Jan Syrový (January 24, 1888 - October 17, 1970) was a
CzechoslovakCzechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
Army four star
generalA general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is simply called general.-All general officer...
and the
prime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician. In many systems, the prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, and...
during the Munich Crisis.
Jan Syrový studied building at a technical school. Following his graduation in 1906, he became a one year volunteer in the
Austro-Hungarian armyThe Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy . It was composed of the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .Most of Hungarian cavalry, infantry and artillery troops...
. After that, he studied at a technical college in Russia. During
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
, he fought in the Czechoslovak Legion of the Russian army and lost his right eye in the
Battle of ZborovBattle of Zborov was a small part of the Kerensky Offensive...
.
Jan Syrový (January 24, 1888 - October 17, 1970) was a
CzechoslovakCzechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
Army four star
generalA general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is simply called general.-All general officer...
and the
prime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician. In many systems, the prime minister selects and can dismiss other members of the cabinet, and...
during the Munich Crisis.
Pre-political life
Jan Syrový studied building at a technical school. Following his graduation in 1906, he became a one year volunteer in the
Austro-Hungarian armyThe Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy . It was composed of the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .Most of Hungarian cavalry, infantry and artillery troops...
. After that, he studied at a technical college in Russia. During
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
, he fought in the Czechoslovak Legion of the Russian army and lost his right eye in the
Battle of ZborovBattle of Zborov was a small part of the Kerensky Offensive...
. Later he was in command of the Legion and anti-bolshevik forces on the
Trans-Siberian railwayThe Trans-Siberian Railway or Trans-Siberian Railroad is a network of railways connecting Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East provinces, Mongolia, China and the Sea of Japan.-Route development:The original plans and funding for construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway...
. This of course earned him recognition, and after the war, he was the Chief of Staff of the Czechoslovak Army (1927-1933), and then its general inspector (1933-1938).
The 'Munich Crisis': Autumn 1938
When
Milan HodžaMilan Hodža was a prominent Slovak politician and journalist, serving from 1935 to 1938 as the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia and in December 1935 as the acting President of Czechoslovakia...
's government resigned on September 23, 1938, Syrový was appointed Prime Minister and Minister of National defence despite his objections. Syrový had insisted he was just a soldier, not a politician, and that he lacked the qualifications and relevant experience to qualify him for such an important post. President
BenešEdvard Beneš was a leader of the Czechoslovak independence movement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the second President of Czechoslovakia. He was known to be a skilled diplomat.- Youth :...
told him that the nation needed him and that, as a soldier, he should regard it as an order. With some reluctance, Syrový then accepted.
As Prime Minister, he was forced to accept the terms of the
Munich AgreementThe Munich Agreement was an agreement permitting German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along borders of Czechoslovakia, mainly inhabited by Czech Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe...
on September 30. In his radio speech to the nation, he stated Czechoslovakia had no choice but to accept the terms because it was outnumbered and any conflict would result in casualties to men, women and children. "We were abandoned," he said. "We stand alone." Following the resignation of the President
Edvard BenešEdvard Beneš was a leader of the Czechoslovak independence movement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the second President of Czechoslovakia. He was known to be a skilled diplomat.- Youth :...
on October 5, Prime Minister temporarily took over some presidential duties (in accord with the
Czechoslovak ConstitutionAfter World War I, Czechoslovakia established itself and as a republic and democracy with the establishment of the Constitution of 1920. The constitution was adopted by the National Assembly on 29 February 1920 and replaced the provisional constitution adopted on 13 November 1918.The introduction...
) until
Emil HáchaEmil Hácha was a Czech lawyer, the third President of Czechoslovakia from 1938 to 1945. From March 1939, he presided under the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.-Judicial career:...
was duly elected President on November 30 1938.
He resigned the prime ministership on December 1 1938, remaining the Minister of National Defence until April 27 1939. He did not join the anti-German resistance as he was too well-known a figure for his involvement to be anything other than a liability. However, he did arrange the transfer of substantial sums from a Legionary relief fund to assist the resistance and people facing persecution.
Jan Antonin Bata
Mr.
BataJan Antonín Baťa was a Czech shoe manufacturer from Uherské Hradiště , brother of Tomáš Baťa and together with their sister partner of the firm.After his brother's death he led the Baťa company Jan Antonín Baťa (March 7, 1898 – August 23, 1965) (also known as Jan Antonin Bata or Jan Bata, called...
helped General Syrovy prepare for the defense of Czechoslovakia prior to Munich
with the training of hundreds of pilots for the Czechoslovak Air Force. Later these
pilots escaped to England where they joined the RAF as bomber pilots and fighter pilots.
Huge stores of raw materials, equipment and people were removed from Czechoslovakia
to points beyond the Nazi'a reach.
Post-War fate
On May 14 1945, in the immediate aftermath of the war, Syrový was arrested, charged with
collaborationCollaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together in an intersection of common goals — for example, an intellectual endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Most collaboration requires leadership, although...
(although he had consciously steered clear of this, as far as his office allowed) and put on trial. In a show-trial of alleged collaborators in 1947, the National Court found him guilty (as well as, e.g.
Rudolf BeranRudolf Beran was a Czechoslovakian politician who served as prime minister of the country before its occupation by Nazi Germany and shortly thereafter, before it was declared a protectorate...
) and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment, in severe conditions.
He was released in 1960, in
NovotnýAntonín Novotný was General Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1968, and also held the post of President of Czechoslovakia from 1957 to 1968. He was born in Letňany, now part of Prague....
's amnesty, but was left with no pension or any means of maintenance. To top it all, the communist regime prevented him from having a job. Later on, he was allowed to work as a night watchman, ironically enough guarding
MaroldLuděk Marold was a Czech realist painter. He lived in Prague, Paris and Munich....
's Panorama of the
Battle of LipanyThe Battle of Lipany or Lipan, also called the Battle of Česky Brod, was fought at Lipany 40 km east of Prague on May 30, 1434 and virtually ended the Hussite Wars...
. Not until late 1967 did the regime grant him a limited retirement pension.
Syrový was deeply wounded by the verdict of the National Court and remained so for the rest of his life. His own conscience was clear and he never came to terms with the apparent injustice of the decision. He reviewed his trial in an interview for the Report Magazine in 1968 and stated that there were three critical pieces of evidence laid against him. Firstly, a snapshot of himself shaking hands with
HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , popularly known as the Nazi Party...
, during a meeting he was obliged to attend at the
Prague CastlePrague Castle is a castle in Prague where the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here...
. Hitler had made a speech of reassurance as to Czechoslovakia's future under the 'protection' of the Reich; he then held out his hand to Syrový and the photographers immediately took a picture. Another photo provided the second piece of evidence: this photograph was taken at a government banquet and showed Syrový sat alongside
HenleinDr.Jur. Konrad Ernst Eduard Henlein was the most important pro-Nazi politician in Czechoslovakia and leader of Sudeten German separatists.- Early life :...
. Syrový stated that the picture was taken out of context, to be used for
naziNazism, known officially in German as National Socialism , is the totalitarian ideology and practices of the Nazi Party or National Socialist German Workers’ Party under Adolf Hitler, and the policies adopted by the dictatorial government of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.Nazism is often considered...
propaganda. The final piece of critical evidence was an arms contract with the Nazis. Syrový stated the weapons sold had been obsolete items from the First World War, which were no longer of any use to Czechoslovakia and that the weapons had been sold to German private companies; in addition, he stated that, ultimately, the decision to sell was made not just by him, but by the government as a whole. Syrový felt that had the allies of Czechoslovakia offered their promised help, he would never have had to agree to the Munich Dictate, but that, under the circumstances, the Czechoslovak Army on its own had no chance of success.
Syrový died on October 17 1970.
Decorations
Awarded by Belgium:
- The Order of the Crown: II. class
- Croix de Guerre 1914-18
Awarded by Czechoslovakia:
- Czechoslovak Military Cross 1918: with four tilia sprouts
- The Order of the Hawk: with swords
- Czechoslovak Revolutionary Medal 1914-18 with clasps: "Č.D.", "Zborov" and numbers "1", "2"
- Czechoslovak Medal of Victory 1918
Awarded by Estonia:
- The Order of the Eagle, for the Protection of the Country: I. class
Awarded by France:
- Légion d'honneur, in the grade of: Grand Officier
- Légion d'honneur, in the grade of: Commandeur
- Légion d'honneur, in the grade of: Officier
- Légion d'honneur, in the grade of: Chevalier [Knight]
- Croix de Guerre 1914-18: with palme
Awarded by Italy:
- The Order of the Italian Crown: II. class
- Military Cross of Merit
Awarded by Japan:
- The Order of the Holy Treasure: II. class
Awarded by Yugoslavia:
- The Order of St. Sava: I. class
- The Order of the White Eagle: I. class
- The Order of the White Eagle: II. class
- The Order of Karadjordjević: Star, II. class
Awarded by Lithuania:
- The Order of Vytis: Cross, II. class
Awarded by Latvia:
- The Order of the Bear: Fighter, II. class
- The Order of Three Stars: II. class
Awarded by Morocco:
- The Order of Nischan el Quissam Alaouite: I. class
Awarded by Poland:
- The Order of Polonia Restituta: II. class
Awarded by Romania:
- The Order of the Romanian Star: I. class
- The Order of the Romanian Crown: II. class
- The Order for Loyal Services: I. class
- Remembrance Cross 1916-19: with the clasp: "Siberia"
Awarded by Imperial Russia:
- The Order of St. Vladimir: IV. class
- The Order of St. Anne: IV. class
- The Order of St. Stanislav: III. class
- The Cross of St. George: IV. class
Awarded by Greece:
- The Order of the Phoenix: I. class
- The Medal of military merit
Awarded by Tunisia:
- The Order of Nischan el Iftikchar: I. class
Awarded by Great Britain:
- The Order of the Bath, in the grade of: Knight Commander [KCB]