecno´s Pass allowed for the defenders to prepare strong defense position behind the pass. Considering this fact German penetrated this position after 17 days of combats.

Situation in the northeast sector was unsatisfactory. Units of 1 st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia carried out attack from the town of Levoča and the town of Liptovský Sv. Mikuláš to destroy Germans but they encountered the strong German resistance which changed on the strong counterattack. Germans seized towns of Levoča, Kežmarok and Poprad and they stood in front of the gates of the town of Liptovský Sv. Mikuláš .

SS Battle Group Schäfer attacked on 2 nd September 1944 in order to link Battle Group Von Ohlen. Risers were pushed to the valley near Kraľovany and the village of Telgárt . Near Telgárt on 3 rd and 4 th September 1944 Partisan units supported by few units of 1 st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia stopped the German advance and with the usage of several counterattacks supported by tanks stabilized this part of front for a long time. Last combats in the north area began on 6 th September 1944 but after short battles Risers retreated from Ružomberok toward the village of Biely Potok where joined another units retreating from Liptovký Sv. Mikuláš. At this place commanding officer col. J. Černek ordered to set up defense position which was held until last days of the Uprising.

Further the combat continued near Martin and Vrútky where on 7 th September1944 Risers attacked the town of Vrútky but they were pushed back to Martin. The German advance was supported by tanks and was stopped on the line Dolné Záturčie – Priekopa – Hrádok. Partisan units held mountains around this area which had a positive result regarding the situation of Risers. Next day units of Risers carried out a strong counterattack and pushed Germans back to the town of Vrútky . They also captured 1 PzKpfw IV and 1 Sturmgeschütz III which were with last LT-38 tank immediately thrown into the attack to re-capture Vrútky but good covered German anti-tank guns destroyed all of them. After these combats the situation in this area stabilized because neither side was able to continue its attacks.

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