Andrej Hlinka
Encyclopedia
Andrej Hlinka was a Slovak
politician and Catholic
priest, one of the most important Slovak public activists in Czechoslovakia
before Second World War
. He was the leader of the Slovak People's Party
(since 1913), papal chamberlain
(since 1924), inducted papal protonotary (since 1927), member of the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia (the parliament) and chairman of the St. Vojtech Group (organization publishing religious books).
from Spišská Kapitula
and was ordained priest in 1889.
In his political views he was a strong defendant of Catholic
ethics against all secularizing tendencies connected with economic and political liberalism
of the Kingdom of Hungary
in the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century. This was also the opinion of the Hungarian Katolikus Néppárt (Catholic People's Party), led by Count Zichy, so Hlinka became an activist of this party.
However, as the party disregarded Slovak demands, Hlinka left and along with František Skyčák founded the Slovak People's Party in 1913. Hlinka became party chairman and remained in this position for the rest of his life. However, the Slovak People's Party was described as a fascist and clerical nationalist group.
His political activities met with disapproval from the church hierarchy, which suspended him as a priest.
Hlinka advocated that the Slovaks
should split from the Kingdom of Hungary.
In 1918, Hlinka became member of the Slovak National Council and also signed the Martin declaration, which advocated a political union with the Czech
nation.
After the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic
, Hlinka's Slovak People's Party aimed at autonomy of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia on the basis of the Pittsburgh Agreement
(1918) between American Czechs and Slovaks and Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
. Masaryk, Czechoslovakia's first President, and his successor Edvard Beneš
claimed that the treaty was a fabrication and resisted Hlinka's demands.
Only when Czechoslovakia had to cede their predominantly German-speaking border regions to Nazi Germany
and Benes resigned, was Slovakia granted autonomy on October 6, 1938, less than two months after Hlinka's death.
After the war negative views predominated: An American prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials
described Hlinka's party as "the semi-fascist Catholic People's Party of Monsignor Andrew Hlinka". In Communist Czechoslovakia Hlinka was portrayed as a "clerofascist".
After the fall of Communism, Hlinka became again a respected person, mostly to nationalist sympathisers and to Christian democratic organisations, while the rest of current Slovak society seems mostly indifferent towards Hlinka's memory. Hlinka's image could be found on the Slovak 1000-crown banknote, before Slovakia's adoption of the Euro
in 2009. A motion in the Parliament of Slovakia
to proclaim him "father of the nation" passed in September 2007.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
politician and Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
priest, one of the most important Slovak public activists in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
before Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was the leader of the Slovak People's Party
Slovak People's Party
The Slovak People's Party was a Slovak right-wing party and was described as a fascist and...
(since 1913), papal chamberlain
Papal chamberlain
Papal chamberlain was one of the highest honours that could be bestowed on a Catholic layman by the Pope, and was often given to members of noble families. It was mostly an honorary position, but a chamberlain served the Pope for one week per year during official ceremonies...
(since 1924), inducted papal protonotary (since 1927), member of the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia (the parliament) and chairman of the St. Vojtech Group (organization publishing religious books).
Life
Hlinka graduated in theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from Spišská Kapitula
Spišská Kapitula
Spišská Kapitula, is an exceptionally well-preserved ecclesiastical town on the outskirts of Spišské Podhradie, Slovakia, and overlooking Spiš Castle. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Levoča, Spiš Castle and the associated cultural monuments.-Town and history:The town consists of St....
and was ordained priest in 1889.
In his political views he was a strong defendant of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
ethics against all secularizing tendencies connected with economic and political liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
in the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century. This was also the opinion of the Hungarian Katolikus Néppárt (Catholic People's Party), led by Count Zichy, so Hlinka became an activist of this party.
However, as the party disregarded Slovak demands, Hlinka left and along with František Skyčák founded the Slovak People's Party in 1913. Hlinka became party chairman and remained in this position for the rest of his life. However, the Slovak People's Party was described as a fascist and clerical nationalist group.
His political activities met with disapproval from the church hierarchy, which suspended him as a priest.
Hlinka advocated that the Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
should split from the Kingdom of Hungary.
In 1918, Hlinka became member of the Slovak National Council and also signed the Martin declaration, which advocated a political union with the Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
nation.
After the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic
Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)
The First Czechoslovak Republic , refers to the first Czechoslovak state that existed from 1918 to 1938. The state was commonly called Czechoslovakia . It was composed of Bohemia, Moravia, Czech Silesia, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia...
, Hlinka's Slovak People's Party aimed at autonomy of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia on the basis of the Pittsburgh Agreement
Pittsburgh Agreement
The Pittsburgh Agreement paved the way for the creation of the state of Czechoslovakia and was signed by a group of 20 Czechs, Slovaks, and Rusyns on May 31, 1918...
(1918) between American Czechs and Slovaks and Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
Tomáš Masaryk
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , sometimes called Thomas Masaryk in English, was an Austro-Hungarian and Czechoslovak politician, sociologist and philosopher, who as an eager advocate of Czechoslovak independence during World War I became the founder and first President of Czechoslovakia, also was...
. Masaryk, Czechoslovakia's first President, and his successor Edvard Beneš
Edvard Beneš
Edvard Beneš was a leader of the Czechoslovak independence movement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the second President of Czechoslovakia. He was known to be a skilled diplomat.- Youth :...
claimed that the treaty was a fabrication and resisted Hlinka's demands.
Only when Czechoslovakia had to cede their predominantly German-speaking border regions to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and Benes resigned, was Slovakia granted autonomy on October 6, 1938, less than two months after Hlinka's death.
Opinions on Hlinka after his death
During the first Slovak Republic (1939–1945), Hlinka was considered by the regime as a national hero. He established the Slovak People's Party in 1913, which took his name in 1925. Hlinka died in 1938, so he is not responsible for the events after his death.After the war negative views predominated: An American prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
described Hlinka's party as "the semi-fascist Catholic People's Party of Monsignor Andrew Hlinka". In Communist Czechoslovakia Hlinka was portrayed as a "clerofascist".
After the fall of Communism, Hlinka became again a respected person, mostly to nationalist sympathisers and to Christian democratic organisations, while the rest of current Slovak society seems mostly indifferent towards Hlinka's memory. Hlinka's image could be found on the Slovak 1000-crown banknote, before Slovakia's adoption of the Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
in 2009. A motion in the Parliament of Slovakia
National Council of the Slovak Republic
The National Council of the Slovak Republic , abbreviated to NR SR, is the national parliament of Slovakia. It is unicameral, and consists of 150 MPs, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation every four years....
to proclaim him "father of the nation" passed in September 2007.
External links
- Talks about the Slovak history and about Andrej Hlinka by Dr. Juraj Kuniak (Agens Banska Bystrica, 1991; ISBN 80-900504-0-9) translation into English by Dr. H. Reuvers, MaastrichtMaastrichtMaastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
, 2004. - Statue of Andrej Hlinka panorama