Czechoslovak military units on Eastern front
Encyclopedia
The 1st Independent Field Battalion
, which was formed in Buzuluk
, in the Urals, was the first Allied unit fighting alongside the Red Army
in Soviet territory. Later it was reinforced to brigade
strength, largely by Rusyn
prisoners released from the gulags, and by the time that the Soviet offensive entered Czechoslovakia, it had formed the Czechoslovak Army I Corps.
It first saw action at the Battle of Sokolovo
in March 1943, in which it performed well and was commended by the Soviet High Command. The 1st Czechoslovakian Independent Brigade (as it had by then become) played a key role in the 1943 battle of Kiev
, and its troops were some of the first to reach the center of the Ukrainian capital city
. In the autumn of 1944, 13,000 members of the Czechoslovakian Army's I Corps
participated in the Battle of Dukla Pass, and after fierce fighting they finally set foot on their native soil once more. Czechoslovakian troops were also involved in the Prague Offensive
, the last major World War II battle in Europe.
After the war, Soviet general Ivan Konev
said: "we noted a remarkable exhibition of high valor in Czechoslovakian soldiers. We were pleased with the fact that the Czechoslovakian soldiers were included in military struggle against the German fascists as they boldly attacked enemy troops."
First Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion
The First Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion was a Czechoslovak government-in-exile military organization in World War II fighting alongside the Red Army on the East Front, notably in the battle of Sokolovo...
, which was formed in Buzuluk
Buzuluk
Buzuluk is a town in Orenburg Oblast, Russia, located on the Samara, Buzuluk, and Domashka Rivers northwest of Orenburg. Population: It was founded in 1736 as the fortress of Buzulukskaya on the Samara River near the mouth of the Buzuluk River along Russia's southern frontier. It was later moved...
, in the Urals, was the first Allied unit fighting alongside the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in Soviet territory. Later it was reinforced to brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
strength, largely by Rusyn
Rusyns
Carpatho-Rusyns are a primarily diasporic ethnic group who speak an Eastern Slavic language, or Ukrainian dialect, known as Rusyn. Carpatho-Rusyns descend from a minority of Ruthenians who did not adopt the use of the ethnonym "Ukrainian" in the early twentieth century...
prisoners released from the gulags, and by the time that the Soviet offensive entered Czechoslovakia, it had formed the Czechoslovak Army I Corps.
It first saw action at the Battle of Sokolovo
Battle of Sokolovo
The Battle of Sokolovo took place on March 8 and 9, 1943 near the town of Sokolovo near Kharkiv in Ukraine when the on-going attack of the Wehrmacht was halted by joint Soviet and Czechoslovak forces. It was the first time that a foreign military unit, the First Czechoslovak Independent Field...
in March 1943, in which it performed well and was commended by the Soviet High Command. The 1st Czechoslovakian Independent Brigade (as it had by then become) played a key role in the 1943 battle of Kiev
Battle of Kiev (1943)
The 1943 Battle of Kiev describes three strategic operations by the Soviet Red Army, and one operational counterattack by the Wehrmacht which took place in the wake of the failed German offensive at Kursk during World War II...
, and its troops were some of the first to reach the center of the Ukrainian capital city
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. In the autumn of 1944, 13,000 members of the Czechoslovakian Army's I Corps
I Corps (Czechoslovakia)
I Czechoslovak Army Corps was a unit of the Czechoslovak army in exile on the Eastern Front fighting alongside the Soviet Red Army, which was created on the April 10, 1944 at Chernivtsi and moved to Krosno area soon after....
participated in the Battle of Dukla Pass, and after fierce fighting they finally set foot on their native soil once more. Czechoslovakian troops were also involved in the Prague Offensive
Prague Offensive
The Prague Offensive was the last major Soviet operation of World War II in Europe. The offensive, and the battle for Prague, was fought on the Eastern Front from 6 May to 11 May 1945. This battle for the city is particularly noteworthy in that it ended after the Third Reich capitulated on 8 May...
, the last major World War II battle in Europe.
After the war, Soviet general Ivan Konev
Ivan Konev
Ivan Stepanovich Konev , was a Soviet military commander, who led Red Army forces on the Eastern Front during World War II, retook much of Eastern Europe from occupation by the Axis Powers, and helped in the capture of Germany's capital, Berlin....
said: "we noted a remarkable exhibition of high valor in Czechoslovakian soldiers. We were pleased with the fact that the Czechoslovakian soldiers were included in military struggle against the German fascists as they boldly attacked enemy troops."