Slovak Defence Ministry commemorates a landmark milestone leading to the recognition of Czechoslovakia's independence in France's Darney
- Author:
- Photo:
- Date: 30.06.2023
- Share: Zdieľať na Facebook
Defence Minister Martin Sklenár today led a Slovak Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces delegation to France, where in the French municipality of Darney they commemorated the historical events which ultimately led to the recognition of Czechoslovakia's independence.
Back on 30 June 1918 at Camp Kléber, today's Czechoslovak Legion Memorial site, President of the French Republic Raymond Poincaré presented a Guidon to Czechoslovak commanders as 6,000 Czechoslovak legionaries stood in formation during the Guidon handover ceremony. This made France the first power to recognise the Czechoslovak Army and to acknowledge the right of Slovaks and Czechs to their own state – a landmark milestone leading to the recognition of Czechoslovakia's independence by the Entente Powers and other governments after WWI. Shortly afterwards, the first official Czechoslovak Government was formed before being formalised under established constitutional procedures.
Speaking at the Czechoslovak Legion Memorial in Darney, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “It was here exactly 105 years ago that members of the Czechoslovak Rifle Brigade swore the Oath of Allegiance, wherein they pledged to fight side by side with French troops for the French Republicʼs rights and democracy, hoping that one day their nations would gain their own freedom. Ever since then the municipality of Darney has been a living monument to the special bond of French-Czech-Slovak friendship. In addition to the Czechoslovak Legion Memorial, our close ties of friendship are also made manifest at the memorials dedicated to M. R. Štefánik, T. G. Masaryk, and Václav Havel in Darney.”
Speaking on this occasion, Director of the Institute of Military History Col Miloslav Čaplovič noted that 9,957 Czechoslovak legionaries, of whom approx. 1,591 were Slovaks, served in the Czechoslovak Legion in France.
The existence of the Czechoslovak Legion unleashed Czech and Slovak political emigration in a bid to create an independent Czechoslovakia. Largely thanks to the Czechoslovak Legion fighting on the fronts of WWI in France, Italy and Russia, Czechoslovakia was counted among the victorious countries in WWI. Nearly 5,500 patriots, out of a total of more than 100,000 Czechoslovak legionaries, laid down their lives for the cause of an independent Czechoslovakia.
For more information, you can access a detailed article on Darney and the Czechoslovak Legion in France on the Institute of Military History website at 105. výročie historických udalostí spojených s čs. légiami vo Francúzsku.
Back on 30 June 1918 at Camp Kléber, today's Czechoslovak Legion Memorial site, President of the French Republic Raymond Poincaré presented a Guidon to Czechoslovak commanders as 6,000 Czechoslovak legionaries stood in formation during the Guidon handover ceremony. This made France the first power to recognise the Czechoslovak Army and to acknowledge the right of Slovaks and Czechs to their own state – a landmark milestone leading to the recognition of Czechoslovakia's independence by the Entente Powers and other governments after WWI. Shortly afterwards, the first official Czechoslovak Government was formed before being formalised under established constitutional procedures.
Speaking at the Czechoslovak Legion Memorial in Darney, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: “It was here exactly 105 years ago that members of the Czechoslovak Rifle Brigade swore the Oath of Allegiance, wherein they pledged to fight side by side with French troops for the French Republicʼs rights and democracy, hoping that one day their nations would gain their own freedom. Ever since then the municipality of Darney has been a living monument to the special bond of French-Czech-Slovak friendship. In addition to the Czechoslovak Legion Memorial, our close ties of friendship are also made manifest at the memorials dedicated to M. R. Štefánik, T. G. Masaryk, and Václav Havel in Darney.”
Speaking on this occasion, Director of the Institute of Military History Col Miloslav Čaplovič noted that 9,957 Czechoslovak legionaries, of whom approx. 1,591 were Slovaks, served in the Czechoslovak Legion in France.
The existence of the Czechoslovak Legion unleashed Czech and Slovak political emigration in a bid to create an independent Czechoslovakia. Largely thanks to the Czechoslovak Legion fighting on the fronts of WWI in France, Italy and Russia, Czechoslovakia was counted among the victorious countries in WWI. Nearly 5,500 patriots, out of a total of more than 100,000 Czechoslovak legionaries, laid down their lives for the cause of an independent Czechoslovakia.
For more information, you can access a detailed article on Darney and the Czechoslovak Legion in France on the Institute of Military History website at 105. výročie historických udalostí spojených s čs. légiami vo Francúzsku.
