Pavel Slúka

“Two days later the unit attacked a group of German combat soldiers in Gondovo, whilst some of them were captured and taken to Žobráčka valley. In the second half of December the front was approaching and fascists retreated. The unit moved to Devičany, where after a short fight it destroyed a group of fascists and captured some of them as well. Subsequently we took over Pukanec, where we disarmed the local militia unit and liberated one partisan captive from Devičany. He was kept in a cellar and one of the more active militia men tortured him. We were lodged in the meeting hall of the municipal office and we watched from the tower of the Lutheran church. In a short time the front battles broke out and since the partisans couldn´t face the German attack, they retreated again to Devičany, where the Soviet Army had already arrived. The unit was incorporated into the posture of defense of the Red Army on the hill Bukovec above Devičany. We lay there through the whole night and awaited the Germans´ attack.”