Czechoslovak People's Army
Encyclopedia
The Czechoslovak People's Army was the army of the Czechoslovak State
from 1954 until 1990. On March 14, 1990 the Army's name was changed to the Czechoslovak Army removing adjective "People's" from the name. Since 1955 it was a member force of the Warsaw Pact
.
Infantry units could also draw support from engineers, artillery, chemical troops, railway troops and paratroops. Additional services and equipment provided the combat services the necessary technical and material equipment they required.
Engineer troops were equipped with road and earth moving machinery, recovery tanks and equipment for the transportation of troops across rivers and other terrain. Railway troops were unable to provide construction and rehabilitation railway, including bridges and communication and security equipment and maintenance rail vehicle. Railway engineer and army participated in the liquidation of the consequences of natural disasters.
"Of the approximately 201,000 personnel on active duty in the ČSLA in 1987, about 145,000, or about 72 percent, served in the ground forces (commonly referred to as the army). About 100,000 of these were conscripts." There were two military districts, Western and Eastern. A 1989 listing of forces shows two Czech armies in the west, the 1st at Pribram
with one tank division and three motor rifle divisions, the 4th at Pisek
with two tank divisions and two motor rifle divisions. In the Eastern Military District, there were two tank divisions, the 13th and 14th, with a supervisory headquarters at Trencin
in the east of the country. There was also an airborne infantry regiment (brigade-sized prior to 1968), the 22nd, based at Prostějov
.
, attack helicopter
s, missile weapons and electronic equipment. Its command formations were the 7th Air Army (air defence, two AD regions) and the tactical 10th Air Army in Hradec Králové.
for clarification of events November 17, 1989 was characterized by Czechoslovak People's Army as follows: "... the Czechoslovak Army was next to the SNB and LM
understood as one of the direct power tools designed for control over the society and for immediate management of internal political problems; the Communist Party
by means of a vast staff of the Main Political Administration (HPS) of ČSLA penetrated as far as into the lowest units and in this way virtually ensured its absolute influence on the Army."
During the Velvet Revolution
, Communist Minister of National Defense Milan Václavík proposed to use the army against demonstrators, but his suggestion was not heeded.
Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was the official name of Czechoslovakia from 1960 until end of 1989 , a Soviet satellite state of the Eastern Bloc....
from 1954 until 1990. On March 14, 1990 the Army's name was changed to the Czechoslovak Army removing adjective "People's" from the name. Since 1955 it was a member force of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
.
Ground Forces
Ground troops were the largest component of the Army. They contained infantry, supported by tanks and armored vehicles. Czechoslovak military doctrine demanded large tank columns spearheading infantry assaults. While the armored columns secured objectives, the infantry would provide close support with mortars, rockets, anti-tank guns and large artillery.Infantry units could also draw support from engineers, artillery, chemical troops, railway troops and paratroops. Additional services and equipment provided the combat services the necessary technical and material equipment they required.
Engineer troops were equipped with road and earth moving machinery, recovery tanks and equipment for the transportation of troops across rivers and other terrain. Railway troops were unable to provide construction and rehabilitation railway, including bridges and communication and security equipment and maintenance rail vehicle. Railway engineer and army participated in the liquidation of the consequences of natural disasters.
"Of the approximately 201,000 personnel on active duty in the ČSLA in 1987, about 145,000, or about 72 percent, served in the ground forces (commonly referred to as the army). About 100,000 of these were conscripts." There were two military districts, Western and Eastern. A 1989 listing of forces shows two Czech armies in the west, the 1st at Pribram
Príbram
Příbram is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic with a population of 35,147. The city is located on the Litavka river and the foothills of Brdy, 60 kilometers south-west of Prague, the country's capital...
with one tank division and three motor rifle divisions, the 4th at Pisek
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
with two tank divisions and two motor rifle divisions. In the Eastern Military District, there were two tank divisions, the 13th and 14th, with a supervisory headquarters at Trencin
Trencín
Trenčín is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 56,000, which makes it the ninth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the Trenčín Region and the Trenčín District...
in the east of the country. There was also an airborne infantry regiment (brigade-sized prior to 1968), the 22nd, based at 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....
.
Air Force
The Air Force was equipped with supersonic jet fighter aircraftFighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, attack helicopter
Attack helicopter
An attack helicopter is a military helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the capability of engaging targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry and armored vehicles...
s, missile weapons and electronic equipment. Its command formations were the 7th Air Army (air defence, two AD regions) and the tactical 10th Air Army in Hradec Králové.
Air Defense Troops
The Army's air defense (PVOS, Protivzdušná obrana státu) was formed with anti-aircraft missile units, interceptor fighter aircraft, and special services radio-technical units (radar and direction-finding).Characteristics
The final Report of the Commission of Inquiry of the Federal AssemblyFederal Assembly of Czechoslovakia
The Federal Assembly was the name of Czechoslovakia's federal parliament from January 1, 1969 to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on December 31, 1992...
for clarification of events November 17, 1989 was characterized by Czechoslovak People's Army as follows: "... the Czechoslovak Army was next to the SNB and LM
People's Militias (Czechoslovakia)
People's Militias was a militia organisation of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia during between 1948 and 1989.- History :...
understood as one of the direct power tools designed for control over the society and for immediate management of internal political problems; the Communist Party
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
by means of a vast staff of the Main Political Administration (HPS) of ČSLA penetrated as far as into the lowest units and in this way virtually ensured its absolute influence on the Army."
During the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, Communist Minister of National Defense Milan Václavík proposed to use the army against demonstrators, but his suggestion was not heeded.
See also
- Czechoslovak Army (previous name and the name following the ČSLA)
- Army of the Czech Republic
- Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic
- Auxiliary Technical Battalions
External links
- ČSLA (Czechoslovak People's Army) – professional website dedicated to this former military
- Československá armáda (Czechoslovak Army) – website about Czechoslovak and Czech forces since 1918
- Weapons and Equipment of the Czechoslovak People's Army 1948–1989