Genesis of translations of Nazi poetry in the Slovenské pohľady journal: A contribution to a better understanding of ideological influences on literature during the Slovak State

Abstract

The paper focuses on the reconstruction of the circumstances and influences that led to the publication of Slovak translations of Nazi poetry in the literary magazine Slovenské pohľady during the period of the Slovak state (1939 – 1945). Firstly, it analyses the controversial work of Stanislav Mečiar (1910 – 1971), editor of this traditional periodical, and re-evaluates previous research that either negatively generalized ideological influences on his activities by accusing him of collaboration, or, conversely, defended his actions as being in the national interest. To overcome this polarisation, the article clarifies the work of S. Mečiar as a radical ideologue of “Slovak National Socialism”, who, in addition to his activities in the structures of the national cultural institution Slovak Matica, was also active in the paramilitary organisation Hlinka Guard. Although S. Mečiar did not entirely close the magazine off to diverse perspectives, his personal ideological orientation had a significant influence on its direction. This was reflected in the substantial space the editor allocated to overtly ideological texts and in his collaboration with the group of poets known as Catholic modernists. The attempts to politicise literature and religion, and their limits, can be reconstructed through the example of translations of German poetry.

Keywords

• national socialism
• slovenské pohľady magazine
• slovak state
• stanislav mečiar