Slovak invasion of Poland (1939)

Slovak invasion of Poland

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
Supported by:

Nazi Germany

Poland

Commanders and leaders

Ferdinand Čatloš

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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