Na stráž

Na stráž (English: "On guard") is Slovak phrase sometimes associated with far-right politics in Slovakia. It has been described as "the Slovak version of Heil Hitler".[1]

"Na stráž" memorial to fallen soldiers in Třeština, Czech Republic.

During the era of the Slovak State, the phrase was used informally as a greeting by Hlinka Guard members.[2] The phrase was also used by Slovak Ústredie slovenských katolíckych skautov (Headquarters of Slovak Catholic Scouts) and Czech Sokol movement at the beginning of the 20th century. The Sokol badge from 1907 became the most widespread Sokol badge.[3]

Marian Kotleba habitually employed the phrase during his early political career.[4] In 2014, his party tried to register the civic organization "Ľudová stráž", which was rejected due to its far right connotation.[5] In January 2020, Kotleba Party candidate Anton Grňo was fined 5,000 euros for voicing the greeting at a 2018 demonstration in front of the Supreme Court of Slovakia, because the court considered this equivalent to voicing support for the Slovak State regime. He appealed.[6][7]

See also

References
  1. Macadam, Heather Dune (2019). 999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz. Citadel Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-8065-3938-6.
  2. Striško, Rasťo. "Kotlebovci a ich Na stráž! Pozdrav fašistov z Hlinkovej gardy". www.noviny.sk. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  3. "Česká obec sokolská" (in Czech). Old.sokol.eu. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  4. "Kotleba: Slovak Extremist Who Made Far Right Fashionable". Balkan Insight. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  5. Ellian, Afshin; Rijpkema, Bastiaan (2018). Militant Democracy – Political Science, Law and Philosophy. Springer. p. 73. ISBN 978-3-319-97004-2.
  6. "ĽSNS member fined for fascist salute". The Slovak Spectator. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  7. "Na stráž, zakričal na najvyššom súde. Uznali ho vinným". TA3.com (in Slovak). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
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