[Khan]

I recently made a short trip to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The city itself is pretty nice and has a warm and friendly feel. It's very reminiscent of my home city, and the Slovakian language and culture are similar to Croatian, so I felt like home there.

Apart from standard city sightseeing, one of the landmarks I visited was Slavin, a war memorial and military cemetery where Red Army soldiers, who died in 1945 during the battle for the liberation of Bratislava, are buried. It's situated within city limits, on a hill not far from the city center. I have a deep interest in history, so when I found out about Slavin while researching Bratislava on the Internet before my trip, I knew I had to go there and see what it's like.

I wasn't dissapointed. The cemetery is centered around a large pylon, on top of which is a sculpture of a Red Army soldier, who is hoisting the Soviet flag and crushing a swastika sign with his feet. Apart from this, in front of the central hall there are several mass graves. The names of every one of nearly 7,000 Red Army soldiers, who fell during the liberation of Bratislava, are inscripted on two large marble plates. The adjacent area is nicely decorated, like a small garden, with small trees and bushes. Being situated on top of a hill, the monument offers a beautiful view of Bratislava and its immediate surroundings when the weather is nice. Alltogether, it truly is a site to behold.


The central hall with the monument


The view of Bratislava from the terrace


One of the two marble plates with names of the killed soldiers

Now, why am I writing this? Visiting Slavin had an effect on my perception of life. We all encounter problems in life. Some of them are small and insignificant, some of them are quite disturbing. I'm currently struggling with a personal problem that I can't exactly resolve on my own, and I have to admit it's been bothering me for quite some time now. Although it hasn't impacted my life in a big way, I still can't easily shake away the stress it causes.

However, while standing at Slavin and looking at the names of young men who were killed in combat there over 70 years ago, I had an epiphany: we as people all worry too much about things that are really insignificant, compared to what our forefathers had to endure. We worry about having a cold, about whether we'll have time to go out this weekend and game chicks, about the migrant crisis. We get pissed off when our air conditioning fails during summer, and curse life for not being able to finaly earn that promotion at work.

And yet, we've been born in the best time possible! There are no immediate existential threats to our security. We have adequate housing, health care, central heating and means of transportation. We don't have to fight in wars. We have friends, families, and we can afford a quality of life our grandparents could only have dreamed about. Actually, we should be happy as fuck all the time! And yet we're not.

Compare what we have, to what those poor guys whose names are inscripted on that plate had. The majority of them were born just in time to witness the horrors of Communism under Stalinist rule during childhood. And just as they entered adulthood, instead of enjoying life and pursuing chicks, they got conscripted in the Red Army and sent to fight the Third Reich all across Europe, from the banks of the Volga up to the gates of Vienna. They endured bitter cold and scortching heat, torrential rains and severe blizzards. Instead of cozy apartments with central heating, they had to make do with improvised tents in the cold. And instead of living long enough to see their grandchildren grow into adults, they got gunned down by the Wehrmacht on some God-forsaken plain near Bratislava.


Look at that list, full of men who got killed in their 20s and 30s...chilling. Rest in peace guys.

Still think we have it difficult in life? I sure as hell don't.

What I saw at Slavin helped me to learn how to accept my problems and put them aside, and become more grateful for what I already have. I'm sure it can have the same effect on anyone. Europe is full of war memorials such as this one – Omaha Beach in Normandy, trenches near Verdun, the remnants of the battlefields around Soča river etc...almost wherever you go, you can find one. So if you find yourself near one of them, go for a visit. You'll learn some history, and maybe get a new outlook on life like I did.

And afterwards, you can go and continue kicking ass in life with even more vigor than before. As they say in that song...don't worry. Be happy!

[LINUX]

Finally, someone gets it.

[Engineer]

+1 repped, excellent post. Thank you!

[Befikre]

+1

[Stakes Is High]

Visiting memorial sites is one of the most sombering things.

Your life goal is to get as many flags as possible? As many lays in as many days? Getting the most centrally located Airbnb rental for logistic pipe-laying?

Nothing matters at these sites. Life is fleeting. Consider their lives before their respective wars even started, likely nothing that you can imagine.

I suggest checking if a city you are visiting has a Tomb of Unknown Soldiers memorial. They are impressive and scattered around major cities.

[LikeABaller]

May they rest in peace. Amin.
Amazing topic. One of the most touching I've read in my life.From now on I will definitely visit places like this. All soldiers especially ones who died for their country in the prime of their life deserves the fullest respect no matter what their nationality is.

[kaotic]

This was a great read, I suggest everyone man visit a war memorial and visit national cemeteries at least once in your life.

Or even volunteer for a wounded veteran programs - this is near and dear to me because of a marine buddy of mine who is disabled.

[Quo Vadis]

Great post. I agree with every word, and it's very easy in modern everyday life to lose sight of this perspective. I visited the very same monument when I was over there earlier in the year, and I vividly remember experiencing very similar thoughts at the time. I recall it was a bit of a pain to reach from the centre, and it's near some embassies too I think my Slovakian friend (girl, solid 7) was telling me when we made our way there. But it's completely worth the awkward journey once you get there and the location definitely also had that badass Communist feel to it.

Unfortunately I didn't bang, by the way!

[AlphaRN]

Very well said, great post.

I remembering visiting Pearl Harbor when I was in Oahu. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The weather could not have been more perfect. Bright blue skies accented with white fluffy clouds. The water was deep blue and crystal clear. You can't help but feel that place is perfect. Then you cross the Harbor and look down on a massive rusting tomb. You can't help but think how that same perfect sky was shattered the morning of the attack. How those men probably shared your thoughts on the beauty and perfection of their base. Then you think of the explosions, the fire, the smoke, the burning oil, the death. All of it choking that natural beauty, and when the attack finally ended, about how the horrors of war had just begun for those men. You think, truly think, visiting places like that.

[Onto]

(12-14-2016 09:08 AM)Khan Wrote:  

However, while standing at Slavin and looking at the names of young men who were killed in combat there over 70 years ago, I had an epiphany: we as people all worry too much about things that are really insignificant, compared to what our forefathers had to endure. We worry about having a cold, about whether we'll have time to go out this weekend and game chicks, about the migrant crisis. We get pissed off when our air conditioning fails during summer, and curse life for not being able to finaly earn that promotion at work.

And yet, we've been born in the best time possible! There are no immediate existential threats to our security. We have adequate housing, health care, central heating and means of transportation. We don't have to fight in wars. We have friends, families, and we can afford a quality of life our grandparents could only have dreamed about. Actually, we should be happy as fuck all the time! And yet we're not.

(12-14-2016 09:08 AM)Khan Wrote:  

And afterwards, you can go and continue kicking ass in life with even more vigor than before. As they say in that song...don't worry. Be happy!

It's great to have an epiphany like that and it may bring you some happiness for a short time, but I bet it won't be long until the same dissatisfaction with life, the world, the others, etc. seeps back in.

It begs the question. "Why can't we be happy all the time?"

[262]

^ You can't be happy all the time, but you can be content.

When something bad happens, just think of someone who has it worse.

When something good happens, just think of someone who has it better.

[_Samo_]

Great post, really got me thinking how silly it is to think I have some "problems" when reality is my life is unbelievable comfortable compared to what these people went through.

I'm so grateful to have found this forum, so much more than just a place to talk game/girls. Tomorrow I'm visiting a war cemetery in my city. Can't believe all the historic places I've been and this never really came into my mind.

[RatInTheWoods]

Its human nature to let that perspective slide and get caught up in first world problems again.

Trick is to always remember what a pampered, cosy existence we have, and be happy about that.

We are the first generation of men who didn't have to die in the snow watching our entrails spill out.

[Khan]

(12-14-2016 02:13 PM)Stakes Is High Wrote:  

I suggest checking if a city you are visiting has a Tomb of Unknown Soldiers memorial. They are impressive and scattered around major cities.

I visited the one in Warsaw, and I liked it very much. I was also impressed how Poles are self-conscious and proud about their military tradition - those stone pillars encompassing the tomb carry the names of every major battle and military campaign in which the Poles participated during history.

I regret that my country doesn't have anything of the sort. We've been fighting wars ever since we settled here 14 centuries ago, and yet we have very little respect for our military tradition.

[Caractacus Potts]

I concur. Great post. I strongly recommend that anyone visiting Washington DC attend the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. It is very powerful and moving.

Something that made me smile - before they proceed with the ceremony a soldier comes out and barks orders at the crowd that they will remain silent and respectful during the ceremony! He doesn't come out and ask them nicely if they can keep things down. Watching the response I felt it was the first time many of those in attendance were ever talked to in such a manner. lol

The inscription on the Tomb:

HERE RESTS IN
HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN
SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD

[Caractacus Potts]

As an aside, if anyone is in Paris I urge you to visit the museum at the Ecole Militaire. It is at the opposite end of the Champ de Mars; across from the Eiffel Tower.

It is the French West Point.

Also check out the Musée de l'Armée. It's a 20-30 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. Well worth spending a long afternoon here.

We Americans like to joke that the French are a bunch of cheese-eating surrender monkeys. An afternoon at the Ecole Militaire and the Musée de l'Armée will disabuse you of the notion. The French have a very long martial tradition.

Definitely worth a visit.

[britchard]

[ElFlaco]

For anyone visiting Mexico City, I recommend the Mexico City National Cemetery, where the American dead from the Mexican-American War (mid 1800s) are buried.

I've been twice. It's a surprisingly serene space, a good place to reflect on life, death and country; and to temporarily escape the bustle of the city for an hour. I should go back soon. It's completely walled in, and from the outside, you would never even know it's there -- and almost no one does.

The retired American veteran who was on duty rightly scolded me for confusing Veterans Day with Memorial Day. There's a small museum there as well. Free cookies and juice. Check hours.

Nearest metro stops: San Cosme or Normal, not too far from downtown but not walking distance. Neighborhood: San Rafael.

[cascadecombo]

To add to this, if you want to see a foreign country with its people celebrating Americans who died for them during the war check out Normandy on DDay. I've never seen people more happy to see Americans during a time a peace then when I was there on the 60th anniversary of DDay. It was pretty much like 4th of July.

[Nordwand]

(12-17-2016 11:26 PM)cascadecombo Wrote:  

To add to this, if you want to see a foreign country with its people celebrating Americans who died for them during the war check out Normandy on DDay. I've never seen people more happy to see Americans during a time a peace then when I was there on the 60th anniversary of DDay. It was pretty much like 4th of July.

I was there for the D Day 50th anniversary, and can vouch for this. I was told that, unlike the Parisians, who only saw De Gaulle's triumphant return, the people of Normandy had seen what led up to it, and have never forgotten.

[Once Was Not]

I try to consider, every day, that were I alive 100 years ago I would likely be out slogging it in the meat grinder, dying some pointless death, like being blown into oblivion by a random artillery shell I had no idea was coming. Total war was hell on earth, and it's very sobering to think of the horrors so many went through inside the last century. I often feel some very primal deep connection to those conflicts that I can't explain well, my genetic map is all over areas touched by the world wars, so I'm assuming its in my very blood and genes. It makes me want to learn about and retain what happened, and to hang onto the memories of those who lived that hell. War memorials and battle sites are places I want to visit to really get a sense of it all. I need to get to Europe soon.

I also second the Arlington Cemetary Tomb of the Unknowns recommendation for a visit as well. Very significant feel to it, the message on the tomb is very powerful along with the somber dead silence, and definitely a place I'd like to revisit now that I'm older.

[spalex]

The type of memorial sites I like aren't allowed to exist :-(

Also: I tried to look for some in Japan. I think they are still ashamed of surrendering or something because every website was blocked.