Stranica 1 [1]
XeAgNoe 6 for August 1952.
REPORT FROM CZECHOmSLOVAKI As
The feature which has retained most the attention of
our observers in the past few weeks has been the very important
effort made in the military and armament field . Furthermore
they pointed out on some interesting reactions and repercus¬
sions inside of the country on noted activities of the Czech
emigration.
The development of the armed forces of the country
under the dynamic leadership of War Minister General Dr. Alexej
Cepicka has especially been noted since this year's armament
budget was upped from 15,5 billion czech crowns to 22,4 bil¬
lions. This huge sum was due primarily to the ultimate re¬
organization of the forces, to follow closely the Soviet pattern,
This reorganization, by the way, is rather close of being termina
tede
The Czech Army is composed of three basic forces 3 the
regular Army, the Sbor Narodni Bezpecnosti or Elite Police Force
and finally the se-called Defensive Groups of the "“ssoeciation
for collaboration with the Army",
The regular Army is recruited according to the normal
draft law, “When the Czech or Slovak is ealled into the forces,
a first sifting is made, Those considered unloyal never see an
uniform, but are immediately sent to forced labour in the mines,
After one month to six weeks of basic training, a second purge
. ís made. Those considered either unreliable or simply uncapable
for service are again eliminated and sent te forced Labour, It
is only after this double purge, that the rest receive advance
training and become real members ofthe Army, The purging and
sifting is in the hands of the Political Commissars, of whom
one is attached to each unit. They also have the right to demote
officers and NCO's not considered rel&able. It is interesting te
note, that a secret regulation of the armed forces states that
Slovak soldiersshould never be permitted to serve in their
homeland, and that furthermore no complete Slovak units shall be
established, In each unit the Czech element must have the absolut
majority. Slovak soldiefs are also not supposed to serve directly
under Slovak officers. “urthermore to each unit is attached a
Russian officer in orde? to help the training and formation of
the soldiers, This Russian officer has in fact supreme control
over the units. No ordee can be given without his consente
In this general organization, the soldier enjoys a certain mm¬
ber of privileges, The payments to soldiers are considerably
higher than in the past. Factories are also supposed to send gift
to the amy, more especially to the unit they have adopted.