Czechoslovak Free Army Thread - Totaler Krieg: 1939-45 mod for Battle of Empires : 1914-1918

Well, As you surely know, Czechoslovakia was betrayed by western nations and thrown into Hitler claws after Munich agreement. Many Czechs (Specially soldiers - Czechoslovakia had one of best and most modern armies in Europe before WW2. Well - only Germany was better prepared for war.) just couldnt take the shame and not fight against occupants, so they moved into exile and joined either Allied or Soviet indenpendent Czechoslovak army. 1st Czechoslovak Army corps on Eastern front with 60 000 soldiers at the end of war, NO. 310, 311, 312(Czechoslovak only) and 313 RAF Squadrons, 4000 Czechs in French Foreign Legion (Until defeat of France), 700 in Czechoslovak Legion in Poland in 1939 and 6000 in 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade on Western front.

If you would want to include any of those units, here is some info for you -

1st Czechoslovak army corps in Russia had standard British uniforms with helmets and other equipment painted in white, yet they had standard Soviet weapons like Ppsh or SVT rifle. In later parts of war, they used standard Soviet uniforms with Czechoslovak insignias.

1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade on Western front had standard British uniforms with Czech insignias. They were armoured with Crusader and Cromwell tanks with various Patriotic writings or nicknames on them. For example one Crusader tank has been nicknamed Lidice in reminder of 1942 Lidice incident when Germans burned Lidice village in revenge of Czechoslovak paratroopers droped from Britain killed Heydrich, one of Hitler´s best men.

About voice acting - guess it shouldnt be problem, as i have connection to one almost professional Czech dubbing group, yet nothing is clear.

Excellent, I will look into adding the Czechs after the French, I think I can find some Czech voices.

Sturm

Oh, and during capturing of Czechoslovakia by Germany, Hungary and Poland after Munich Agreement, 99% of Czechoslovak army havent fight, but few units either didnt get orders in time or just didnt want to give up their country without fighting and fighted against incoming german forces. Good examples are battle at Rozvegov (January 1939) where few Czechoslovaks armed with few light armored vehicles fought against Hungary batalion that was trying to advance into Slovakia. They lost 5 men, one vehicle was captured while they managed to kill 9+ Hungarian soldiers and battle at Czajanek´s Barracks in Frydek Mistek (March 1939) where 250 Czechoslovak soldiers fought against 1200 Wehrmacht and SS Soldiers, 1 armored vehicle and 1AT gun. No Czechoslovak soldiers were killed, 3 were injured, while 6-18 Germany soldiers were killed, 60+ injured and they lost that armored vehicle.

Something about that second battle is here En.wikipedia.org or here in czech : Cs.wikipedia.org .

It would have been interesting to see pre-war Czechoslovak army fighting against Germans. Yet, that would require really much work as Czechs used unique weapons and tanks before war. And they wouldnt appear on that many maps probably.

I think there should be special units for soviets and allies that included the Chezh ,I think a nation is going a little too far ,but thats just my opinion.

I may add the Czechs as a special call in for the British Infantry. Just out of curiosity, back in the napoleonic era (1800-1840) what nation where the Czechs?

Thanks

Sturm

Would you say they where Bohemian or Hungarian?

Sturm

They were surely Bohemian. Back in napoleonic era, they were part of Austria-Hungaria, yet they were almost indenpendet. Czech was one of two official languages and there were Czech schools etc.

Anyway, what about adding them as special unit for Soviets ? You know, as British infantry they wouldnt be that different, but as Soviet unit, they will look somehow unique with British helmets and for example trenchcoats on winter maps.

Whilst fighting for the Soviets, did they wear usual Soviet army satire or some special custom uniform?

Sturm

In first years, they wore British winter uniforms. Its surprising, yet true. They had standard british helmets painted in white combined with either regular uniforms or trenchcoat, yet they used Soviet guns.

Check out the guy in middle - Img97.imageshack.us

Off course, their equipment looked different in summer and in later parts of war. They had regular soviet uniforms with czech insignias, yet if i may recommend - Make them use those 41-43 British uniforms. It will be much more interesting and it will be much easier to differ them on battlefield. Also, do you have any idea how that squad should look ?

I think it should be random for soviets ,whitch it actualy was ,Soviet infantry (the recruits) were largely equiped with salvaged weapons and such.With the Brits on the other hand the they should have 1 or 2 with bren guns and all others with rifles ,like it was in real life ,the Brits didnt want to wast much ammo on smg ,so they equiped theyr soldiers with Lee Enfields and a few Bren guns.

Well,i dont know what you mean, but Czech 1st Army corps was actually pretty well equiped for foreign soldiers. Altough they had British uniforms, they had top notch Soviet guns. First part of 1st Army Corps formed in 1942 was actually one of first units that acquired SVT rifle. In later parts of war, they had AT rifles, PPSH-43 Smg´s , SVT rifles etc.

So if you wanna implement Czechoslovak exile army just as single soviet squad, make it atleast somehow unique (except uniforms - They are unique enough with british helmets ) and different from other soldiers. I would make two Czechoslovak squads, as exile Czechoslovaks were commonly found in large battles of eastern front. For example one infantry squad with lets say 3 PPSh-43 smgs, 1 AT Rifle and rest SVD or Mosin-Nagant rifles and than second "squad" that would have been some vehicle - I would recommend T-34 tank with Czechoslovak flag on it, nicknamed "Lidice" -written on side of turret- ( That was actually most famous Eastern Front Czechoslovak tank, named after village that Germans burned and removed as revenge for killing third reich´s second most important man by Czechoslovak paratroopers dropped from UK ) and somehow upgraded - I would made armor thiner, yet vehicle would be faster than regular T-34. Czechs often did it as they were mostly used as fast strike force.

Yeah that sounds nice ,but its probably gonna get added later like many other nations troop ,I still hope there are going to be Estonians ,they did give the german army 36000 men and for the russians 39000 thousand men.The Estonian units distinguished themselves at the battle of Tanneberg line.

About the sounds - I already found them in that game´s files, yet i have to find out how to convert them somehow. Dont worry, it will be done in 2 or 3 days. You can do models meanwhile

What game are you ripping the sounds from? Maybe I could find out how aswell.

Sturm

Well, i planned to get it from one B-class arcade, yet sounds already had that "radio" filter applied on them, so i am trying to get them from Operation Flashpoint. It was kinda hard to get it with Czech dubbing, but i got it. If you wanna try to find it, "czech dubing" is "Cesky dabing" in czech.

i thing it will be good if you will add slovak voices. We were too in czechoslovak army group.

Yes, yet Heer probably discontinued Czechoslovak army, as he is not replying on any dubbing-related messages.

but they are lot of old communists films about world war 2 ....

So, Czechoslovaks are probably rejected idea now ?

There are not rejected per-se, just not a priority atm. I don't want to delay the release any longer, adding in another Army would be very difficult, even as a special unit call in for the British I would still need full vocal commands e.t.c

Tell me, have you ever played Napoleon Total War - out of all the nations, tell me which one uses Czech language.

Sturm

Well, there isnt really any Czech country there. I dont know if Poland is in there - if it is, you may use Polish. Its pretty close to Czech and i doubt anyone who isnt Polish, Czech or Slovak would recognize difference.

My thoughts exactly, I will see what Polish voices can be extracted.

Sturm

There are only Czech rebel but their voices are useless

Some voices maybe used from vietcong or operation flashpoint

How couldnt i think about it before ? Vietcong will surely be great source. Unfortunately, all voice files in operation flashpoint have that "radio" filter applied over them already.

Ive played Vietcong before, however wouldnt that game only include Vietnameese & American voices?

Sturm

Vietcong was developed by czech studio Pterodon so czech edition has perfect dubbing its quite rude but its fun.