Misplaced Pages

People's Militias (Czechoslovakia): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 23:04, 6 November 2014 editThecentreCZ (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users10,384 editsm Fixing typo raised by BracketBot← Previous edit Latest revision as of 08:32, 15 August 2024 edit undoRest in pieces (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users32,724 edits added Category:Organizations disestablished in 1989 using HotCat 
(38 intermediate revisions by 27 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Multiple issues|
{{Infobox Government agency
{{More footnotes needed|date=July 2015}}
{{Expand Czech|topic=hist|date=January 2021}}
{{Expand Slovak|topic=hist|date=January 2021}}
}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = People's Militias |agency_name = People's Militias
|type = organization |type = organization
Line 5: Line 10:
|nativename_a = ''Lidové milice'' {{small|{{nobold|(])}}}} |nativename_a = ''Lidové milice'' {{small|{{nobold|(])}}}}
|nativename_r = |nativename_r =
|logo = Lidove milice logo.svg |logo = Lidove milice logo.svg
|logo_width = 115px |logo_width = 115px
|logo_caption = Insignia of the People's Militias |logo_caption = Insignia of the People's Militias
Line 11: Line 16:
|seal_width = |seal_width =
|seal_caption = |seal_caption =
|picture = File:People%27s_Militias_marching_in_Prague,_1948.jpg |picture =
|picture_width = 270px |picture_width =
|picture_caption =
|picture_caption = People's Militias marching at ], ]
|formed = February 1948 |formed = 21 February 1948
|dissolved = December 1989 |dissolved = 21 December 1989
|superseding = |superseding =
|jurisdiction = {{flagicon|Czechoslovakia}} <small>]</small> |jurisdiction = {{flag|Czechoslovak Socialist Republic}}
|headquarters = |headquarters =
|region_code = |region_code =
|members = 84,821 members (1989) |members = 84,821 members (1989)
|budget = |budget =
|chief1_name = ] |chief1_name = ]
|chief1_position = |chief1_position =
|agency_type = ] |agency_type = ]
|parent_agency = ] ] |parent_agency = ] ]
|child1_agency = |child1_agency =
|child2_agency = |child2_agency =
Line 32: Line 37:
|footnotes = |footnotes =
}} }}
'''People's Militias''' (in ] ''Ľudové milície'', in ] ''Lidové milice''), also called '''The armed fist of the working class''' ("ozbrojená päsť robotníckej triedy") was a ] organisation of ] during between 1948 and 1989.<ref name=DNR30y>, Moderní dějiny.cz (6 March 2012)</ref> '''People's Militias''' (in ] ''Ľudové milície'', in ] ''Lidové milice''), also called '''The Armed Fist of the Working Class''' (in ] ''Ozbrojená päsť robotníckej triedy'', in ] ''Ozbrojená pěst dělnické třídy'') was a ] organisation of the ] between 1948 and 1989.<ref name=DNR30y>, Moderní dějiny.cz (6 March 2012)</ref>


== History == == History ==
The predecessor of militias were armed groups of factory workers (''Závodní milice'', factory militias) formed in June 1945 to protect the factories during the ] chaos. In 1946 they were renamed ''Závodní stráže'' (''factory guards'') and their equipment reduced to ]s.


In the middle of February 1948, the central committee of the Communist Party decided to form armed units from Communist Party members and supporters. On February 21, 1948, these units were renamed ''Dělnické milice'' (''Worker's Militias''). The militias were hastily equipped and set on alert during the ] at the end of February. The name was soon changed to ''People's Militias''.
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 ''Závodní stráže'' (''Factory Guards'') and their equipment reduced to ]s.

In the middle of February 1948 the central committee of the Communist Party decided to form armed units from Communist Party members and supporters. On February 21, 1948 these units were renamed ''Dělnické milice'' (''Worker's Militias''). The militias were hastily equipped and set on alert during the ] at the end of February. The name was soon changed to ''People's Militias''.


== Tasks == == 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 the Ministry of the Interior. 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 the Ministry of the Interior.


Line 48: Line 51:
Toward the end of the 1980s, political tensions in Czechoslovakia increased and the militias, equipped with batons, were frequently deployed to disperse ] against the regime. In 1989, 38,985 militiamen participated in this activity.<ref name=DNRkky>, ceskatelevize.cz (3 February 2010)</ref> Toward the end of the 1980s, political tensions in Czechoslovakia increased and the militias, equipped with batons, were frequently deployed to disperse ] against the regime. In 1989, 38,985 militiamen participated in this activity.<ref name=DNRkky>, ceskatelevize.cz (3 February 2010)</ref>


After the communist party's ] at the end of 1989, the militias were dissolved on December 21, 1989. After the communist party's ] at the end of 1989, the militias were dissolved on 21 December 1989.


==Numbers and armament== ==Numbers and armament==
During February 1948 the militias obtained 10,000 ]s and 2,000 ]s from the armament factory ]. The equipment was continually modernized with ]s, ]s, ]s, anti-aircraft machine guns and transport vehicles. The ammunition was kept in army stores. During the 1970s ]s and ] were added among the armament. After dissolution of the militias their equipment was handed over to the army. During February 1948 the militias obtained 10,000 ]s and 2,000 ]s from the armament factory ]. The equipment was continually modernized with ]s, ]s, ]s, anti-aircraft machine guns and transport vehicles. The ammunition was kept in army stores. During the 1970s ]s and ] were added among the armament. After dissolution of the militias their equipment was handed over to the army.


===Military personnel===
{| border="1"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Number of militiamen
! Date !! Number ! Date !! Number
|- |-
|early 1948 || almost 2,000 (Slovakia) | 1948 || almost 2,000 (Slovakia)
|- |-
| February 1949 || around 10,000 (Slovakia), 6,000 - 7,000 in ] | 1949 || around 10,000 (Slovakia), 6,000 - 7,000 in ]
|- |-
| 1954 || 18,290 (Slovakia, planned) | 1954 || 18,290 (Slovakia, planned)
Line 65: Line 68:
| 1955 || 13,050 (Slovakia, planned) | 1955 || 13,050 (Slovakia, planned)
|- |-
| 1959 || 14.978 (Slovakia, planned) | 1959 || 14,978 (Slovakia, planned)
|- |-
| 1967 || 16.580 (Slovakia, planned) | 1967 || 16,580 (Slovakia, planned)
|- |-
| January 1988 || 86.494 (actual number in the whole Czechoslovakia)<br> planned 63,200 in ] and 18,600 in ] | 1988 || 86,494 (actual number in the whole Czechoslovakia)<br> planned 63,200 in ] and 18,600 in ]
|} |}


===Military equipment at 1989===
{| border="1"
20,067 ]s (with over 4 million rounds)<br/>
|+ Equipment at the end of 1989<br><small>(by report of Minister of Defense){{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}</small>
71,054 ]s (with over 62 million rounds)<br/>
|-
| 20,067 ]s (with over 4 millions rounds) 6,890 ]s (with over 16 million rounds)<br/>
130 anti-aircraft machine guns (over one million rounds)<br/>
|-
358 ]<br/>
|- 71,054 ]s (with over 62 million rounds)
149 ]s<br/>
|-
2,177 trucks and motorcycles<br/>
| 6,890 ]s (with over 16 million rounds)
2,031 ]s
|-

| 130 anti-aircraft machine guns (over one million rounds)
==Rank insignia 1970-1989==
|-
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
| 358 ]
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
|-
!Level|| colspan=10| Main|| colspan=6|National|| colspan=10|Regional
| 149 ]s
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
| rowspan=2| ''']<br> People's Militias'''
| 2,177 trucks and motorcycles
| colspan=4 rowspan=2|
|-
| colspan=2| ]
| 2,031 ]s
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Hlavní velitel Lidových milicí ČSSR}}<br><small>Commander-in-Chief of the People's Militia of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Náčelník hlavního štábu LM}}<br><small>Chief of the Main Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Příslušník hlavního štábu LM}}<br><small>Member of the Main Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Národní velitel LM}}<br><small>National Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Náčelník národního štábu}}<br><small>Chief of the National Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Příslušník národního štábu}}<br><small>Member of the National Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Krajský velitel }}<br><small>Regional commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Náčelník krajského štábu}}<br><small>Chief of the Regional Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Příslušník krajského štábu}}<br><small>Member of the Regional Staff</small>
|}

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
!Level|| colspan=10| District|| colspan=6|Battalion|| colspan=10|Company
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| ''']<br> People's Militias'''
| colspan=4 rowspan=2|
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Okresní velitel}}<br><small>District commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Náčelník okresního štábu}}<br><small>Chief of the District Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Příslušník okresního štábu}}<br><small>Member of the District Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Velitel praporu}}<br><small>Battalion Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Zástupce velitele praporu}}<br><small>Deputy Battalion Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Příslušník štábu praporu}}<br><small>Member of the Battalion Staff</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Velitel roty}}<br><small>Company Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Zástupce velitele roty}}<br><small>Deputy Company Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Staršina roty}}<br><small>Company ]</small>
|} |}

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
!Level|| colspan=4| Platoon|| colspan=4|Squad
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| ''']<br> People's Militias'''
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
| colspan=2| ]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Velitel čety}}<br><small>Platoon Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Zástupce velitele čety}}<br><small>Deputy Platoon Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Velitel družstva}}<br><small>Squad Commander</small>
| colspan=2| {{lang|cs|Milicionář}}<br><small>Militiman</small>
|}

==See also==
'''Similar formations:'''
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* Jiří Bílek, Vladimír Pilát: "Závodní, Dělnické a Lidové milice v Československu" in journal "Historie a vojenství", 1995, vol. 3, p.&nbsp;79 - 106. * Jiří Bílek, Vladimír Pilát: "Závodní, Dělnické a Lidové milice v Československu" in journal "Historie a vojenství", 1995, vol. 3, p.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;41 - 70. * Jan Štaigl: "Ľudové milície na Slovensku - ich vznik a organizačný vývoj do polovice šesťdesiatych rokov" in journal "Vojenská história", 1999, vol 2., p.&nbsp;41 - 70.

{{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* (in Czech) * (in Czech)
* (in Slovak) * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610214126/http://www.historiarevue.sk/index.php?id=2005pesek2 |date=2009-06-10 }} (in Slovak)
* (in Czech) * (in Czech)
*


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
* ] * ]

{{Authority control}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 08:32, 15 August 2024

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Czech. (January 2021) Click for important translation instructions.
  • Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Misplaced Pages.
  • Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article.
  • You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Czech Misplaced Pages article at ]; see its history for attribution.
  • You may also add the template {{Translated|cs|Lidové milice}} to the talk page.
  • For more guidance, see Misplaced Pages:Translation.
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Slovak. (January 2021) Click for important translation instructions.
  • Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Misplaced Pages.
  • Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article.
  • You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Slovak Misplaced Pages article at ]; see its history for attribution.
  • You may also add the template {{Translated|sk|Ľudové milície}} to the talk page.
  • For more guidance, see Misplaced Pages:Translation.
(Learn how and when to remove this message)
People's Militias
Ľudové milície (Slovak)
Lidové milice (Czech)
Insignia of the People's Militias
Organization overview
Formed21 February 1948
Dissolved21 December 1989
TypeParamilitary
Jurisdiction Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
Organization executive
Parent organization Communist Party of Czechoslovakia

People's Militias (in Slovak Ľudové milície, in Czech Lidové milice), also called The Armed Fist of the Working Class (in Slovak Ozbrojená päsť robotníckej triedy, in Czech Ozbrojená pěst dělnické třídy) was a militia organisation of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia 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 the post-war chaos. In 1946 they were renamed Závodní stráže (factory guards) and their equipment reduced to pistols.

In the middle of February 1948, the central committee of the Communist Party decided to form armed units from Communist Party members and supporters. On February 21, 1948, these units were renamed Dělnické milice (Worker's Militias). The militias were hastily equipped and set on alert during the communist takeover of power 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 the Ministry of the Interior.

In 1952 the official status of the militias changed to being the armed part of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and control passed to the Communist Party (to the newly established departments at the central committee); also the organisational structure was changed. In 1959 a grey uniform was introduced.

Toward the end of the 1980s, political tensions in Czechoslovakia increased and the militias, equipped with batons, were frequently deployed to disperse demonstrations against the regime. In 1989, 38,985 militiamen participated in this activity.

After the communist party's fall from power at the end of 1989, the militias were dissolved on 21 December 1989.

Numbers and armament

During February 1948 the militias obtained 10,000 rifles and 2,000 submachine guns from the armament factory Zbrojovka Brno. The equipment was continually modernized with sniper rifles, machine guns, mortars, anti-aircraft machine guns and transport vehicles. The ammunition was kept in army stores. During the 1970s recoilless guns and RPG-7 were added among the armament. After dissolution of the militias their equipment was handed over to the army.

Military personnel

Date Number
1948 almost 2,000 (Slovakia)
1949 around 10,000 (Slovakia), 6,000 - 7,000 in Prague
1954 18,290 (Slovakia, planned)
1955 13,050 (Slovakia, planned)
1959 14,978 (Slovakia, planned)
1967 16,580 (Slovakia, planned)
1988 86,494 (actual number in the whole Czechoslovakia)
planned 63,200 in ČSR and 18,600 in SSR

Military equipment at 1989

20,067 pistols (with over 4 million rounds)
71,054 submachine guns (with over 62 million rounds)
6,890 machine guns (with over 16 million rounds)
130 anti-aircraft machine guns (over one million rounds)
358 mortars
149 recoilless guns
2,177 trucks and motorcycles
2,031 hand grenades

Rank insignia 1970-1989

Level Main National Regional

People's Militias
Hlavní velitel Lidových milicí ČSSR
Commander-in-Chief of the People's Militia of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic 		Náčelník hlavního štábu LM
Chief of the Main Staff 		Příslušník hlavního štábu LM
Member of the Main Staff 		Národní velitel LM
National Commander 		Náčelník národního štábu
Chief of the National Staff 		Příslušník národního štábu
Member of the National Staff 		Krajský velitel
Regional commander 		Náčelník krajského štábu
Chief of the Regional Staff 		Příslušník krajského štábu
Member of the Regional Staff
Level District Battalion Company

People's Militias
Okresní velitel
District commander 		Náčelník okresního štábu
Chief of the District Staff 		Příslušník okresního štábu
Member of the District Staff 		Velitel praporu
Battalion Commander 		Zástupce velitele praporu
Deputy Battalion Commander 		Příslušník štábu praporu
Member of the Battalion Staff 		Velitel roty
Company Commander 		Zástupce velitele roty
Deputy Company Commander 		Staršina roty
Company Starshina
Level Platoon Squad

People's Militias
Velitel čety
Platoon Commander 		Zástupce velitele čety
Deputy Platoon Commander 		Velitel družstva
Squad Commander 		Milicionář
Militiman

See also

Similar formations:

References

  1. People's Mlitias, 21 February coup d'etat (Czech), Moderní dějiny.cz (6 March 2012)
  2. Mlitias, called People's (Czech TV), ceskatelevize.cz (3 February 2010)

Sources

  • 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

See also

Categories: