Talk:1st Infantry Division (Slovak Republic)

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Fast Division?[edit]

I'm unconvinced "Fast Division" is the best translation for Schnell Division. I prefer "Rapid Division" but would like to hear from the crowd before I change it. 155.213.224.59 (talk) 17:25, 21 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

"Fast" is fine IMO. It's at least as idomatic as "Rapid" which sounds kind of odd. "Mobile Division" is probably the most idiomatic translation, but then you change the meaning a little bit. Herostratus (talk) 02:56, 12 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Pre-war Czechoslovakia had "fast divisions". They were basically motorized divisions. When it fell to the Germans, the Germans took most of the equipment, but some of it remained within the boundaries of The Slovak Republic, enough to motorize a few bns of infantry, plus a motorcycle Bn, and about 20 armored cars. Slovakia hoped to commit 3 divisions to the campaign, but they lacked their own military industry, so were reliant upon the Germans for equipment. Naturally, the Germans had little to spare. So, Slovakia created the 1st Div from the motorized equipment and foot infantry, and the 2nd Div was foot infantry. A week into the campaign, because of a lack of transport, it became clear that they could not keep up with the rapid advance, so the force was recalled, except the 1st Div's mobile troops. These were detached as a mobile brigade, and were referred to by this term. The rest of 1st Div and all of 2nd Div became security troops and a source of replacements. The mobile brigade fought well, helping to encircle Uman from the south, then pushing to the east. It wintered on the Mius river line. It was expanded to a motorized Div of 6 Bns becoming 1st Div. After Stalingrad, it had to abandon its equipment for lack of fuel and retreated into the Kuman bridgehead with 17th Army. No further equipment was forthcoming, and it became a security Div. With further German defeats, they were not even trusted to do that, anymore, and the entire remaining Slovak force became construction troops. Foolish of the Germans, as the Slovaks proved themselves to be tough, well-led troops, unlike the other Axis, minor allies. This means there were only ever 2 Slovak divisions, 1st Inf (Mot) and 2nd Sec. Source: SPI did a series on the Axis allies, and the Slovak Army was covered in great detail, including equipment. I wrote this from memory, and I suggest you refer to their work. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.31.160.138 (talk) 06:49, 4 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Wrong?[edit]

See Talk:Field Army Bernolák#Wrong? Herostratus (talk) 02:56, 12 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]