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Czech Security Policy and Armed Forces

Czech Security Policy and Armed Forces. History and the Present State. Libor Frank , PhD. Head of the Group of Security Studies Department of Longlife Learning University of Defence Brno Czech Republic libor.frank@unob.cz. Aims of the presentation:.

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Czech Security Policy and Armed Forces

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  1. Czech Security Policy and Armed Forces History and the Present State Libor Frank, PhD. Head of the Group of Security Studies Department of Longlife Learning University of Defence Brno Czech Republic libor.frank@unob.cz

  2. Aims of the presentation: • To outline the basis of security policy of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic in historical perspective • To provide basic information regarding the key historical events and their influence on creating and perceiving the security policy of the state • To explain briefly the contemporary basis of the security and defence policy of the Czech Republic • To present concisely the Czech Armed Forces and their role in the framework of the security policy of the state

  3. Contents: • Foundation of the independent Czechoslovak state and the role of Czechoslovak troops abroad • Basis of the security policy of the First Republic of Czechoslovakia (1918-1938) • The period of 1938-1939 and time of Nazi occupation • Recovery of the Czechoslovak state and communist takeover (1945-1948) • Czechoslovakia under communist yoke (1948-1989) • The Velvet Revolution and dissolution of Czechoslovakia (1989-1993) • Foundation of the Czech Republic and its armed forces • Basis of the contemporary Czech security and defence policy and the role of the Czech Armed Forces

  4. Foundation of the Czechoslovak state • The outbreak of the Great War led to escalation of relations between the Czechs and the Austro-Hungarian Empire • The worsening situation in the fronts and the rear together with tough germanization and dictatorial character of the empire fatally disrupted the loyalty towards the monarchy • The only and widely supported solution: the immediate end of the war and foundation of the independent Czechoslovak state

  5. Foundation of the Czechoslovak state • Foundation of Czechoslovak National Committee led by prof. Tomas Garrigue Masaryk in Paris (1916) • TGM gradually gained the support of France, the U.S. and the U.K. for the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and foundation of independent Czechoslovakia • His effort and political authority were significantly enhanced thanks to the existence and combat successes of Czechoslovak legions – foreign troops created from Czech and Slovak captives and volunteers

  6. Foundation of the Czechoslovak state • Czechoslovak legions – number of troops: • France: 10,000 • Russia: 60,000 • Italy: 20,000 • Czechoslovak military contribution to the war efforts of the „Triple Entente“ (FR, UK, RUS) made up the possible follow-up foundation and international recognition of the independent Czechoslovak republic which was declared on 28thOctober 1918 • Prof. T. G. Masaryk was elected the first president of Czechoslovakia

  7. Security policy of the CSR (1918-1938) • Immediately after its foundation the newly established state was forced to face the several simultaneous threats: • Prevention of the restitution of the Habsburg monarchy • Radical social tension (calls for red revolution) • Disputes and regular wars forborders with neighbours(Poland, Hungary) • Rejection of the Czechoslovak state by German minority (occupation of German regions by Czechoslovak forces)

  8. Security policy of the CSR (1918-1938) • Czechoslovakia in that time was composed of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia (so called Czech countries), Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia • The state was populated by almost 13,5 million inhabitants: • Czechs and Slovaks (Czechoslovaks): 8,7 million • Germans: 3,1 million • Hungarians: 750 000 • Rusyns: 460 000 • Jews: 180 000 • Others: 240 000

  9. Security policy of the CSR (1918-1938) • The idea of the „Czechoslovak“ nation - an artificial political construction in response to the fact that the second largest ethnic group in the state were the Germans, who in large part did not identify with Czechoslovakia. The idea assumed that the Czechs and Slovaks are two branches of once a single nation that has historically developed in different ways and is united again in the Czechoslovak state • Germans in Czechoslovakia lost their previous privileged position and did not reconcile with the status of minority. However the minorities rights were guaranteed on high-level (in comparison with other states of that time), there was no ethnic oppression, German parties took part in Czechoslovak governments, etc.

  10. Security policy of the CSR (1918-1938) • Security and foreign policy of the first Czechoslovak republic was based on preferring and strengthening of : • Regional military cooperation (Little Entente, 1921) • Modus vivendi with neighbours (particularly with Germany, Poland and Hungary) • Activism and loyalty of domestic Germans • Democratic character of the state • System of collective security (League of Nations) • Relations with western powers, particularly with France (bilateral alliance agreement, 1924) • Adequate modern and sufficient military forces and defence industry (since 1930 to 1933 Czechoslovakia was the biggest arms exporter in the world)

  11. Security policy of the CSR (1918-1938) • The security situation begins to deteriorate in 30's especially for the following reasons: • Nazification of Germany • Growing irredentism of German minority (connected with impacts of the Great Depression) • Growing irredentism in Subcarpathian Ruthenia • Growing irredentism of Slovaks (refusal of the idea of Czechoslovak nation) • Revisionist efforts of Poland and Hungary • Passivity and inability to act of the League of Nations • Weakness and unwillingness of key allies (France, the U.K.) to fulfill their commitments

  12. The period of 1938-1945 • The situation escalated dramatically in 1938 when the German minority, supported by Hitler, openly strives to destroy Czechoslovakia and join Germany • Adolf Hitler: „It is my unalterable decision to smash Czechoslovakia by military action in the near future.“ (Operation Green, 30th May 1938) • September 1938: uprising in German areas after Hitler´s appeal, clashes with insurgencies, general mobilization… • 29th September 1938: signing of the Munich Agreement that led to the withdrawal of German-settled areas to Germany and subsequently other parts to Poland and Hungary… • 16thMarch 1939: Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was created (Slovaks declared the “independent“ state a day before)

  13. The period of 1938-1945 • Immediately after the occupation the Provisional Czechoslovak government led by president dr. Edvard Benes was created in London exile. It strives for restoration of Czechoslovakia and nullification of the Munich Agreement • The domestic resistance structures activated and despite the heavy casualties and nazi terror (e.g., extermination of Lidice, Lezaky, Plostina, Javoricko and other villages) and in the collaboration with the London exile struggled against the occupation throughout the war • A huge number of (mainly) officers and volunteers escaped abroad illegally and entered into the newly created foreign Czechoslovak units engaged in fighting with Germany in Poland, France, U.K., U.S.S.R.

  14. The period of 1938-1945 • 310, 312, 313th fighting squadrons RAF (engaged e.g. in the Battle of Britain) • 311th bomber squadron RAF • 1st Czechoslovak Army Corp (U.S.S.R) • Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade (the U.K.) • 27th May 1942: Czechoslovak paratroopers supported by domestic resistance assassinated ReinhardHeydrich, acting Reichsprotektor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and no. 3 in Nazi hierarchy... • 5th August 1942: the British government nullified the Munich agreement

  15. Recovery of Czechoslovakia • Participation of Czechoslovak soldiers in military operations against Germany and domestic resistance activities enabled theexile government to gain the international support for after-war Czechoslovakia recovery in original borders from 1938 • The territory of Czechoslovakia was gradually liberated in 1944 – 1945, Slovakia and Moravia by the Red Army and Romanian Royal Army, western part of Bohemia was liberated by the U.S. army, Prague and the rest of Bohemia liberated itself during uprising in May 1945 • The crucial Soviet share on Germany defeat, rapid popularity of communist ideology and experience of 1938 severely affected the after-war Czechoslovak foreign and security policy

  16. Recovery of Czechoslovakia • Almost the whole German minority was expelled to Germany (as well as part of the Hungarian one from Slovakia) • The U.S.S.R. became a major ally of Czechoslovakia, replacing France and the U.K. • High credit of communist resistance and results of the communist party in elections enabled the communists to control the key power positions in the state administration, intelligence and security forces • Strong Soviet influence and pressure forced the Czechoslovak government to refuse its participation in the Marshall plan, Czechoslovak army had to be built according to the Red Army standards, etc.

  17. Time of communist yoke (1948-1989) • The situation culminated in February 1948 when the communists took over the government after a coup • After the communist takeover the resignation on independent security and foreign policy followed and the era of total orientation on the U.S.S.R. began • Cleansing of the officer corps started: almost 80% of officers were released, a lot of them were imprisoned or sent to uranium mines, some were executed. Particularly members of “western“ units were prosecuted • Part of soldiers went abroad again and joined U.S. army, RAF, French Foreign Legion… • Czechoslovakia began to build a massive, heavy and offensive armed forces under Soviet control and ready to attack the Western Europe in anticipated WWIII

  18. Timeof communist yoke (1948-1989) • 1953: first open massive anticommunist demonstrations (harshly suppressed) • 1955: Czechoslovakia signed the Warsaw Pact • Stalin´s death and followed partial release of international tension in 60´s allowed the limited democratisation in Czechoslovakia • January 1968: Czechoslovak public and political representation claimed neutrality and "socialism with a human face„ (own, not Soviet political course) and Czechoslovakia started spiraling out of Soviet control • 21st August 1968: invasion of Soviet, Polish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, East German forces („fraternal assistance“)

  19. Timeof communist yoke (1948-1989) • Despite the fact that 99% of soldiers refused invasion, president and government ordered troops to stay in garrisons and neutral • The government has been hijacked to Moscow and forced to sign the so-called Moscow Protocols, which cancelled democratic reforms a returned situation to the state before 1968 • January 1969: Despite the living torches (Jan Palach, Jan Zajíc, EvženPlocek) and public resistance so-called “normalisation“ begun – pro-Soviet communists consolidating power and control over the society • April and August 1969: massive demonstrations suppressed by police, People's Militias and army

  20. Time of changes (1989-1993) • After the change of course in the U.S.S.R., Gorbatschev´s "Perestroika" (restructuring) and "glasnost" (openness) the erosion of surrounding socialist regimes started • January 1989: Jan Palach Week – first massive demonstrations against the regime • 17th November 1989: the Velvet revolution begun • Despite ideological indoctrination (82% officers were members of the Communist Party) the army remained neutral and allowed the change of regime • Already in December leader of the Charter 77 Vaclav Havel was elected the president of Czechoslovakia, in June 1990 the first free elections were organized

  21. Time of changes (1989-1993) • February 1990 – June 1991: removal of Soviet troops • 73.500 troops, 39.000 family members, 1.220 tanks, 2.500 infantry fighting vehicles, 105 aircraft, 175 helicopters, 95.000 tons of ammunition • 30th June 1991 – dissolution of the Warsaw pact • Czechoslovakia slowly integrates into existing international structures (e.g. Council of Europe) and takes part in creation of regional organizations (Visegrad group, CEFTA, etc.) in order to ensure the stability of democratic character and independence of the country • However the increasing contradictions between the political representations of both parts of the Czechoslovak federation led to its peaceful dissolution • 1stJanuary 1993: the Czech Republic was founded

  22. Czech foreign and securitypolicy • The contemporary foreign and security policy of the Czech Republic is based on preferring and strengthening: • Security (national) interests of the country • Collective defence (NATO) and cooperative security (OSCE, EU) structures and projects • Trans-Atlantic relations with the U.S. and indivisibility of security of all democratic states • The active role in prevention of crises and armed conflicts and active engagement in their solution under the strict UNSC mandate • Social and economic stability (especially in Europe) • Historically the best relations with neighbours (especially Germany and Poland) • Prevention or deterrence of armed attack against the CR

  23. Czech Armed Forces • Geopolitical changes in Europe dramatically affected the shape, equipment, capabilities and tasks of the Czech Armed Forces

  24. Czech Armed Forces • The primary mission of ACR is to ensure the military defence of the country against aggression and to meet commitments derived from international obligations and treaties of the Czech Republic on collective defence • It is also set to fulfill tasks within peacekeeping operations in regions of instability or conflicts, and to implement rescue and humanitarian missions both in the national territory and abroad • In its effort to become a NATO member country, the Czech Republic joined the Partnership for Peace Programme in 1994. It enabled the Czech military to absorb NATO procedures in defence planning and and implement the force build-up, tailored to Alliance standards and overall goals

  25. Czech Armed Forces • The Czech Republic successfully completed its accession talks and became a NATO member country, together with Hungary and Poland, on 12 March 1999, the day, which has been observed as the Day of Accession to NATO in the Czech Republic since • The Czech military is engaged in the integrated NATO military structure, contributing to defence, operations and civil crisis management planning. It takes part in the procedural and organisational aspects of nuclear consultations, participates in joint exercises, and actively commits its troops for NATO-led multinational operations • The ACR is also engaged in the EU military structure, as the Czech Republic became a EU member country on1st May 2004. The Czech military participates in joint exercises and operations

  26. Czech Armed Forces • Since the beginning of 90´s the Czech troops were deployed in Kuwait, Iraq, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan (until now), Pakistan, France, and Lithuania • Despite the international appreciation for theprofessional performance of Czech troops abroad, the domestic public opinion is very skeptic towards the army • The public support is quite weak (perhaps due to historical experience or the feeling of absence of direct military threat) and the political will to keep or increase the defence budget is very low, particularly in the time of austerity • Social spending in the Czech Republic increased by 50% in the last decade while the defence spending fell by the same percentage… 

  27. Thank You for Your Attention Libor Frank, PhD. Head of the Group of Security Studies Department of Longlife Learning University of Defence Brno Czech Republic libor.frank@unob.cz

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