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Disciplinary Boards in Czechoslovak Foreign Army during Second World War

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2023

Abstract

The Czechoslovak foreign army during the Second World War tried to maintain as much institutional, legislative, and organizational continuity as possible with the pre-Munich armed forces. There were both practical and ideological reasons for this attitude.

The official policy of the foreign resistance, with its center in the London exile, consisted of a proclaimed non- interruption of Czechoslovak statehood and legislation. Thus, the law and army regulations on disciplinary proceedings remained in force.

These were intended to investigate and punish offences by Czechoslovak professional soldiers against so-called professional-status duties that could damage the good name of the army. In the interwar republic, the agenda of the disciplinary committees formed an important part of the disciplining of the officer and non-commissioned officer corps.

The aim of this paper is to show how the practice of disciplinary boards was adapted to the operation of the military in exile. To what extent was its conduct possible? How was it transformed? And how was its significance perceived, as distinct from punitive and other discipline procedures?