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Polish Campaign of Slovak Army

Slovak invasion of Poland
Part of the Invasion of Poland
The deserving soldiers of the Slovakian Army being decorated by Slovakian General Catlos.jpeg
Carpathian Germans (soldiers of the Slovakian Army) being decorated by Ferdinand Čatloš after the Invasion of Poland.
Date 1–16 September 1939
Location Poland
Territorial
changes
Slovakia takes the disputed territories
Belligerents
Slovakia Slovakia
Supported by:
 Germany
 Soviet Union
Poland Poland
Commanders and leaders
Ferdinand Čatloš Poland Kazimierz Fabrycy
Strength
3 infantry divisions (main)
Germany 14th Army (support)
6 infantry divisions
Casualties and losses

37 dead
114 wounded

11 missing
2 aircraft destroyed
Heavy casualties
1 aircraft shot down

37 dead
114 wounded

The Slovak invasion of Poland occurred during Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939. The recently created Slovak Republic joined the attack, and the Slovak Field Army Bernolák contributed over 50,000 soldiers in three divisions. As the main body of the Polish forces were engaged with the German armies farther north of the southern border, the Slovak invasion met only weak resistance and suffered minimal losses.

March 14, 1939 saw the Slovak State established as a client state of Germany within the area of Slovakia. Prior to this, on November 2, 1938, a part of Slovakia containing a substantial Hungarian population (Slovakia having been part of the Kingdom of Hungary for centuries) was taken by the Hungarian Army as a result of the First Vienna Award of November 2, 1938. Small parts of these disputed areas with mixed Polish and Slovak inhabitants belonged to Germany and to Poland.

The official political pretext for the Slovak participation in the Polish Campaign was a disagreement over a small disputed area on the Poland-Slovakia border. Poland had appropriated this area on December 1, 1938, in the aftermath of the Munich Agreement of September 1938. In addition, some Polish politicians supported Hungary in their effort to include into their state parts inhabited mostly by Hungarians.

During secret discussions with the Germans on July 20–21, 1939, the Slovak government agreed to participate in Germany's planned attack on Poland. The Slovaks also agreed to allow Germany to use its territory as the staging area for its troops. On August 26, the Slovak Republic mobilized its armed forces and established a new field army, codenamed "Bernolák", which comprised 51,306 soldiers. Additionally, 160,000 reservists were called up, with 115,000 entering service until September 20, 1939.


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