Dukla Pass Victims Day in Slovakia Date in the current year: October 6, 2024

The Dukla Pass is a strategically significant mountain pass in the Outer Eastern Carpathians. The pass lays on the border between Poland and Slovakia and an ancient trade route Dukla-Svidnik passes through this territory. The pass was captured by Nazi Germany during World War II and the Soviet Army launched an attack on Dukla in September, 1944.

It took almost two months to liberate the region from fascists. During this time several major battles occurred on the territory of the pass. One of them was near the city of Dukla, that lasted for 10 days. On October 6 the Soviet and Czechoslovakian troops captured the fortified territory of the pass. Germans persistently defended and the liberating troops suffered great losses.

Nowadays Dukla Pass Victims Day is one of the official Slovakian memorial days, commemorating the soldiers, who died at the Dukla Pass.