People's Militias (Czechoslovakia)
Encyclopedia
People's Militias was a militia
organisation of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
during between 1948 and 1989.
s.
In the middle of February 1948 the central committee of communist party decided to form armed units from communist party members and supporters. On February 21, 1948 these units were renamed to Dělnické milice (Worker's Militias). The militias were hastily equipped and set on alert during communist takeover of power
at the end of February. The name was soon changed to People's Militias.
In 1952 the official status of the militias changed to be the armed part of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
and the control was moved to communist party (to the newly established departments at the central committee); also the organisational structure was changed. In 1959 grey uniform was introduced.
Toward the end of 1980s political tensions in Czechoslovakia grew up and the militias, equipped with batons, were frequently deployed to disperse demonstration
s against the regime. In 1989 38,985 militiamen participated in this activity.
After the communist party fell from power
(end of 1989) the militias were dissolved on December 21, 1989.
s and 2,000 submachine gun
s from the armament factory Zbrojovka Brno. The equipment was continually modernized with sniper rifle
s, machine gun
s, mortar
s, anti-aircraft machine guns and transport vehicles. The ammunition was kept in army stores. During 1970s recoilless guns and RPG-7
were added among the armament. After dissolution of the militias their equipment was handed over to the army.
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
organisation of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
during between 1948 and 1989.
History
The predecessor of militias were armed groups of factory workers (Závodní milice, Factory Militias) formed in June 1945 to protect the factories during post-war chaos. In 1946 they were renamed to Závodní stráže (Factory Guards) and their equipment reduced to pistolPistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
s.
In the middle of February 1948 the central committee of communist party decided to form armed units from communist party members and supporters. On February 21, 1948 these units were renamed to Dělnické milice (Worker's Militias). The militias were hastily equipped and set on alert during communist takeover of power
Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948
The Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 – in Communist historiography known as "Victorious February" – was an event late that February in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia, ushering in over four decades...
at the end of February. The name was soon changed to People's Militias.
Tasks
The task of the militias was to protect against guerrillas expected to appear after the takeover, against undercover agents sent to Czechoslovakia and to cooperate with the police and the army. About 3,000 militiamen joined police forces. Non-communists were slowly removed from the militias. The control over the militias went to Ministry of Interior.In 1952 the official status of the militias changed to be the armed part of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
and the control was moved to communist party (to the newly established departments at the central committee); also the organisational structure was changed. In 1959 grey uniform was introduced.
Toward the end of 1980s political tensions in Czechoslovakia grew up and the militias, equipped with batons, were frequently deployed to disperse demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
s against the regime. In 1989 38,985 militiamen participated in this activity.
After the communist party fell from power
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
(end of 1989) the militias were dissolved on December 21, 1989.
Numbers and armament
During February 1948 the militias obtained 10,000 rifleRifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s and 2,000 submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
s from the armament factory Zbrojovka Brno. The equipment was continually modernized with sniper rifle
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
s, machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s, mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
s, anti-aircraft machine guns and transport vehicles. The ammunition was kept in army stores. During 1970s recoilless guns and RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
were added among the armament. After dissolution of the militias their equipment was handed over to the army.
| Date | Number |
|---|---|
| early 1948 | almost 2,000 (Slovakia) |
| February 1949 | around 10,000 (Slovakia), 6,000 - 7,000 in Prague Prague Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million... |
| 1954 | 18,290 (Slovakia, planned) |
| 1955 | 13,050 (Slovakia, planned) |
| 1959 | 14.978 (Slovakia, planned) |
| 1967 | 16.580 (Slovakia, planned) |
| January 1988 | 86.494 (actual number in the whole Czechoslovakia) planned 63,200 in ČSR Czech Socialist Republic From 1969 to 1990, the Czech Socialist Republic was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is the Czech Republic today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 to March 1990.... and 18,600 in SSR Slovak Socialist Republic From 1969 to 1990, the Slovak Socialist Republic was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is Slovakia today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 until March 1990.... |
| 20,067 pistol Pistol When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol... s (with over 4 millions rounds) |
| 6,890 machine gun Machine gun A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute.... s (with over 16 million rounds) |
| 130 anti-aircraft machine guns (over one million rounds) |
| 358 mortars Mortar (weapon) A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber.... |
| 149 recoilless guns |
| 2,177 trucks and motorcycles |
| 2,031 hand grenade Hand grenade A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time... s |
Literature
- Jiří Bílek, Vladimír Pilát: "Závodní, Dělnické a Lidové milice v Československu" in journal "Historie a vojenství", 1995, vol. 3, p. 79 - 106.
- Jan Štaigl: "Ľudové milície na Slovensku - ich vznik a organizačný vývoj do polovice šesťdesiatych rokov" in journal "Vojenská história", 1999, vol 2., p. 41 - 70.
External links
- People's Militias in Czechoslovakia in 1948 - 1989 (in Czech)
- Article in journal História (in Slovak)
- Lidové Milice (in Czech)