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Czechoslovakia at the WWIIIf you say, that war in Europe starts in Normandy or Sicily, you must say, that it ends in Czechoslovakia. For a lot of American soldiers was Czechoslovakia the last destination. Place, where they finished their journey through Europe. Czechoslovakia was already main target of a lot of armies in history. Even if we are small country we are in the middle of Europe. This means, that our position is highly strategic for every army. The Chief Commanding officer of US 3rd army, which was the leading force of Czechoslovakia liberation, was General George S. Patton. His power was build from V and XII corps.
First battle contact with German army was lead by recon group of 3rd battalion, 358th regiment, 90th Infantry Division lead by general Earnest in the city Hranice nearby As at April 18th, 1945. Two days later 2nd armored group of 90th division after hard battle liberated main city in this region – As.
 Soldiers of 97th infantry division (V Corps, Gen. Hasley) lead big battle with 33. German regiment (Maj. Geisler) on 25th April 1945 nearby Cheb. After hard and bloody battle was Cheb liberated. People of this part of Czechoslovakia was happy with Nazi politics, so they defeated the city really hard. But thanks to the bigger fire power and better maneuvers, city was captured. Around this city was located number of German groups, so next few days were full of local battles. The movement was stopped – but till this time a recon group of 97th Infantry division came to the suburb of Domazlice on 1st May 1945. Because of political reasons was movements of U.S. army stopped by General Eisenhower for few days. After hard politics meeting was agreed by Soviet Army general Antonov, that demarcation line will be moved on new direction.
On afternoon 4th of May Gen Omar Bradley called to the Gen. Patton and supply his 3rd Army with V Corps (which was till under 1st Army). This is the real conversation: Gen. Bradley: Why every U.S. soldier wants to liberated Czechoslovakia? Gen. Patton: Czechs are our Allies. And their women are out of the restriction of fraternization. Let’s go to the Czechoslovakia and let’s go fraternize! Next morning, on 5th May 1945, U.S. army started big offensive to the Czechoslovakia. V Corps operated in the area of Cheb – Karlovy Vary – Plzen – Klatovy. XXII Corps has the targets in area Strakonice – Horni Dvoriste. All 3rd Army movement was on the direction Karlovy Vary – Plzen – Ceske Budejovice – Linec.
At morning 5th May started the tactical movement of all 3rd Army. Gen Huebner from V corps give last orders. All 85.000 soldiers of corps attacked on the direction of main city of western Bohemia – Pilsen. The movement was slow because on every few kilometers soldiers have to fight with small groups of Wehrmacht and mainly Waffen–SS troops. Mainly 1st Infantry Division conquers hard battles nearby Kynsperk and Kynyvart and finally captures 1500 German soldiers. All infantry divisions done well this day – 2nd Infantry Division came to the Klatovy and 97th to the Marianske Lazne. The Attack on Plzen, where at 5th May 1945 started revolt against German army, will be leaded next day.
During early morning hours came first U.S. tanks of Colonel Nobles 16th Armored Division to the Plzen streets. All the city was full of fanatic German snipers, who was hidden in houses and church towers. Finally was the city cleared by 16th Armored, 2nd and 97th Infantry Divisions. 1st Infantry division captured this day Kynsperk, 9th Armored Rudolec and Falknov, Loket and Horni Slavkov. 2nd Infantry Division captured Klatovy and Rokycany and took 8000 German soldiers. 97th Infantry liberated Konstantinovy Lazne and took 6000 prisoners.
Gen Taylor from 1st Infantry Division took capitulation of Loket. On the capitulation document was written the location as “Elbogen, Sudetenland”. (Sudetenland was by Germans called part of Czechoslovakia on the German borders). Gen. Taylor stroke by pen the word Sudetenland and with words “doesn’t exists” write Czechoslovakia. 26th Infantry Division entered and liberated Vlachovo Brezi, Bavorov and Cesky Krumlov. Next day liberated capitol of southern Bohemia Ceske Budejovice.
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