Rep. n° 04/2026
Zvolen, Slovakia, 29th April, 2026. The remains of an unknown Romanian soldier from World War II were buried with full military honours at the Central Military Cemetery of the Royal Romanian Army in Zvolen. This is a unique memorial event in Slovakia, which has been happening very sporadically lately. The military funeral was co-organized by the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Žilina, and the Town Hall of Zvolen.
The remains of an unknown Romanian soldier were found in the summer of 2020 in the northwest of Slovakia, in the cadastre of the Čičmany village, in mountainous terrain. Extensive research over several years, based on a comparison of the torso of the unknown soldier’s equipment with the equipment of members of the armies that occupied Slovakia in 1944 – 1945, or actively participated in the liberation of the country in 1944 – 1945, it was found that the equipment found during archaeological research was used by members of the Romanian Royal Army. In the third decade of April 1945, members of the Romanian 18th Division of the Romanian 6th Army Corps of the 4th Romanian Army, integrated into the operational subordination of the Soviet 40th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, were located in the cadastral area of the Čičmany village and its wider surroundings, which confirmed that the remains belong to a member of the Romanian Royal Army. The research revealed that the Romanian was approximately 18 years old and about 158 cm tall. The approximate time of death is also known – it occurred in the third decade of April 1945, and the soldier suffered a broken leg shortly before. However, the immediate cause of death could not be determined during anthropological research.
His remains were buried with full military honours in Zvolen, where the largest cemetery of Romanian soldiers in Europe is located. On the diplomatic side, the memorial service was organized by the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Žilina, which also, in cooperation with the Secondary Vocational School of Woodworking and Construction in Krásno nad Kysucou town, ensured the manufacture of a wooden coffin. The school used its technology and engraved the Romanian national emblem and the relevant Romanian-Slovak text into its lid.
The event also included a service led by Father Nicolae Dură, Vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Community in Austria, together with Roman Catholic military priest Col. Stanislav Varga, Vicar General of the Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Armed Corps of the Slovak Republic. The event was attended by His Excellency Călin Fabian, Ambassador of Romania to Slovakia, Mr. Marek Sobola, Honorary Consul of Romania to Slovakia, Col. Georgian Nedelcu, Romanian Military Attaché, Mr Patrik Groma, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic to Slovakia, Mr. Dhani Eko Wibowo, Minister Counselor from the Indonesian Embassy in Bratislava, Military Attachés and representatives from the Embassies of the Czech Republic and the United States of America, as well as members of the Slovenian Armed Forces Mechanized Brigade from NATO Base in Lešť. A significant visitor was retired Col. Dan Poinar from of the National Association of the Cult of Heroes “Queen Maria” (Asociația Naționala Cultul Eroilor “Regina Maria”), who brought with him Romanian soil so that the Romanian soldier could at least symbolically rest in the native soil. Event was also attended by Col. Miloslav Čaplovič, director of the Slovak Military History Institute, who was very helpful in identifying the remains.
“Without being aware of our past and without bearing in mind names and facts, we have neither present nor future because we will not be able to define our identity and to advocate our own place in the large frame defined by the World Heritage. In these ceremonial moments, we will bow with great respect our heads in front of the remains of the Romanian militaries who accepted to pay the highest tribute for to pave our way to democracy and freedom”, the Romanian Ambassador reminded.
The Honorary Consul also honoured the memory of His Majesty Michael I of Romania, the last Romanian king, who, as the last Commander-in-chief of the Romanian Royal Army, has a small monument in the cemetery area near the Tree of Peace. The initiator of the monument was the Honorary Consul. Mr. Marek Sobola also concluded by thanking the members of the Slovak Armed Forces for conducting a dignified final farewell to the unknown Romanian soldier.
The event was covered by several Slovak media outlets, including Radio and Television of Slovakia, as well as the Press Agency of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Association of Romanian War Veterans “Invictus Romania” stated on its official press channel: “Memory brings us memories of the past, but more importantly, it also brings people who have decided not to forget. Alongside those who bear this duty of remembrance is Marek Sobola, Honorary Consul of Romania – a man who, with every gesture, reminds his contemporaries of the fact that Romanian soldiers fought side by side with Slovaks for freedom.”
During the memorial service, decrees for Romanian state awards were also presented to Mr. Martin Drobňák from the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and Mr. Tomáš Kopták, archaeologist of the Regional Monuments Office in Žilina. Both laureates, beyond their work duties, made extraordinary contributions to the identification of the remains, starting with their discovery and processing, professional research and ending with the organization of the memorial service. The laureates were proposed to the Romanian Ambassador by Honorary Consul Sobola, and on May 4, 2026, the President of Romania, His Excellency Nicușor Dan, awarded both Slovak citizens the National Order of Merit with the rank of Knight.
