"Legion 100" Project
In connection with the supposed 100th anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia and the substantial role of the Czechoslovak legions in its birth it is desirable to significantly improve the Czech public's awareness of heroes, who fought out our independence.
According to the fact that the Czechoslovak volunteer units acted on the WW I battlefronts already before the establishment of the Czechoslovakia and later became the basis of the Czechoslovak Army, it is above all the ACR, who is their noticeable tradition bearer. The patriotism education and the overall ACR humanistic service concept will lead to that goal.
The Czechoslovak volunteer units in Russia and France were created in August 1914 and from the beginning acted in favour of the Russian and French armies within the Entente. It follows that the 100th anniversary of the Czechoslovak legions foundation we shall celebrate already in summer 2014.
The 100th anniversary will be used for patriotism education and development of traditions in the spirit of the Czechoslovak legionaries legacy.
The current ACR missions abroad are in the concept not far away from the ideals, for which the Czechoslovak legions fought nearly one century ago. In contrary, continuity is visible here. Back then and now our servicepersons fight within coalition forces abroad for freedom and democracy.
All involved MoD bodies (ACR GS, Military Historical Institute, MoD Personal Division, Military Intelligence, Communication Strategies Department, Czechoslovak Legionary Community etc.) cooperate on the project elaboration. Further state administrative bodies will be gradually invited to cooperate, especially the CR Ministry of External Affairs.
The "Legion 100" Project has a long time character and includes some areas overlapping one department's authority. The individual events will be interconnected and some of them have to be planned some years ahead of schedule.
It is especially a case of those areas:
- Care of war graves (furthermore WG only) in the CR and abroad, reconstruction, adjustment and maintenance of existing WG, renovation
of destroyed and building of new WG on legionaries burial sites in cases where the combat situation did not allow to build these WG
during the wartime (domain: Care of WG).
- Commemoration ceremonies at legionaries WG on the occasion of 100th anniversary of their death in the fight for Czechoslovakia's democracy and freedom (domain: Commemoration ceremonies).
- Education of ACT personnel from the view of historical connection of the Legions activities and their importance in the fight for an independent Czechoslovakia. Accent will be put above all on military traditions connected with the existing formations (domain: Education and training).
- Organisation and holding of exhibitions in the CR and abroad connected to the turning events of the Czechoslovak Legions birth and activities (domain: Exhibitions).
- Media support of the Project in news media (domain: Media support).
A commission headed by the Deputy Defence Minister has been established to accomplish the project.
In the form of a Memorandum of mutual cooperation the Slovak Republic is also involved in the "Legion 100" project.
The "Legion 100" Project should help to improve the ACR prestige. The legionaries risked their lives not only on the WW I frontlines and after it, but also to a great extent participated in the active resistance against German occupants during WW II.
The base of the legionaries' train of thought became at the end forties of the last century unwanted ant the legionary traditions ceased to be maintained.
In these days the situation starts to change slowly. Citizens associations and military history clubs emerge, trying to revive the traditions. The hundredth anniversary of birth and activities of the Cz. legions offers an opportunity to influence the legions perception considerably as a phenomenon that considerably influenced not only the Czech history, but also the WW I course. In this connection it is a proper opportunity not only to strengthen the pride of the soldiers to their ACR membership and its traditions, but in a broader scale to boost the spirit of patriotism within the whole society.
