PEJS, Oldřich: Služba vojenských psů v československé armádě v meziválečném období

PEJS, Oldřich: The Service of Military Dogs in the Czechoslovak Army in the Interwar Period.

Autor: PEJS, Oldřich

In 1920, during the unification of the Czechoslovak Army, Major Vladimír Jirsa of the Russian Legion submitted a proposal for the establishment of a school for the training of military dogs, complete with a detailed historical introduction on the use of dogs in warfare in the past. On 4 May 1920, a school for the training of military and medical (sanitary) dogs was established at Kostelec nad Orlicí (Rychnov nad Kněžnou district), where there had not previously been a garrison. For the training itself, pure-bred, untrained German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, and Airedale Terriers aged between 8 and 18 months were to be purchased. On 30 May 1930, the General Staff made a fundamental decision. It concluded that the closure of the school was necessary in view of unsatisfactory results, both in terms of maintaining an adequate readiness of dogs trained for messenger service and in terms of the disproportionate maintenance costs. The Chief of the General Staff, Army General Jan Syrový, agreed to the conversion of the school into a breeding station as of 1 October 1932. On 8 February 1933, the Minister of National Defence, Bohumír Bradáč, agreed to the dissolution of this breeding station and kennel as well, and ordered their closure by 1 March 1933. The relevant proposal was submitted on 11 February 1933. The final decision was published in a decree of the Ministry of National Defence on 18 February 1933.

Keywords: Czechoslovak Army, military dogs, 1918–1939.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69809/vojhist.2026.30.2.2

Ročník: 30 | Číslo: 2/2026 | Stránky: 22-55