Freedom Guard Union
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Antonín Kinkal
| Freedom Guard Union | |
|---|---|
| Svaz stráže svobody (Czech) Zväz stráže slobody (Slovak) | |
| President | Jaroslav Motyčka |
| Chief | Josef Nestával Antonín Kinkal |
| Foundation | 1932 |
| Dissolved | 1939 |
| Country |  Czechoslovakia |
| Motives | Self-defense |
| Headquarters | Hooverova 2, Prague, Czechoslovakia |
| Ideology | Popular socialism Liberal socialism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Size | 10,000 (1934) |
| Part of | Czechoslovak National Socialist Party |
| Opponents | Sudetendeutsches Freikorps |
| Battles and wars | Sudeten German uprising |
| Flag |  |
Freedom Guard Union (Czech: Svaz stráže svobody; Slovak: Zväz stráže slobody) was a Czechoslovak organisation that existed from 1932 to 1939, which acted as paramilitary wing of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party (ČSNS). Organisation was named after Freedom Guard Regiments (PSS), volunteer units originally recruited from the Sokol movement, which mobilised for independence from Austria-Hungary and participated during formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
Initiative for the creation of the organisation came from party leadership in 1932, especially from party leader Václav Klofáč, former Minister of National Defence. Among main purposes of the organisation was self-defence during party events and meetings, military education of the youth as preparation for military service and organising of various cultural events. The emergence of the organisation was accompanied by the atmosphere of increasing imminent danger from Nazi Germany, where Nazi Party took power in 1933. Organisation was named after Freedom Guards that participated during the establishment of Czechoslovakia and created foundation for the units of the Czechoslovak Army, that subsequently also participated in the Hungarian–Czechoslovak War from 1918 to 1919.[1]
Organisation was officially approved by the Czechoslovak Ministry of the Interior on 11 August 1933.[2] First constituent congress of the organisation took place on 13 October 1933 at Žofín Palace in Prague. Congress elected Jaroslav Motyčka as President and Josef Nestával as Main Chief of the organisation.[3]
Activities
Freedom Guard Union formed local organisational network throughout the country, while most of the local organisations were situated to the border areas with strong German minority presence. Soon after the formation, 126 local divisions were created in Bohemia, 14 in Moravia, 15 in Silesia, 19 in Slovakia and 3 in the Subcarpathian Rus'. Units of the organisation used iconic grey uniforms. Organisation had also membership branches for women, which were uncommon for organisations connected with military environment at that time. Organisation cooperated with other organisations of the party, such as youth wing, trade unions or scouting organisation Freedom Scouts, loosely associated with nation-wide Junák.[4] In 1937 units of the Freedom Guard Union participated among others at the state funeral of Tomáš Masaryk, when they took part of the guard of honour and paid tribute to the remains of the President and founding father of Czechoslovakia. On 21 September 1937 units saluted the funeral procession in front of the Melantrich Publishing House of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party at the Wenceslas Square in Prague.[5]