History and Tradition of the Army of the Czech Republic Second Czechoslovak Resistance Czechoslovak Military Units in the West during Second World War Content • 1) Situation in Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia • 2) Creation of conditions for formation of Czechoslovak military units abroad • 3) Formation of Czechoslovak military units and their activities in France • 4) Formation of Czechoslovak military units and their activities in United Kingdom Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia I • Protectorate established by decree of Adolf Hitler of 16 March 1939 • Police forces commenced action Gitter (Grating), i.e. preventive arrest of opponents of Nazi regime • Czechoslovak army gradually dissolved until summer 1939, but officers transferred to administration – German tried to control military man and giving them a perspective posts to „bribe“ them not to involve into resistance – Officers were allowed to wear uniforms and even guns (!) Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia II • In Protectorate Autonomous Government, head of Protectorate State President Emil Hácha • German administration represents Protectorate of Reich • In Protectorate autonomous army, Government Army – In total 6500 men, aim is to maintain civil order in Protectorate and to assist for example during natural disasters etc. Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia III • Despite those mentioned „bribes“ Czechoslovak military men organized resistance authority Obrana národa (Defence of Nation) – Consist of officers and of soldiers – Preparation of whole-nation uprising and later to maintain connection with headquarters of resistance in London • Other part of military men left for exile – Some 500 to 700 officers, esp. pilots, because of appeal of president E. Beneš Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia IV • Ways to leave Czechoslovakia – North way through Poland, majority from territory near Ostrava with help of railway employees = the only border with independent state (i.e. Poland) – Through Slovakia and Hungary to Romania or Yugoslavia and then to Middle East – Through Germany and Austria = but only for those, who had official permission (business trip etc.) – Communists left for U.S.S.R. (via Poland) but majority of them were imprisoned in U.S.S.R. (!) Formation of Second Resistance I • World powers condemned occupation of rest of Czechoslovakia, but did not do any arrangement • In U.S.A. Czech and Slovak compatriots support Edvard Beneš and its effort • E. Beneš left for United Kingdom, where from 14 March 1939 group of intelligence officers escaped from Czechoslovakia – Head of Czechoslovak Intelligence = colonel František Moravec • E Beneš calculates with war between Germany and Western powers Formation of Second Resistance II • But E. Beneš is not the only representative of Czechoslovak state – Disputes: besides E. Beneš French group (esp. Štefan Osuský), in Poland gen. Lev Prchala, and in U.S.S.R. leadership of Czechoslovak Communist Party • Effort of representatives of Czechoslovakia to build Czechoslovak army abroad – The only way is to have volunteers for French Foreign Legion (the same as during First World War!) – From Poland transferred ca. 1800 men, including pilots Czechoslovak National Committee • Czechoslovak National Committee established on 17 November 1939 – Supreme representative body of Czechs and Slovaks (but not of Czechoslovak state) in France – Chairman E. Beneš, members Š. Osuský and others • Mobilization of all Czechs and Slovaks in France • But military co-operations since September – Since 2 August 1939 unofficially existed Czechoslovak Military Office in France – On 12 September 1939 established Czechoslovak Military Mission in France – On 2 October 1939 provisional agreement on restoration of Czechoslovak army in France Czechoslovak Army in France I • After September 1939 formation of Czechoslovak military unit in Adge in Southern France – At the end of 1939 together 3500 men • On 15 January 1940 First Czechoslovak Division established – Commander gen. Rudolf Viest – At the end of January 1940: 11 405 men, i.e. 3326 volunteers and 8169 mobilized compatriots (majority of them were Slovaks) – Comprised of three regiments and other units Czechoslovak Army in France II • Because of success of German army during Western campaign in June 1940 two Czechoslovak regiments took part in retreat fights until 18 June 1940 – Probably 400 dead and wounded, but hundreds missed • Evacuation in United Kingdom – But only ca. 4000 soldiers and 500 civilians, rest of men left division, because membership of division changed to voluntary principle Czechoslovak Army in United Kingdom • First place of concentration of Czechoslovak soldiers = camp in Cholmondeley near Chester • Inner disputes within unit – Communists vs. non-Communists • On 12 July 1940 established Inspectorate of Czechoslovak Air Force – Commander general Karel Janoušek • On 25 October 1940 agreement on establishing of Czechoslovak army in United Kigdom Czechoslovak Air Force in United Kingdom I • On 12 July 1940 fist Czechoslovak wing established in Duxford = No 310 Squadron R.A.F. – Fighter squadron, commander major Alexander Hess • On 30 July 1940 established No 311 Squadron R.A.F. – Bomber squadron, took part in bombing of Germany, France, Belgium, and Netherland • On 5 September 1940 established No 312 Squadron R.A.F. – Fighter squadron • These three squadron took part in Battle of England, first fight on 26 August 1940 (310th squadron) Czechoslovak Air Force in United Kingdom II • On 10 May 1941 established No 313 Squadron R.A.F. – Fighter squadron • All Czechoslovak fighter squadrons united into Czechoslovak Fight Wing (so called Exeter Wing) – Commander captain Alois Vašátko • Czechoslovak squadrons took part in Operation Overlord • During 1943 selected pilots transferred to USSR • Czechoslovak pilots also in R.A.F., esp. R.A.F. Polish units = together in R.A.F fought ca. 1500 pilots Czechoslovak Brigade • On 1 September 1944 Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade – Unification of Brigade that was dislocated in England and of unit from Middle East • On 30 August 1944 transferred to France – Together 4259 men, commander gen. Alois Liška • From October 1944 to May 1945 took part in siege of Dunkirk – Task is not to keep some 12 000 men of German garrison in Dunkirk and to prevent them to break through Special Operations • Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence prepared together with Special Operation Executives (British authority) number of special operations • Well-known became Operation Anthropoid – Its task was to assassinate German exponent in Protectorate Reinhard Heydrich; after his dead (on 4 June 1942) retaliatory arrangement in Protectorate, especially Lidice Massacre Summary • Second Resistance Movement consist of integral part of Czech military tradition • Czech unites took part in various battles during Second World War and enabled restoration of Czechoslovak state • But majority of them, especially those, who fought in the West, became after February 1948 victims of Communist persecution .