In August 1944, teams from the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and British Special Operations Executive (SOE) personnel arrived in central Slovakia to work with Slovak resistance fighters in liberating Slovakia from Nazi occupation. As the uprising faltered, Tri Duby airfield was lost and Banska Bystrica was bombed, forcing the U.S. teams to flee toward Soviet lines. The OSS personnel separated into three small groups, one of which took refuge in Polomka, where they met up with their SOE counterparts. They found shelter in a small cabin on a hill above the town where they celebrated Christmas with their Slovak colleagues. The next day the cabin was overrun by a force of 300 Nazi troops including Slovak collaborators. The entire team at the cabin was captured and sent to Mauthausen concentration camp. Fourteen Americans and three British agents were shot after long interrogations and torture. War Correspondent for Associated Press Joe Morton was among the victims.

 

See also sites: Banska Bystrica -Hotel and Polomka for more on this operation.