The Concept of “Nation” and “National Community” in the Thinking of Štefan Polakovič: A Case of the Nazi Idea of Volksgemeinschaft Spread within Slovak Catholic Nationalism

Abstract

LENČÉŠOVÁ, Michaela. The Concept of “Nation” and “National Community” in the Thinking of Štefan Polakovič: A Case of the Nazi Idea of Volksgemeinschaft Spread within Slovak Catholic Nationalism. This study explores a range of shifts in the understanding of “nation” by Štefan Polakovič, a Catholic intellectual, in the period of the wartime Slovak Republic, focusing on the root causes of Polakovič’s adoption of Volksgemeinschaft— the racial concept of “nation” that drew upon the ideology of German National Socialism. The current paper examines the genesis of the Slovak adaptation in Polakovič’s interpretation and his coming to terms with the Catholic critique of racism. Polakovič’s conceptualisation of the idea of “nation” is explored within a wider context of its understanding in Slovak political Catholicism. We are not untamed savages for someone disseminating, by the power of a holy crown, culture among us. We are a nation culturally more ancient than the neigh-bouring nations. They have much to thank the ancient Slovak culture for, as it raised them [...]. The crown of St. Stephen, as presented by the Hungarian counts, has, apart from its founder, little in common with genuine Christianity and true understanding of culture. With this idea, the Hungarian lords merely cover their preposterous territorial claims. They believe it is only within the crown St. Stephen that Christianity is protected, and culture is possible. They thus attribute to the crown of St. Stephen the mission to save Christianity and spread culture in the Danube area. 56 Slovak blood is the biological foundation of Slovak distinctiveness [...]. This blood is the biological wealth of the Slovak nation. Its power was also proven by the fact that the Danube basin has a biologically uniform character. For the signs of the Mongol race disappeared from it [...]. We needn’t be afraid of speaking of Slovak blood. Slovak blood is a fact. We emphasise our vital blood purity, because, among all the nations of Central Europe, we have maintained an exceptionally pure biological character.