On 7 October 2025, we, the students of quarta, septima, the third year and the final-year students, took part in a history field trip to Svidník and its surroundings, devoted to the events of World War I and World War II. Each class prepared a short talk about the individual stops so that we could explain to one another the significance of the places we visited.
Our first stop was the Military History Museum in Svidník, where we saw both the indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Inside, we were particularly interested in the uniforms, weapons, photographs and various wartime objects, which showed what soldiers' lives were like during the fighting. In the museum's outdoor area, we could take a close look at tanks, cannons, military vehicles and an aircraft. Seeing them felt very authentic and reminded us that the history we learn about took place right here, in our region.
From the outdoor exhibition, we walked to the Red Army Memorial, where more than 9,000 fallen soldiers are buried in four graves.
We then moved on to Dukla, where we climbed the observation tower. From its top we had a beautiful yet moving view of the landscape where some of the hardest battles of World War II took place. The guide told us about the Carpathian-Dukla Operation and spoke about the heroism of the soldiers who gave their lives in these battles.
Finally, we stopped at the Memorial of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps, dedicated to the soldiers who fell at Dukla, where we honored their memory in silence. It was a powerful moment that left us with a sense of respect and humility.
The trip was very educational and at the same time moving for all of us. Besides gaining new historical knowledge, we realized how important it is not to forget the past and to value the peace we live in. Despite the cold weather, we were in good spirits, and we came back with plenty of experiences, new knowledge and the feeling that history can be learned in other ways too, not only from textbooks.
Alexia, 4.A
