Czechoslovak Armed Forces in Exil

After the Czechoslovak pilots fled from demoralized and defeated France to England in the early summer of 1940, the Churchill spirit of defiance that prevailed in this country did not allow them to pursue defeatist ideas for a long time. After the 310th Fighter Squadron (established on 10 July 1940), the first Czechoslovak bomber squadron has been assembled, armed with much more complicated aircraft than the Hurricane fighters ...

Jaroslav Selner fought not only in North Africa and the Carpathians, but also worked for reporters during the war
Jaroslav Selner was a healer during his varied life. He worked as a pusher, dispatcher, founded a drugstore school in Křivoklát, worked as a secretary of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague. Above all, he was a soldier…

Karpatská Siče - military organization of Ukrainians and Ruthenians. For its short existence, its members fought alongside the Czechoslovak army and shortly against it after the declaration of independence, as well as with attackers from the Hungarian and Polish paramilitary divisions and against regular units of the Royal Hungarian Army.

When World War II broke out on September 1, 1939, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our military district commission and then joining the army. The month of September passed, then October and nothing smelled. We learned about the establishment of the Czechoslovak army in the town of Agde and the transfer of our boys from the Foreign Legion to this army. [...] More than once I turned to Captain Michal, Lieutenant Křen and others to tell me what will happen to us. Nobody explained anything to me. They just shrugged and did not speak. At that time, they probably already knew about the consequences of the non-aggression pact between Hitler's Germany and the Soviet Union [...]. It resulted in two extremely serious facts. The first could be called the division of Poland as a boy. So far secret. The second was an instruction from the Communist International led by Stalin to all communists not to take part in the capitalist war. Michal Durkaj, former Spanish interbrigadist, Prague 1985

Christmas 1940 was the saddest of my life. I received two letters before Christmas Day. One from Vlad [Kubíček] and the other from Mirek [Plecitý], who was already at the squadron as a sergeant-shooter. I was the first to open Mirek's letter, which began: " Dear Franta, I consider it my duty to tell you a very sad news, even though it will spoil Christmas for you and others, because I am sure you would learn from other boys. Jenda Křivda started last night on a mission last night. In a short time, they were forced to return for hitherto unexplained reasons. They landed with a bomb. For an unknown reason, however, Jenda's plane crashed just before landing in the forest and burned completely. […] Sorry to ruin your Christmas, but we're guys! "My hands were shaking and I couldn't even read the letter from the Government because of the tears in my eyes. It was a heavy blow to me. I lost my best friend… I sat on my bed for a long time and cried like a child. LOUCKÝ, František: I was left alone. Orbis, Prague 1946, pp. 41–42.

A little known fact is that in the wake of the axis Berlin–Rome–Tokyo during the Second World War the Czechoslovaks raised weapons against the Japanese

The article describes the structure of the French fighter air force in the spring of 1940 and the incorporation of Czechoslovak fighters into it. Furthermore, the success of individual Czechoslovak fighters for individual fighter squadrons ( GC - Groupe de Chasse ) according to the type of aircraft.

"Hunger forced us to beg for bread from the settlers, and on this occasion we learned from them that the Red Army had crossed the border on September 17 and was going to help Poland. We are all just scattered around the village when 28 Russian planes arrive at ground level. We do not know the situation, and when we see a red rocket fired from a plane, we know that a rage command has been given, perhaps the worst in my life. The planes bomb the village from low altitudes in all directions, this one is immediately in one sea of flames, stirred up by massive detonations of standing ammunition trucks. After the bombing, Russian planes occupy a different formation, the so-called 'wheel', and machine guns fire at every target in the village that still seems alive. After an hour of this furnace, where we can't see each other for smoke and a hundred dead and wounded, the planes take off and we get out of the village. Our last things were destroyed by flames, so I'm glad to meet Lt. Lenc, rtm. Fornůstek and des.Vyhnis. We are looking for our unit, but in vain. ” So were the words of Lt. Václav Kopecký, who later fell into Soviet captivity.

Some proud pride grew in my heart as I crossed the line and frightened the memory of the child and wife. We happily went to meet the Polish guard. "Where are you going, why did you go, there will be no war, there are no legions" , etc. were their words.

When ( Ocelka ) left the dining room, Franta punched a fork and knife on the table and shouted what was enough for his throat: " We're not going to die for such food, guys! What do you call it? «The pilots agreed with him and everyone put down their cutlery. Franta climbed onto the table for everyone to see and hear, " Did you hear what the commander said? That he would not go anywhere for such food, and you rams would go to the slaughterhouse again; This must be done, either today or never. You know very well what raid awaits us again! Friends, we are not afraid to fly, we are not afraid of fascists, but we must not continue to suffer " ." KOCMAN, Vincenc: Fight without glory. Brno 1962, pp. 124-125.

The life of a pilot and a military diplomat div. gen. Alois Kubita.

After the beginning of the war, a Czechoslovak combat unit began to be built in France.

Air Force Colonel in memoriam Stanislav Fejfar and his odyssey.

Vladimír Přikryl was not one of the youngest officers of our foreign army at the time of the outbreak of World War II - he was already 44 years old. In addition, his health gradually deteriorated. However, the dramatic moments he went through not only during the turmoil of war could be envied by many of his much younger colleagues. Especially after he had voluntarily transferred to the Eastern Front.

" And why the deputy, who has absolutely no work here, perhaps only the so-called representative, why does he receive 60 pounds in a few days? "Lieutenant Stanislav Fejfar, 310th Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron, Great Britain September 5, 1940

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Over a hundred thousand people commemorated the anniversary of the city's liberation over the weekend in Kiev, Ukraine. Czechoslovak soldiers played an important role in the events of seventy years ago. "Just the announcement that the entire brigade is operating on the Eastern Front. In addition, three Czechoslovak soldiers were awarded the Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. This was important for both the Allies and the domestic resistance, "says researcher Milan Kopecký.

An article about the end of the Second World War through the eyes of shot down and captured Czechoslovak RAF pilots, their journey back to Great Britain, convalescence and returning home.