2019 "DAVID UNREICH – CHAMPION WHO CHALLENGED HITLER"

On the occasion of marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day of genocide and of other victims of fascism in the Second World War, the exhibition DAVID UNREICH – CHAMPION WHO CHALLANGED HITLER, prepared in cooperation with The Embassy of the Republic of Slovakia was opened on 15 April 2019 in the Archives of Yugoslavia. H.E. Mrs. Dagmar Repčekova, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Serbia at the presence of diplomatic corps in the Republic of Serbia, scientific and cultural public opened this extraordinary exhibition.
This exhibition presents the unique life story of Bratislava native, Jewish wrestler, and heavyweight champion of the world, David Unreich (1907 – 1957), who between the two world wars played an important role in mitigating the impact of approaching Fascism on Bratislava’s Jewish community. As an athlete and true champion, he took a stand against Hitler’s totalitarian regime even after he left to the USA. Material for this exhibition is based on the articles about David’s successful matches published in the world press, that his brother had collected. This display is conceived as wrestling ring with 9 information panels tied by wring ropes and David figure in life-size.

Two more exhibitions complement this exhibition – one is dedicated to the Slovak victims in the Second World War and another one to the Slovak National Uprising in 1944.
The exhibition "Slovak Monuments to the Victims of the Second World War" is prepared by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic presenting ten different monuments: at the hill Slavin above Bratislava, at Banska Bistrica – Center of Slovak National Uprising, at Dukla – place of the most severe battles for liberation of Slovak territories from the Nazi, in the village Nemecki – where the German Nazi had killed several hundreds of civilianson January 1945. (According to data from the Military Historic Institution around 350-360.000 inhabitants were killed in the whole Czechoslovakia during the Second World War: 235.000 in concentration camps, 149.000 out of it of Jewish origin. 109.000 people were deported from Slovakia without court decision and 10.000 were killed. Number of killed soldiers from partisan and military units was about 12.000, while in air-raids, 7000 people were killed. During Nazi’s attack of Slovakia more than 10.000 people were killed and during persecution of partisans, 90 villages were burnt down in both Czechia and Slovakia.).
The exhibition "Slovakian National Uprising" was prepared by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with the Museum of Slovak National Uprising from Banska Bistrica. Armed conflict of Slovaks and minorities against Nazism was at the same time struggle for Slovakian national existence. True patriotism and solidarity was expressed towards other antifascist movements of other European nations. This exhibition consists of 15 posters presenting division of the first Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovakian Political Resistance Movement abroad, foundation of Slovak Army, role of partisans or life on enemies’ territory.

The exhibition will be opened to the public every working day up to May 10, 2019.