9.13.2013 2:00 PM
Good afternoon. My name is John Nash and I am the youngest grandson of Jan Antonin Bata. My wife Jana has accompanied me on this trip. I wanted to point out that Jana was born right here in Partizanske and her family is from the nearby village of Solcany. We are grateful and happy that the truth about Jan Antonin Bata is finally being recognized and acknowledged. We want to thank the people of Partizanske for taking this step to honor Jan Bata today.
At the moment before his death, Jan Antonin prophetically wrote: “the truth will float up like oil on water.” Let me share with you some of the truths that you may or may not be aware of about Jan Antonin Bata.
Point 1: He was one of the great patriots of his country.
Despite being slandered and accused of being a collaborator during the war, he was in fact the largest financial contributor to the Czechoslovak resistance. In preparation for war, when his country needed pilots to defend the nation, he provided 250 of them, many of whom flew in Czechoslovak RAF squadrons.
When the country needed money to help with the defense of the nation, he rallied the people and raised 1 billion pre-war crowns in the span of five days. Bata and his employees together made the largest contribution. When his countrymen were in danger, he sent thousands of these people out of the country to safety and out of the reach of the enemy at his own expense.
Through his orders and with his capital, the Bata enterprises in Slovakia played a crucial role in the Slovak National Uprising that started here on the 29th of August, 1944. We cannot forget the human sacrifice of the Bata people who fought for the freedom and liberty of Slovakia at that time. One unsung hero during the Slovak National Uprising was Captain Joseph Trojan. He was a true Slovak hero, who should be honored as well.
Point 2: Jan Bata was a great businessman.
It was under Jan’s leadership that the Bata organization experienced its strongest period of growth, expanding the enterprise by more than five times, against the tide of a global depression. The construction of the city of Batovany was a great achievement at that time. Jan Bata stood apart from other contemporary businessmen through his long term economic commitment to Slovakia at a time when there was not much interest in investment in Slovakia.
Point 3: Jan Bata was not the first Bata to achieve great success.
His brother Tomas was also a great businessman who founded the original enterprise in Zlin. Jan Antonin was Tomas’ hand picked successor. What Jan Bata had created, before, and during the war in Slovakia was stripped away from him due to the tumultuous years of World War II and the regimes that followed.
Today, historically, Partisanske is recognizing the true role that Jan Bata played as both a patriot and an industrialist.
As descendants of Bata, we thank you again for honoring Dr. h.c. Jan Antonin Bata by naming this square after him. It is our sincere hope to have the opportunity to continue his great legacy here in Slovakia.
I would like to thank God for the opportunity to address you today.
God bless the people of Slovakia.
Thank you.
Read more...