601st Special Forces Group
Encyclopedia
The 601st Special Forces Group of general Moravec (601. skupina speciálních sil generála Moravce) is a special forces
unit of the Czech Armed Forces. It was officially created in 2003, the product of reorganizations in the Military of the Czech Republic
in this year. However, it has roots that go back as far as 1952 when it was a paratroop brigade.
, Slovakia
, but in 1960 it was relocated to Prostějov
and the unit joined the 22nd Paratroop Brigade, which was based in Prostějov. Until 1969 the members of the units were trained according to Soviet
doctrine, training mass parachute operations, defending points of military interest until the arrival of main ground forces. From 1970 to 1988, the unit began to focus on the training of small reconnaissance groups, which were to be inserted to the rear of an enemy to carry out diversionary and reconnaissance missions.
Members of the 601st Special Forces Group participate or participated in many foreign missions:
6th Special Forces Company was the first Czech Army unit which operated in Kosovo in 1999. It laid foundations for activities of other Czech Army units in this territory.
So far, the most important mission the Group has taken part in was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2004. This mission was the first combat operation of the Czech Armed Forces since World War II. More than 100 people participated for six months and, without break, fulfilled their tasks in arduous climatic conditions.
Participation in this mission was highly appraised by the highest state officials as well as the ACR and coalition partners. 601st SFG has taken a firm position within the world Special Forces elite group.
In the year 1999 this group became the honorary historical name of general Moravec
from the president
of the Czech Republic
.
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit of the Czech Armed Forces. It was officially created in 2003, the product of reorganizations in the Military of the Czech Republic
Military of the Czech Republic
The Army of the Czech Republic comprise the land forces, the Czech Air Force and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact military alliance...
in this year. However, it has roots that go back as far as 1952 when it was a paratroop brigade.
History
The 601st Special Forces finds its roots in a paratroop brigade created in 1952. This unit was based in PrešovPrešov
Prešov Historically, the city has been known in German as Eperies , Eperjes in Hungarian, Fragopolis in Latin, Preszów in Polish, Peryeshis in Romany, Пряшев in Russian and Пряшів in Rusyn and Ukrainian.-Characteristics:The city is a showcase of Baroque, Rococo and Gothic...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, but in 1960 it was relocated to Prostějov
Prostejov
Prostějov is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Today the city is known for its fashion industry and special military forces based there....
and the unit joined the 22nd Paratroop Brigade, which was based in Prostějov. Until 1969 the members of the units were trained according to Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
doctrine, training mass parachute operations, defending points of military interest until the arrival of main ground forces. From 1970 to 1988, the unit began to focus on the training of small reconnaissance groups, which were to be inserted to the rear of an enemy to carry out diversionary and reconnaissance missions.
Members of the 601st Special Forces Group participate or participated in many foreign missions:
- Saudi Arabia (1990)
- former Yugoslavia
- UNPROFOR (1992—1995)
- IFORIFORThe Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour. Its task was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for...
(1996) - SFORSFORThe Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
(from 1996—2001) - KFORKFORThe Kosovo Force is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force responsible for establishing a secure environment in Kosovo.KFOR entered Kosovo on 12 June 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244...
(from 1999—2006)
- Albania — AFOR (1999)
- Afghanistan
- ISAFISAFISAF may refer to:* International Sailing Federation, the world governing body for Olympic and other competitive sailing.* International Security Assistance Force, the NATO-led security mission operating in Afghanistan since 2001....
(2002) - Operation Enduring Freedom (2004)
- ISAF
- IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
- 1991
- Operation Enduring Freedom (2003)
- MNF (I) (2004)
- IZ SFOR (2004)
- KuwaitKuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
— EF (2002, 2003)
6th Special Forces Company was the first Czech Army unit which operated in Kosovo in 1999. It laid foundations for activities of other Czech Army units in this territory.
So far, the most important mission the Group has taken part in was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2004. This mission was the first combat operation of the Czech Armed Forces since World War II. More than 100 people participated for six months and, without break, fulfilled their tasks in arduous climatic conditions.
Participation in this mission was highly appraised by the highest state officials as well as the ACR and coalition partners. 601st SFG has taken a firm position within the world Special Forces elite group.
In the year 1999 this group became the honorary historical name of general Moravec
František Moravec
František Moravec was Czechoslovak military intelligence officer before and during World War II....
from the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.