| “Father Jozef Tiso (October 13, 1887 – April 18, 1947) President of the German puppet state of independent Slovakia (1939-45) listens to capital charges read by the prosecution, accusing him of enlisting Nazi Germany to help sever Slovakia from the Czechoslovak state. From the December 3, 1946, New York Times: “Slovak Court Rejects Tiso’s Plea at Trial; Refuses to Dismiss Case charging Treason Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, Dec. 2 (United Press) – The Slovak National Court trying Father Josef Tiso, priest-president of the Nazi puppet republic of Slovakia, and two members of his government on charges of treason overruled defense charges today that the court was prejudiced and otherwise incompetent to try the case.” “Tiso’s two co-defendants are [Alexander] Šaňo Mach [(October 11, 1902 – October 15, 1980)] and Ferdinand Ďurčanský [Tried in absentia]. [(December 18, 1906 – March 15, 1974)]. His chief counsel, Ernest Zabky [(September 17, 1910 – June 3, 1996)], presented a written summary of his objections on Saturday, The presiding judge, Igor Daxner [(September 26, 1893 – April 18, 1960)], would not permit another defense attorney, Martin Grečo [(April 10, 1906 – May 21, 1975)], to discuss the petition in court at the trial’s opening session today.” “The defense petition reportedly charged that Judge Daxner was prejudiced because he was imprisoned by Tiso’s government. It added that the defense would like to call him as a witness important to its case. These objections had already been overruled a week ago by the assistant president of the court and other judges.” “Mr. Zabky and Mr. Greco also challenged the court on a number of technicalities of national and international law, asking that Tiso be tried by an international tribunal and that his political status be defined. His regime was recognized by Russia in 1940. This, the defense claims, places him in a different category from Vidkun Quisling [(July 18, 1887 – October 24, 1945)], Norwegian puppet, or Marshal Henri-Philippe Pétain [(April 24, 1856 – July 23, 1951)], former Vichy chief of state.” Tiso was tried and convicted for treason, suppression of freedom, and crimes against humanity and was executed by the Czechoslovak government in 1947. Mach was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for his role in collaboration. He was also ordered to forfeit his civil rights for 15 years and had a quarter of his property confiscated. Mach was released from prison in 1968 and settled in Bratislava, living on a state pension until his death in 1980. Ferdinand Ďurčanský fled to Austria in 1945. MI6 Agent and secret Soviet spy Kim Philby (January 1, 1912 – May 11, 1988) arranged for him to enter Canada in December 1950 on a British visa. He died in Munich of natural causes. Igor Daxner shot himself with his service weapon on the 13th anniversary of the execution of Jozef Tiso. Elements of right-wing Slovak political movements idolize Father Tiso to this day. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1803.jpg |
| Image Size | 213.36 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 953 x 1266 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 2, 1946 |
| Location | |
| City | Bratislava |
| State or Province | Bratislava |
| Country | Czechoslovakia |
| Archive | Fondazione Alinari per la Fotografi |
| Record Number | IMA-F-397426-0000 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database