Slovak machine gun team on the Eastern Front. by Franklyn G. Prieskop On 1 September 1939, Slovakia had been an independent state for less than six months; its army, projected for twenty-seven infantry battalions, was still being assembled. Nevertheless, Slovakia was obliged to accede to Germany’s request that its armed forces participate in the campaign against Poland. By stripping all experienced cadres from the training units, Slovakia was able to assemble two combat groups. The main combat group was of brigade size, consisting of six infantry battalions, two artillery battalions, and a company of combat engineers. A mobile combat force was organized from two reconnaissance battalions and nine motorized artillery batteries. The two Slovakian combat groups penetrated the Nowy Sacz and Dukeilska mountain passes, advancing to Debica and Tarnow in southern Poland. On 26 June 1941, the Slovakian Expeditionary Army Group (SEA) crossed into the Soviet Union to particip...