Karel Kutlvašr (27 January 1895 – 2 October 1961) was a Czechoslovak legionary officer and general who commanded the

Prague Uprising The Prague uprising () was a partially successful attempt by the Czech resistance movement to liberate the city of Prague from German occupation in May 1945, during the end of World War II. The preceding six years of occupation had fuelled an ...

. After February 1948 became a victim of political persecution by the communist regime of Czechoslovakia.

Biography

Karel Kutlvašr was born on 27 January 1895 in Michalovice near

Havlíčkův Brod Havlíčkův Brod (, until 1945 Německý Brod; ) is a town in Havlíčkův Brod District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 24,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban mon ...

as the sixth child in the family of farmer Josef Kutlvašr. He graduated from the school Německý Brod in 1911 with a two-year business degree. He was first employed by Jenč in

Humpolec Humpolec (; ) is a town in Pelhřimov District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 12,000 inhabitants. Administrative division Humpolec consists of 12 municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): ...

. He later worked in

Kyiv Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

as a clerk for Vielwart and Dědina, which exported agricultural machinery to Tsarist Russia. In August 1914, he was among the first to enlist in the Czech companies Kutlvašr founded units of the future Czechoslovak legions on the

Battle of Galicia The Battle of Galicia, also known as the Great Battle of Galicia, was a major battle between Russia and Austria-Hungary during the early stages of World War I in 1914. In the course of the battle, the Austro-Hungarian armies were severely def ...

. As a scout, he participated in a number of important battles. He was honored many times for his heroism in battle. After the Battle of Zborov, in which he was wounded, he became battalion commander and assistant commander of the 1st MS. Rifle Regiment which was primarily commanded by Colonel Švec. With him, he also participated in the

Kazan Operation Kazan Operation was the Red Army's offensive (5–10 September 1918) against the Czechoslovak Legion and the People's Army of Komuch during the Russian Civil War. Background Following the capture of Samara by the Czech Legion on 8 June ...

on 6–7 August 1918. After the foundation of the

First Czechoslovak Republic The First Czechoslovak Republic, often colloquially referred to as the First Republic, was the first Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovak state that existed from 1918 to 1938, a union of ethnic Czechs and Slovaks. The country was commonly called Czechosl ...

, he became the interim commander of the regiment, and on 25 February 1919 he was promoted to Minister of War, replacing

Milan Rastislav Štefánik Milan Rastislav Štefánik (; 21 July 1880 – 4 May 1919) was a Slovak politician, diplomat, aviator and astronomer. During World War I, he served at the same time as a general in the French Army and as Minister of War for Czechoslovakia. ...

. Kutlvašr was promoted to lieutenant colonel and subsequently appointed the final commander of the 1st Regiment. In Russia, he met Elizabeth Yakovlev, whom he later married. He returned to his homeland in 1920, and here he was promoted to colonel in 1923, when he served as commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment in

České Budějovice České Budějovice (; ) is a city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 97,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the valley of the Vltava River, at its confluence with the Malše. České Budějovice is the largest ...

. Between 1923 and 1931 he commanded the 2nd Infantry Brigade in

Chomutov Chomutov (; ) is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 47,000 inhabitants. There are almost 80,000 inhabitants in the city's wider metropolitan area. The historic city centre is well preserved and is protected as ...

. In 1928 he was promoted to brigadier general. At the age of 33, he became one of the youngest generals of the

Czechoslovak Army The Czechoslovak Army (Czech and Slovak: ''Československá armáda'') was the name of the armed forces of Czechoslovakia. It was established in 1918 following Czechoslovakia's declaration of independence from Austria-Hungary. History In t ...

and gradually held a number of command and pedagogical positions. From 1934 to 1939 he commanded the 4th Infantry Division in

Hradec Králové Hradec Králové (; ) is a city of the Czech Republic. It has about 94,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Hradec Králové Region. The historic centre of Hradec Králové is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech R ...

and at the time of the mobilization in September 1938 he took command of Border Area 35 with the headquarters in

Vamberk Vamberk (; ) is a town in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,600 inhabitants. Administrative division Vamberk consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to ...

. During the occupation, he was a member of the resistance organization Defense of the Nation. Under the

general

František Slunečko František Slunečko (2 October 1886, Mladá Vožice – 10 December 1963, Prague) was a Czech general, a member of the World War II resistance group Defense of the Nation, and the military commander of Bohemia during the Prague Uprising 1945. E ...

("Alex") was, on 5 May 1945, appointed commander of rebel troops in Prague, and, together with representatives of the Czech National Council later in the afternoon on 8 May, negotiated the conditions for implementing the surrender of German troops in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

exchange for their free passage through the city into captivity by the armed forces of the Western Allies. This took place after February 1948 and it probably became one of the reasons for his persecution by the communist regime, carried out at the request of the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, which already in the summer of 1945 began to put pressure on his retirement. He served as the military commander of Prague until 28 May 1945, when he became the interim commander of the 5th Corps in

Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...

, but on 1 August 1945, after complaints from Soviet envoy

Valerian Zorin Valerian Aleksandrovich Zorin (; 14 January 1902 – 14 January 1986) was a Soviet diplomat best remembered for his famous confrontation with Adlai Stevenson on 25 October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Life and career Zorin was born in ...

, he was sent on vacation, during which his fate was decided. He returned into service, after the intervention of President

Edvard Beneš Edvard Beneš (; 28 May 1884 – 3 September 1948) was a Czech politician and statesman who served as the president of Czechoslovakia from 1935 to 1938, and again from 1939 to 1948. During the first six years of his second stint, he led the Czec ...

, and returned in February 1946 when he joined as commander of III. Corps in

Plzeň Plzeň (), also known in English and German as Pilsen (), is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 188,000 inhabitants. It is located about west of P ...

, and after being promoted to the rank of divisional general later served from 1947 as deputy commander of Military Area 3 again in Brno. Shortly after the

1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état In late February 1948, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ), with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia through a coup d'état. It marked the beginning of four decades of the party's rule in t ...

, on 8 March 1948, he was sent on vacation and transferred to retirement on 1 June 1948. He was subsequently arrested on 18 December 1948 and, as a representative of the alleged resistance group "Truth Prevails", which was staged provocations 5th Department, in a show trial on 16 May 1949 the State Court in Prague sentenced for high treason and sentenced to prison freedom for life and at the same time degradation to a soldier in reserve. He was imprisoned in

Mírov Mírov () is a municipality and village in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 400 inhabitants. It is known for its high-security and maximum security prison. Geography Mírov is located about southwest of ...

and

Leopoldov Leopoldov (before 1948 ''Mestečko''; ; ) is a town in the Trnava Region of Slovakia, near the Váh river. It has a population of around 4,000 inhabitants. The city is the location of Leopoldov Prison, a high-security correctional institution. H ...

. In 1960, after the amnesty of the President of the Republic

Antonín Novotný Antonín Josef Novotný (; 10 December 1904 – 28 January 1975) was a Czechoslovak politician who served as the President of Czechoslovakia from 1957 to 1968, and as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1968. ...

, announced on the occasion of the adoption of the ''Socialist Constitution'', more precisely, the "completion of socialism" and the change of the name of the republic from Czechoslovakia to Czechoslovakia, he was released from serving his sentence. He returned from prison in very poor health. After his release from prison, he lived with his wife until his death in Prague-Vršovice, Rybalkova 69. As he was awarded a retirement pension of only CSK 230 per month, he made a living first as a security guard in the

Prague Castle Riding School Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

and after having to leave, he worked as a night porter in the Nusle Brewery. He died suddenly during a medical examination on 2 October 1961 in the

Motol University Hospital Motol University Hospital () is a large teaching hospital in the Motol area of Prague. It is the largest medical facility in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked ...

in the office of doctor MUDr. Endta, whose father fought by his side in the Czechoslovak legions. In 1968, the Municipal Court in Prague overturned all charges from 1948 and 1949. However, it was not fully rehabilitated until after November 1989. In memoriam he was promoted to General of the Army and was awarded the

Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order The Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order is an award given "to recognize eminent contributions to the defence and security of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic". It was bestowed by the President of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic. The aw ...

. On 28 October 2017 the President of the Republic,

Miloš Zeman Miloš Zeman (; born 28 September 1944) is a Czech politician who served as the third president of the Czech Republic from 2013 to 2023. He also previously served as the prime minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2002. As leader of the Cze ...

, awarded him in memoriam the

Order of the White Lion The Order of the White Lion () is the highest order of the Czech Republic. It continues a Czechoslovak order of the same name created in 1922 as an award for foreigners (Czechoslovakia having no civilian decoration for its citizens in the 192 ...

of the 1st Class Military Group for extraordinary merits for the defense and security of the state.

Awards

* Czechoslovak War Cross 1918 *

Order of the Falcon The Order of the Falcon () is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by Christian X of Denmark, King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowaday ...

, with swords * * *

Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 (''Československý válečný kříž 1939'' in Czech, ''Československý vojnový kríž 1939'' in Slovak) is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for those who had provide ...

, II class *

, I Class

Foreign Awards

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

Order of St. George The Order of Saint George () is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. It was originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) as the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire for commiss ...

, IV Class *

Order of Saint Anna The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, on 14 February 1735, in hono ...

, III Class with swords and bow *

Order of Saint Stanislaus The Order of Saint Stanislaus (, ), also spelled Stanislas, was a Polish order of knighthood founded in 1765 by King Stanisław August Poniatowski of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It remained under the Congress Poland, Kingdom of Pola ...

Order of the Star of Romania The Order of the Star of Romania (Romanian: ''Ordinul Steaua României'') is Romania's highest civil Order and second highest State decoration after the Order of Michael the Brave. It is the oldest Order of Romania. It is awarded by the Preside ...

, II Class with Swords *:

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...

Notes

References

External links