Jozef Tiso's speech in Holíč

Referring to Jews as "parasites" and "the eternal enemy", Tiso claimed that their deportation was both economically necessary and congruent with Christian moral principles.

[12][20] Dieter Wisliceny, SS officer and Judenberater in Slovakia, referred to Tiso's speech when arguing for the resumption of deportations in a letter dated 18 August.

[21][22] Slovak clergy did not react positively to the speech, critical of Tiso's political opportunism and presentation of self-love as a divine commandment.

Although his claims negated the Christian commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself", he appealed to nationalism to imply that Jews might not be covered by this obligation.

According to Nižňanský, Tiso's aim may have been to ease the consciences of Slovaks who were uncomfortable with the regime's actions, or to disguise the brutality of deportation.

Nižňanský argues that the speech should be considered in the context of Herbert Kelman's theory that "routinization" and dehumanization led to Holocaust atrocities.

[26] According to American historian James Mace Ward, Tiso intended to appease Nazi Germany and the radical faction of the Slovak People's Party, which were unhappy with the temporary halt in deportations.