History and Tradition of the Army of the Czech Republic. Czechoslovak Legions in France and in Italy

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1 History and Tradition of the Army of the Czech Republic Czechoslovak Legions in France and in Italy

2 Content 1) Context of origin of Czechoslovak Legions in France and their activities 2) Effort of Czech National Council to form Czechoslovak Legions in Italy

3 Czech and Slovak Compatriots in Western The number of compatriots varied form country to country In the U.S.A. ca men, but U.S.A. out of conflict, in France 2000 men, and in United Kingdom 1000 emn Effort of Compatriots to join armies of Western countries to involve in military resistance against Austria-Hungary The only possibility is to enter French Foreign Legion

4 Company Nazdar! Nearly 300 Czechs entered French Foreign Legion Majority of them formed first company of C-battalion of Moroccan Division, so called Company Nazdar! because of Czech greeting (Nazdar! = Hello!), commander captain Sallé On 12 October 1914 oath with awarding of standard in Bayonne In November company transferred to the front near Reims

5 Battle of Arras In April 1914 Moroccan Division and company transferred near Arras for offensive Attack took place on 9 May 1915 High losses: 43 men fallen, 100 wounded In fact termination of Czech unit (!) Remaining Czechs joined other units of Foreign Legion End of separate Czech unit in Western front As 600 men together of 1914 some 200 died et the end of First World War, 300 became invalids, some 50 remained in North Africa

6 Czech National Council I In 1916 Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Edvard Beneš together with Milan Rastislav Štefánik formed representative body of Czech and Slovak nation Czech National Council, or Czechoslovak National Council as sometimes referred Effort to gain support from the side of organizations of compatriots (esp. in U.S.A.) Effort to persuade Western authorities to form independent Czech army, but Haag Conventions (enables not to form army of P.O.W.) Effort to gain volunteers to this army

7 Czech National Council II During summer 1917 change of opinion of French authorities On 20 June 1917 negotiations between Czech National Council and Ministry of War of France Czech army as autonomous part of French army under supreme political governance of Czech National Council

8 Czech Autonomous Army in France I On 17 December 1917 publishing of decree of French president on formation of Czech Autonomous Army Agreement of status of Czech Army signed on 7 February 1918 Members of army: P.O.W. from Romania, and Serbia, transport of Legionaries from Russia and others Problematic legal situation: members of army were not soldiers, nor P.O.W. and did not have French citizenship

9 Czech Autonomous Army in France II In January 1918 formation of 21th regiment in Cognac in Southern France, later then of 22nd regiment Officer corps forms French officers, many of Czech officers without confirmation of their rank = tension between Czech National Council and 21th regimen On 30 June th regiment received standard from French president Poincaré in Darney = commemorated as the Day of Czech Armed Forces

10 Czechoslovak Brigade in France Besides 21th and 22nd regiment 23rd and 24th regiments formed, together ca men Beginning of July th regiment transferred in front near German borders On 16 October 21th and 22nd regiments form Czechoslovak Brigade Battle of Terron 18 to 22 October 1918, high losses, but on 8 November 1918 members of brigade were announced the declaration of independent state

11 Formation of Legions in Italy I Most complicated situation in Italy, Italian authorities did not support neither formation of independent army, nor Czechoslovak independence In Italy no Czech compatriots (max 300 men) Beginning of 1917 Czech Volunteer Corps formed within P.O.W. in Italy = pioneer units, i.e. for logistics only

12 Formation of Legions in Italy II From beginning of 1918 few Czech companies in Italian army conduct reconnaissance and agitation among Austro- Hungarian soldiers But agreement on formation of Czechoslovak army in Italy signed on 21 April 1918 on basis of negotiations of M. R. Štefánik and Italian authorities Recruitment of Czech P.O.W. commenced According to Czech National Council in Italy there had been ca P.O.W., ca men enlisted Legions

13 Czechoslovak Division in Italy I Formation of 31th regiment in Perugia, 32nd in Assissi, 33rd in Foligno, and 34th in Spoleto, later then 35th regiment In middle of August 1918 division transferred to front to defend section near Lake Garda The Fight of Doss Alto Peak of 703 meters above sea Engagement of 33rd and 34th regiment on 28 August 1918 = successful deflection of attack of Austro-Hungarian forces, 7 fallen and 119 wounded, 5 Legionaries captured and later executed

14 Czechoslovak Division in Italy II End of September 33rd and 34th regiments replaced by 31th and 32nd regiments Beginning of October 1918 division drawn off front and prepared to be deployed in Piava Offensive At the same time Army Corps is formed 6th division (31th, 32nd, and 35th reg.) and 7th division (33rd, 34th, and 39th reg.), together ca men Beginning of December 1918 return from Italy to Czechoslovakia

15 Summary Legions of First Czechoslovak Resistance formed in Russia, France, and in Italy Despite primary reluctance of powers to support Czechoslovak independence after battle of Zborov change in opinion Czechoslovak Legions = condition of creation of Czechoslovak state Strategic importance not in Western and Italian front, but in Russia after Bolshevik takeover = some men controled whole Siberia