Czechoslovak Tank Brigade in Racibórz County in Spring 1945
Czechoslovak Tank Brigade in Racibórz County in Spring 1945

Summary/Abstract: During the Second World War, Czechoslovak government-in-exile organized its military units in several countries. Among the forces under its authority was the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps (1. československý armádní sbor) which was formed in the Soviet Union. One of its components was the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade (1. Československá samostatná tanková brigáda). Due to its status as an ‘independent’ unit, the brigade was not directly subordinated to the army corps command and was instead deployed in Silesia. There, Czechoslovak tanks took part in the Battle of Moravská Ostrava. Following the principles of historiography and drawing on previously unused documents , this study provides a detailed account of the brigade’s deployment on the territory of Racibórz County (Powiat raciborski). The Czechoslovak brigade crossed its borders on 3 April 1945, when it was sent to provide tank support the Oder River bridgehead with the objective of launching a decisive attack and advancing into Czechoslovakia. This objective, nevertheless, was not achieved. The reason could be found in the way the unit was deployed by Soviet command. Instead of supporting infantry operations, as originally planned, Czechoslovak forces were effectively compelled to conduct an independent operation. By that time, however, Soviet plans had changed. As a result, Czechoslovak brigade was withdrawn to Pogrzebień during the night of 6–7 April 1945, and later transferred to villages Maków, Pietrowice Wielkie and Pietraszyn, approximately 10 km west of Racibórz. There, the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade took part in the final Soviet offensive of the Battle of Moravská Ostrava on 15 April 1945, eventually leaving Racibórz County for its homeland, Czechoslovakia.

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