Jaroslav Cihák
Encyclopedia
Major general
Jaroslav Čihák (24 July 1891 – 30 April 1944) was an Austro-Hungarian army officer from 1914 and Russian legionary
from 1916 (command platoon
and battalion
).
Čihák was born in Kratonohy
. Between the wars he was battalion commander, second in regiment
command and regiment commander. From 1936 he was commander of the infantry
school in Milovice
.
After beginning of Nazi occupation
he left Czechoslovakia
.
In 1940 he was commander of Czechoslovak troop
s in conflicts on the German-French front
(so-called divisional infantry). He was Executive officer of National defence department in Britain
(Czechoslovak government in exile
) from July 1940 to January 1941.
He participated in the building of the Czechoslovak army in foreign countries. He died in London
.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Jaroslav Čihák (24 July 1891 – 30 April 1944) was an Austro-Hungarian army officer from 1914 and Russian legionary
Legionary
The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Legionaries had to be Roman citizens under the age of 45. They enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for a campaign...
from 1916 (command platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
and battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
).
Čihák was born in Kratonohy
Kratonohy
Kratonohy is a small village of about 550 people in the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region, lying on a state road from Prague to Hradec Králové, 15 kilometers away from Chlumec nad Cidlinou...
. Between the wars he was battalion commander, second in regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
command and regiment commander. From 1936 he was commander of the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
school in Milovice
Milovice
Milovice may refer to several Czech villages:* Milovice * Milovice u Hořic* Milovice * Milovice...
.
After beginning of Nazi occupation
Consequences of German Nazism
Nazism and the acts of the Nazi German state profoundly affected many countries, communities and peoples before, during and after World War II. While the attempt of Germany to exterminate several nations viewed as subhuman by Nazi ideology was eventually stopped by the Allies, Nazi aggression...
he left Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
In 1940 he was commander of Czechoslovak troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
s in conflicts on the German-French front
Front (military)
A military front or battlefront is a contested armed frontier between opposing forces. This can be a local or tactical front, or it can range to a theater...
(so-called divisional infantry). He was Executive officer of National defence department in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(Czechoslovak government in exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
) from July 1940 to January 1941.
He participated in the building of the Czechoslovak army in foreign countries. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.