Operation B (1945–1947)

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Operation B
Part of the anti-communist insurgencies in Central and Eastern Europe
Date13 August 1945 – 17 November 1947
Location
Czechoslovakia
Result See § Aftermath
Belligerents
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg Ukrainian Insurgent Army
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jan Heřman [1]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Július Nosko [2] 		Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg Volodymyr Shchyhelskyi (POW)
Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg Mykhailo Duda (WIA)
Strength
13,500 [3] -15,340 [4] - men 400–500 in 1947 [3]
Casualties and losses
39–68 killed [a]
81 wounded
5 missing [4] 		61 killed
289 captured [5]
(Perhaps exaggerating) [6]
50 Czechoslovak civilians killed [7]

The Operation B was a name for Czechoslovak military operation aimed against members of Ukrainian Insurgent Army who entered Czechoslovak territory. [1]

Contents

Prelude

UPA was tasked with conducting raids into Czechoslovak territory. In particular, the goal was to analyze internal political situation of Czechoslovakia. UPA leadership believed that "Bolshevization" of Czechoslovakia was proceeding more slowly than in other Eastern states, so it was the best place to spread OUN propaganda. [8] In September 1945, UPA fighters tasked with the raids were given training, in particular "to strengthen political education work in the departments raiding foreign lands". [9] On 8 August, 1945, insurgents completed their final preparations for the raid. [10] Czechoslovak authorities responded with Operation "B" when UPA incursions into Czechoslovakia begun.

Operation

First members of Ukrainian Insurgent Army entered Czechoslovakia on 13 August, 1945, near the villages of Spišská Stará Ves and Medzilaborce. There were reports of other groups attacking robbing villages near border with Poland. Czechoslovakia sent more units to the area that pushed Ukrainian insurgents back to Poland. [11] Czechoslovak units were commanded by Colonel Jan Heřman. [1]

Polish army launched offensive against Ukrainian Insurgent Army in January 1946. Czechoslovakia reacted by sending more units near borders expecting more insurgents trying to enter Czechoslovakia. [12] Ukrainian Insurgent Army became more active near Polish border with Slovakia and more units entered Czechoslovak territory there. In April 1946 units led by Colonel Heřman launched offensive against insurgents pushing them back to Poland. During late 1946, situation in Slovakia became calmer. [5]

During early 1947, insurgents led some raids to Czechoslovak territory and during summer 1947 launched their largest attack to Czechoslovakia trying to reach western Europe through its territory. Some groups even entered Moravia and South Bohemia. [12] The bloodiest clash occurred on 5 August, 1947, at Partizánská Ľupča which resulted in death of 6 members of Czechoslovak security forces. Czechoslovak units were gradually destroying Ukrainian insurgents, and fights concluded on 17 November, 1947, when the last forces of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army were pushed out. [7] Members of OUN captured 33 villages in Czechoslovakia. [7] Some small units continued crossing even after 1947.

Aftermath

The 1947 raid ended with most UPA members being killed or captured, and only about 60 managing to enter German territory. However, some UPA units continued crossing after 1947, when the operation was no longer on such a large scale. As a result, over 200 more members entered Germany in 1948, bringing the total number of UPA members who made it into Germany to over 300. [5]

1951 Czechoslovak film Operation B focuses on Czechoslovaks participating in military operations against Ukrainian Insurgent Army. [13]

1975 episode of Thirty Cases of Major Zeman called Ruby Crosses was inspired by Ukrainian Insurgent Army activities in Czechoslovakia.

The 1978 film Shadows of a Hot Summer focuses on a family taken hostage by Ukrainian Insurgent Army. [14]

The 1984 film Pasáček z doliny depicts members of Ukrainian Insurgent Army who entered Czechoslovakia.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 20 [4] to 49 killed [3]
    19 deaths in accidents [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Banderovci jako téma Historického magazínu" (in Czech). ČT24 . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Banderovci na Slovensku I." detektorweb.info (in Slovak). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Čapka, František (2010). Dějiny zemí Koruny české v datech. Libri. p. 731.[ ISBN missing ]
  4. 1 2 3 4 В'ятрович 2001, p. 123.
  5. 1 2 3 Zemanová, Tereza (2007). "Pronikání banderovců do Československa v letech 1945 – 1948. Obyvatelstvo, skutečnost a propaganda v kontextu boje o pol" (PDF). Masaryk University . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  6. ↑ В'ятрович 2001, p. 124.
  7. 1 2 3 "Před 70 lety se Slovensko zbavilo banderovců. Toužili na západ, šla po nich NKVD". Dotyk (in Czech). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  8. ↑ В'ятрович 2001, p. 62.
  9. ↑ В'ятрович 2001, p. 63.
  10. ↑ В'ятрович 2001, p. 64.
  11. ↑ Řepa, Tomáš (2008). "Banderovci, jejich vznik, vývoj a následná činnost v Československu v letech 1945 – 1947 (bakalářská diplomová práce)" (PDF). Masaryk University . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Vpád banderovců na území Československa v letech 1945–1947". Military History Institute Prague. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "Akce B (1951)" (in Czech). ČSFD. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "Stíny horkého léta (1977)" (in Czech). ČSFD. Retrieved 10 July 2022.

Bibliography

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