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Jan
Golian was nominated to army grade of colonel of the Headquarters by
the Czechoslovak exil Ministry of Defense in London on 29th August,
1944. He allocated the 1. Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia – as it was
officialy called – into two military defence areas (MDA) by the
command from 31st August, 1944.
The MDA no.1 included reserve units of the Infantry regiment
no.1, 2 and 3 and artillery units from the Artillery regiment no.1
and 11. The main task of the MDA no.1 was to defend the valley of
the river Nitra and the Turiec area and to prevent the German units
from saturation into the valley of the river Hron as well as the
city of Banska Bystrica and Zvolen. Col.Kuna was nominated as the
commander of the MDA no.1;
the headquarters was situated in Banska Bystrica.
The MDA no.2 included reserve units of the Infantry regiment
no.4, 5 and 6 and artillery units from the Artillery regiment no.2
and 12. The main task of the MDA no.2 was to defend the area of
Orava, the area of lower and upper Liptov and the area of upper
Spis. Col.Bodicky was nominated as the commander of the MDA no.2;
the
headquarters was situated in Liptovsky Sv.Mikulas.
10th September, 1944 organisation of the 1st Czechoslovak Army in
Slovakia, considering development on the uprising frontline was
changed from two the MDA to 6 tactical groups (TG). Task of the 1st
TG (commander Lt-Col.Tlach) was to defend the city of Banska
Bystrica and the hills of Velky and Maly Sturec. The east part of
the uprising area was defended by 2nd TG (Col.M.Sirica), the
southwest part was defended by 3rd TG (Col.Kuna, Col.Markus), the
west entrances were defended by 4th TG (Lt-Col.Malar, Col.Markus),
the area of Turiec – Vrutky – Kralovany was defended by 5th TG
(Lt-Col.Perko) and the north area was defended by 6th TG
(Lt-Col.Cernek). There was the aviation group including
anti-aircraft and aviation units besides these 6 groups. The 2nd
Czechoslovak paradesant brigade and the 1st Czechoslovak air-fighter
regiment were included in the 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia.
5th September,
1944 Col. J.Golian was on the basis of decision nominated by the
Slovak national council to army grade of brigade general. J.Golian
became the deputy of the general Rudolf Viest, commander of the
uprising army, in 7th October, 1944.
According to the norms – valid in the Slovak army in 1944 – a
squadron as, as the smallest military unit, had 10 privates,
a platoon had 3 squadrons, an observer and couplers, 34
privates altogether. A company had 4 officers, 5 petty
officers, 113 privates in 3 platoons, 4 couplers. The company was
equipped by 83 rifles (Mk.24), 9 machine-guns (Mk.26), 9 mortars and
180 hand grenades. The battalion consisted of 3 companies.
HQ of battalion with the company staff and supporting platoon had 9
officers, 7 petty oficers, 98 privates with 69 rifles and 26 guns, 8
anti-tank guns and 4 mortars. The battalion had 48 horses, 23
carriges, 1 truck, 1 personal car and 1 motor-cycle too. The
battalion had 480 privates altogether.
Author:
Panzer Marder
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