MILITARY MUSEUM IN SVIDNIK

ul. Bardejovská 14
089 01 Svidník
tel.: +421 54 7521398
fax: +421 54 7521506
e-mail: vojenskemuzeum@centrum.sk

open:
Tuesday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.


Tickets:
20,- Sk- adults
10,- Sk – students
under 15 years of age admission free

The Military Museum in Svidnik, managed by the Military Institute of History in Bratislava, was opened for public on October 4th 1969 within the frame of celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Battle for the Dukla Pass. Visitors may see here authentic examples from the both WWI an WWII times, which remained after the battle scattered in the Carpathians. Mission of the Museum is to document battle fields in the eastern region of Slovakia from 1914 to 1945.

The following expositions are available for visitors:
1. Main exposition inside the building and around it
This exposition emphasizes the strategic importance of the Dukla Pass during times of the both World Wars. The wars had decisive influence on history of the region, caused death of thousands of thousands people and gigantic material destruction.

a) Presented in the first section of the exhibition documents relate to the course of the WWI in the near-border areas of eastern Slovakia, and especially the Russian offensive through the Dukla Pass in 1914. War operations of the WWI in the Carpathians caused immense loses in people – killed were about 1 million Russian soldiers and 800,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers. Presented artifacts relate precisely to this historic period.

b) In the next sections of the exhibition presented is a history of battles in eastern Slovakia in the interwar period of 1918 – 1939. This period is documented with authentic documents and archival materials.
c) Period of 1939 – 1945 in the region of eastern Slovakia occupies the largest part of the exhibition. During the WWII this region witnessed some of the bloodiest battles leaving behind many victims and total destruction of the region.
During the Carpathian-Dukla Operation in 1944 died, lost or were wounded:
Ř 86 000 soldiers of the Soviet Red Army,
Ř 6 500 soldiers of the 1st Czechoslovakian Corps
Ř 52 000 soldiers of the German Army .
This period of history is documented by authentic photographs taken in the line of fire, personal mementos, miscellaneous arms/weaponry found on the battle field.
d) Many artifacts is presented around the building, one can also see a 37 m high Monument of the Soviet Army erected in 1954. The monument and the adjoining park are considered a memento of the national culture. In four mass graves buried is 9,000 Soviet soldiers.

2. Military Museum – open-air exposition
Another part of the museum is an open-air exposition located on 20 sq km of land. Included in the exposition are 66 various artifacts: heavy military weaponry, observation posts, bunkers and other mementos of the WWII period.
DEATH VALLEY
- open-air exposition within the limits of the villages of Kapisova, Dobroslava, Krizlova, Nizna and Vyzna Pisana is located along the bicycle trail just after crossing the border with Poland.
THE DUKLA PASS – OPEN-AIR EXSPOSITION
- amongst the artifacts dominating is a 28 m high monument of the Czechoslovakian Army erected in 1949 to commemorate friendship between Czechs and Slovaks. Buried here are 585 soldiers of the 1st Czechoslovakian Corps.
Observation tower in the Dukla Pass with exposition
From the top of it visitors may see the main field of the battle.

. .

.