NAZI SLOVAKIA
The most controversial chapter in Slovak history
Discover one of the most controversial chapters in Slovak history.
In this four-week live masterclass, historian Vladimír Štrama explores how Slovakia became a wartime state aligned with Nazi Germany — and what this meant for politics, society, memory, and moral responsibility.
Through the story of the Slovak State, Jozef Tiso’s regime, the Holocaust in Slovakia, and the Slovak National Uprising, this course invites you to look beyond simple narratives and understand the difficult choices, conflicts, and legacies that still shape Slovakia today.
A difficult history.
A necessary conversation.
The wartime Slovak State remains one of the most difficult chapters in modern Slovak history.
It was a time of fragile independence, authoritarian rule, Nazi influence, and moral compromise. While some served the regime, others resisted it — and the choices made during those years still shape how Slovakia remembers itself today.
What you get:
4 Expert-Guided Sessions
Rich LIVE lectures led by historian Vladimír Štrama
Historical Clarity
Discover how one extraordinary decade that changed everything in Slovakia.
Watch Anytime, Anywhere
Stream the full course at your own pace — on your schedule
Program Schedule
Week 1:
3 September
The First Slovak State?
How We Became "Independent" for the First Time
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Did we betray Czechoslovakia? The story of Slovakia's break with Prague
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Could Slovakia have said no to Hitler? Nationalism, autonomy, and the road to 1939
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Independent, but at what cost? Slovakia's place in Hitler's Europe
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The first Slovak state: dream fulfilled or dangerous illusion?
Week 2
10 September
Jozef Tiso and His Sidekicks
The Most Controversial Slovak of All Time
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Patriot, pragmatist, collaborator, or dictator?
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The men around Tiso: Vojtech Tuka, Alexander Mach, Ferdinand Ďurčanský
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Who actually held power in the regime?
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Why does Tiso still divide Slovaks today?
Week 3
17 September
The Holocaust in Slovakia
The darkest chapter in Slovak history
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Why the first transport to Auschwitz went from Slovakia
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The everyday perpetrators: how ordinary people became part of the Holocaust
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The story of the two Slovaks who escaped Auschwitz and warned the world
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Rescuers, bystanders, and collaborators: the moral grey zones of wartime Slovakia
Week 4
24 September
The Slovak National Uprising
The Event That Defines Modern Slovakia
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Why did Slovaks rise against their own state?
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Heroes, opportunists, and bystanders: the many faces of the Uprising
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The Valley of Death and the battles that decided the fate of the Uprising
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How the Uprising helped place Slovakia among the victors of World War II
Why This Masterclass is a Must-Enroll?
Expert-Guided Learning
Led by historian Vladimír Štrama, gain a rich and nuanced understanding of Eastern Europe’s past and present.
Unique Insights
Go beyond textbooks with deep historical, cultural, and geopolitical context you won’t find anywhere else
Flexible & Self-Paced
Learn on your own time — rewatch sessions anytime, anywhere.
Connect to Global Heritage
Join hundreds of learners around the world who’ve taken this journey to rediscover their roots and expand their worldview.
Meet Your Instructor
My name is Vladimír Štrama
Bio Highlights:
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BA Philosophy & History — University of Exeter (UK)
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MSt Modern European History — University of Oxford (UK)
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Former researcher at Institute H21 (Prague)
Areas of expertise:
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Eastern & Central European history
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National identity and myth-making
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Empires, democracy, and geopolitical thought
Teaching style:
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Clear, structured, accessible — bridging academic research with public understanding.
Sarah
The course brought Central European history to life — not just dates, but the why behind centuries of change.
Nick
The discussions were open, engaging, and deeply thoughtful. Questions weren’t just welcomed — they shaped the learning.
Thomas
The perfect balance of depth and breadth. Four fascinating, beautifully connected talks that completely reshaped how I understand Central Europe.
