Devín, once a symbol of a divided world, became in December 1989 a witness to moments that brought hope and freedom. The human chain of students and the fall of the “Iron Curtain” remain reminders of courage and faith in a better future.
A Remarkable St. Nicholas Day at the Castle
Students played a crucial role during the events connected with the fall of the communist regime in former Czechoslovakia in November and December 1989. The “Velvet Revolution” was sparked by the march of Bratislava students on November 16, 1989, and the brutally suppressed student demonstration in Prague the following day, November 17.
Throughout the following weeks, student groups became key allies of the newly formed movement Public Against Violence, which coordinated resistance to the communist regime. Students helped organize demonstrations and rallies, produced posters and leaflets, and prepared their own events aimed at mobilizing the public.
One such event took place on December 6, 1989, at Devín Castle, where—despite bad weather—around two thousand people gathered, mostly from Bratislava’s universities. The main message of their peaceful demonstration was the unity of the protest movement and the demand for free elections as soon as possible. After pledging loyalty to the nation, homeland, democracy, and tolerance, the participants formed a long human chain that encircled the castle grounds. Since the date coincided with St. Nicholas Day, many wore festive costumes and symbolically distributed small gifts.
Hello, Europe!
Four days later, Devín witnessed another event—one with a profound impact on society as a whole. The leaders of Public Against Violence organized a major march from Bratislava to Hainburg on December 10, 1989, under the slogan “Hello, Europe!”. Tens of thousands of people took part, with the most significant gathering taking place on the Austrian bank of the Danube, directly across from Devín.
On the Slovak side as well—both on and below the castle—large crowds assembled. Some participants began spontaneously cutting through the barbed-wire barriers, without any intervention from the Border Guard officers responsible for securing the frontier. This act marked the de facto end of the “Iron Curtain” in Slovakia. The following day, soldiers of the Border Guard, acting on a decision of the federal government, began dismantling the wire obstacles in the border zone near Devín.
Text: Milan Zálešák | Fotografia: MMB a ÚPN