ŘEKA NITRA – TRAGÉDIE 15. ČERVENCE 1939 A JEJÍ DŮSLEDKY

During the training in July 1939, 10 Slovak soldiers drowned on the Nitra River. The following month an all-army swimming and rescue course was held for several dozen selected future instructors and non-swimmers. However, it was not possible to initiate a regular swimming training in the Slovak Army for the soldiers to acquire swimming abilities due to a lack of trained physical education officers in military formations, as well as a lack of material base in the form of swimming pools in military garrisons. Swimming and bathing often took place in the open air on watercourses and lakes. These activities were accompanied by insubordination of the soldiers, which increased the risk of accidents and drowning. Orders to prevent them were in many cases carried out only formally. Throughout its existence, the Slovak Army failed to enforce systematic swimming skills training in its own ranks.