Resistance or provocation? Provocative actions carried out as part of the action "Skaut" by the State Security (StB) against the so called Third Resistance movement on the example of the group "Za svobodu" existing between the years 1948-1951
Abstract
This book deals with the topic of provocative operations of the State Security (StB) against illegal groups of the so called third resistance movement in the initial phase of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. It describes one less known yet well prepared and in terms of results successful provocative operation aimed at Josef Vlasatý, a former secretary at the national headquarters of the National Socialist Party.
It is set into the context of an extremely precarious period of the Cold war and unfavorable development in the home country, mainly due to gradually deepening economic, social and eventually political crisis heightened by stronger reprisals and political processes. The main topic is the formation of an illegal resistance group called "Za svobodu" ("For freedom"), its activities in the years 1948-1951 and its infiltration and gradual destruction by the security apparatus of the Communist regime.
The existence of this group, led by Josef Vlasatý ("cpt. Hrdý"), proves one fact which experts have not hitherto devoted due attention to: after the Czechoslovak coup d'état in 1948 also active members of defence forces joined the anti-communist resistance movement.
The State Security (StB) included the resistance group "Za svobodu" into its plan akce "Skaut" (operation "Scout") which is considered to be the largest provocation act of the State Security during its existence. Making use of a project of the so called Czechoslovak labour party and with the help of an agent-provocateur JUDr.
Vlastislav Chalupa ("maj. Král"), the State Security infiltrated approximately 17 illegal groups. "Maj.
Král" and his "illegal" associate Josef Damian (agent of the State Security) also managed to infiltrate the group of Josef Vlasatý, who later adopted the name "cpt. Hrdý".
Josef Vlasatý was active already in the anti-nazi resistance movement. He gradually built up an illegal group composed of several subgroups active in Prague and its surroundings.
Josef Vlasatý had contacts with former members of the National Socialist Party, the Sokol organization and workers of industrial enterprises. In the early summer of 1951 he also established contacts and started cooperating with Karel Strmiska, a chief sergeant at the police headquarters in the district of Prague 9 - Vysočany.
Karel Strmiska formed his own subgroup composed of active members of the state police. Most of them were members of the "old" police forces and gendarmery of the so called "first republic".
With the help of the Canadian embassy in Prague and Ferdinand Třebícký, a former head of the police forces, Josef Vlasatý established contacts with national socialists in exile so that the group could send and receive news. The resistance activities of his group, which were organized in connection with generally anticipated state coup, involved obtaining political, economic and - thanks to contacts with the group composed of state police members - also security information.
The group also published anti-regime texts, circulated illegal printed materials (although published under the direct control of the State Security) and economically and financially supported families of fellow citizens oppressed by the communist regime. Security organs kept track of the illegal activities of Josef Vlasatý since the summer of 1948.
Four agents successively investigated and surveilled the group. Three of them were secret police officers who passed themselves off as members of the "central bureau of the resistance movement" cooperating with the exile.
In 1950 the organs of the State Security gained Josef Vlasatý's trust and started monitoring him. The documentation of the group's activities, although written by the State Security agents, is thus quite extensive.
Members of the individual subgroups were arrested in the autumn of 1951 and in the subsequent five court trials sentenced to rigorous imprisonments. Three members of the state police subgroup were sentenced to death and the executions were carried out. 42 people were convicted in connection with Josef Vlasatý's group, which undoubtedly makes it one of the largest political processes of 1950's.
The case study can be taken as an evidence of active anti-Communist resistance among the functionaries and members of the National Socialist Party. It is also proof of the ruthlessness of StB, who in their endeavours to control and manage existing illegal groups commonly resorted to unlawful provocative methods.
In the context of international developments in this period and deep economic, social and political crisis of the post-February 1948 period it also shows how deeply members of the Third Resistence were convicted that the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia would collapse in the early 1950's. Last but not least, is also documents significant manifestation of civil courage in difficult times of a setting totalitarian regime.