The people of Bratislava should not forget who liberated their city and the conditions that accompanied the process, said Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday when laying a wreath at the Slavín war memorial to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava in WWII. According to the prime minister, young people often have distorted information concerning the events. "It may appear that many years have passed since Bratislava was liberated, but it would be a huge mistake to forget about these people. I want to thank all of them, including Red Army soldiers, Romanians and others who took part in the liberation of Bratislava," said Fico. At the commemorative event were also the Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš, the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jan Richter, the Education, Science, Research and Sport Minister Peter Plavčan, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matečná, and Russian Ambassador to Slovakia Alexey Leonidovich Fedotov. The fighting that took place during the liberation of Bratislava claimed the lives of 742 Soviet and 470 German and Hungarian soldiers and of 121 civilians. Several buildings were burnt, but the damage wasn't significant compared to other locations in Slovakia. The fighting finally subsided in the evening of April 4, 1945.
The mayor of Bratislava Ivo Nesrovnal shared similar comments on Tuesday, making references to the increase of right-wing extremism in general society. "Let's not turn a blind eye and be oblivious to what is transpiring around us. There are movements on the rise that, under the guise of rapid and attractive solutions, incite hostility, coarseness and hatred," said Nesrovnal during a ceremony at the Victory Memorial on Eugen Suchon Square. "It's important to remind ourselves that in hard times European nations found the strength and unity to tackle Nazism and the ideology of National Socialism," said the mayor, who believes that April 4, 1945 has left an indelible mark on Bratislava's history. He went on to express the need to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the name of the fight for freedom. A host of senior state officials, including members of the Government and Parliament, diplomats and former combatants also attended the ceremony.
