Publications
'Annus Mirabilis' 1989 and Slovakia: From a Totalitarian Regime to Democracy. Proceedings from the International Scholar Conference in Bratislava, 12 – 13 November 2019
The publication in English 'Annus Mirabilis' 1989 and Slovakia: From a Totalitarian Regime to Democracy is the output of an international scientific conference that took place on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the fall of communist regimes in Central and Southeastern Europe in November 2019 in Bratislava. It contains twelve scientific studies by foreign authors from eight countries: the USA, Canada, Austria, Poland, the Russian Federation, Hungary, Romania, and Albania. The collection also includes studies by Slovak and Czech historians and archivists. The general range of topics concerning the 'Year of Miracles' 1989 is broad. It includes a general analysis of the historical events surrounding the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and their causes, partial studies on revolutions in individual states, themes of dissent, student movements, exile, criminal law issues, as well as memory politics. It provides an overview of current archival funds and collections related to the Gentle Revolution in Slovakia and the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic.
KATREBOVÁ BLEHOVÁ, Beáta, (zost). 'Annus Mirabilis' 1989 and Slovakia: From a Totalitarian Regime to Democracy. Proceedings from the International Scholar Conference in Bratislava, 12 – 13 November 2019. Edícia Zborníky. Ústav pamäti národa, 2021, 791 s.
ISBN 978-80-8257-001-7
Price: 26,90 €
Matej Medvecký, Jerguš Sivoš, Peter Jašek: Following the Footsteps of Iron Felix. The State security in Slovakia 1945 – 1989
Following the Footsteps of Iron Felix explores the history of the once nearly all-powerful State Security apparatus in Slovakia. The book seeks to shed light on the complex structures of this intelligence service and to address some of the more sensitive questions surrounding its past. It is intended for a broader audience, both in Slovakia and abroad. In addition, the publication features numerous photographs and supplementary materials that enrich the reader's understanding.
Download: MEDVECKÝ, Matej, SIVOŠ, Jerguš, JAŠEK, Peter: Following the Footsteps of Iron Felix. The State Security in Slovakia 1945 – 1989 PDF (size 37.91 MB)
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August ´68 Occupation and Civil Resistance in Slovakia in Photo Documents from the Archives of the Nation´s Memory Institute
In an effort to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the occupation of Czechoslovakia on August 20, 1968 by the military forces of the Warsaw Pact, the Nation´s Memory Institute has published a monography compiled of authentic iconographic documents. The documents are obscure genuine photographs as well as documentation from the Institute´s Archives and they document the moments of the invasion.
One of the reasons that led the Institute to publish the monography was an existing, rather simplified visual perception of the occupation. The notion of the occupation in Slovakia has been familiarized with the rich and dramatic visual material originating in Prague, but much less with the footing from Bratislava, with perhaps the most well-known collection of photographs from the centre of Bratislava shot by a photo reporter Ladislav Bielik who later had to face communist persecution. For this reason, the publication charted a different course and aims to present the infamous August days of 1968 as the inhabitants of various Slovak regions viewed them. Besides the authenticity of the mentioned photographs and documents their major "added value" is their origin.
The publication has been written in a popular scientific style and the intent is to address the widest possible range of people, especially the younger generation who did not witness these events firsthand.
The publication is published both in Slovak and English.
Price: 10,29 €
Martina Fiamová (ed.): Anti-Semitic Legislation in Slovakia and Europe
On September 8–9, 2011, the international scientific conference Anti-Semitic Legislation in Slovakia and Europe was held on the ground of the Faculty of Law of Comenius University in Bratislava. It was organized by the Nation's Memory Institute and the European Network of Remembrance and Solidarity in cooperation with the Department of Legal History of the Faculty of Law of Comenius University and the Department of General History of Faculty of Philosophy of Comenius University in Bratislava.
Download: Martina Fiamová (ed.) - Anti-Semitic Legislation in Slovakia and Europe PDF (size 3.63 MB)
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NKVD/KGB Activities and its Cooperation with other Secret Services in Central and Eastern Europe 1945 – 1989
Anthology of the international and interdisciplinary Conference
Anthology of the international and interdisciplinary Conference NKVD/KGB Activities and its Cooperation with other Secret Services in Central and Eastern Europe 1945 – 1989 contains papers presented on November 14th – 15th, 2007 in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. In the Conference participated experts from Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, Russia, Lithuania, Romania and Italy.
In the Anthology are published papers of the Conference participants divided into six panels:
1. Security Archives as Sources of NKVD/KGB Activities
2. From Soviet Advisors in Satellite States to Soviet Security Schools
3. Central and Eastern Europe as a Base for Espionage against the West
4.NKVD/KGB Co-operation with Satellite State Security Services
5. NKVD/KGB Activities in Occupied East Germany and Austria
6. Final Conclusions
Presented Anthology also contains a Declaration on a Conference, speeches delivered at the Conference opening and information about accompanying events as well as Conference partners and donors – The International Visegrad Fund and The Konrad Adenauer Foundation – whom we would like to thank for their kind support.
Download: NKVD/KGB Activities and its Cooperation with other Secret Services in Central and Eastern Europe 1945 – 1989 PDF (size 2.46 MB)
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Peter Jašek (ed.): Political Exile from Central and Eastern European Countries: Motives, Strategies, Activities, and Perspectives in the East and West, 1945–1989
Proceedings represent the outcome of the international scholarly conference titled Political Exile from Central and Eastern European Countries: Motives, Strategies, Activities, and Perspectives in the East and West, 1945–1989. It contains a total of 18 academic studies and one brief personal reflection by a witness recounting his experience in exile. The broad scope of the individual contributions reflects the fact that the authors come from nine different countries across Europe and overseas.
The primary aim of the publication is to analyze political exile from countries of the former Soviet bloc, as well as to assess the significance of exile organizations in their struggle against communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, it seeks to offer a comparative perspective on exile groups from various countries. A special section of the publication focuses on the activities of the secret services of communist states and their efforts to combat exile organizations in the free world. Several studies also explore the role of media and exiled journalists, who not only collaborated with influential outlets such as Radio Free Europe and the BBC but also founded and tirelessly published magazines and periodicals aimed at mobilizing global public opinion in the fight against communist regimes.
Price: 12,50 €