Mikuláš Gacek

Mikuláš Gacek

Autor: VRÁBEL, Ferdinand

VRÁBEL, Ferdinand: Mikuláš Gacek

Vojenská história, 24, 4, 2020, pp. 82-88,

VRÁBEL, F.: Mikuláš Gac ) ration sorely affected by both world wars. In the Aust-

Mikuláš Gacek belonged to the generation sorely affected by both world wars. In the Austria-Hungary he was denigrated as a Slovak patriot, during the World War 1 he fough first as an Austro-Hungarian soldier and later as a Czechoslovak legionary in Russia. During World War 2, he first served as a cultural attaché at the Slovak Republic Embassy in Moscow later operated as at the Press Department of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. He spent the years 1945 – 1955 under inhuman conditions in the Soviet gulags in Kazakhstan. The end of his life was affected by a struggle for modest living, provision for his family and full  rehabilitation. His life energy was admirable because he engaged in creative work even under these unfavourable conditions. He was translating Russian and Soviet literature and drama. Gacek, a man sorely tested by life, modest and very talented left two books of memoires capturing his story as well as valuable translations characerised by beautiful and rich Slovak language and lyric so rare among translators. His life at Orava was naturally reflected in his language, which according to his contemporaries  “ sounded correct, softly and beautiful from his mouth“ (Branislav Manica).

Keywords: Military history. Personalities. Mikuláš Gacek — Russian Legion — Ministry of Defence SR — Ministry of Foreign Affairs SR — gulag

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69809/vojhist.2020.24.4.6

Ročník: 24 | Číslo: 4/2020 | Stránky: 82-88