Liberation80: KVH Golian Members and Activities Can Be Seen in Schools and Films

Banska Bystrica, April 19 (TASR) - The Banska Bystrica-based Golian Military History Club (KVH) focuses its activities mainly on the events related to the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), its chairman Martin Gago has told TASR. KVH Golian was named after General Jan Golian, who was a key figure of the SNP. The club was founded in 2004 by Martin Gago and his father after the death of his grandfather, who fought on the Eastern Front and in the Uprising. The main idea was to commemorate the legacy of direct participants in World War II on Slovak territory. "To show people how young soldiers and boys lived during wartime, and to keep the memory of them alive," said Gago. In the first years of its existence, KVH Golian focused mainly on events related to the Red Army. "Around 2014, we agreed that we would mainly highlight the Slovak Army on the Eastern Front and the 1st Czechoslovak Army after the outbreak of the SNP," said Gago. The club has more than ten members at the moment, and the uniforms and equipment that they possess come from the private collections of each of them. In addition to battle reconstructions, the club also engages in educational activities at schools and participates in the making of historical films and documentaries. "Their number has increased significantly in recent years. We are now cooperating on an upcoming feature-length war film," said Gago, adding that people will be able to watch it at cinemas. In recent years, the club has also been closely cooperating with the SNP Museum in Banska Bystrica. The busiest period of the year for KVH Golian is usually the months of August, September and October, when various anniversaries associated with the Slovak National Uprising are commemorated in Slovakia. The club chairman views it as extremely important to continue to remind people of historical events, especially the young generation, even 80 years after the end of WWII. ko/df/mf