Biografer: *
'''Antonín Špaček''' (23 May 1917; [[Hradčany]], [[Prostějov District]]–3 April 2007) was a major general of the Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade during [[World War II]] and chairman of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires Community.
==Early life==
Špaček was born in 1917 in [[Hradčany]], [[Prostějov District]]. At the age of three, when his brother returned from the front, Špaček decided to become a soldier. When he grew up, Špaček decided to attend an aviation school in [[Prostějov]], but before it, studied business the city's academy. In mid 1930's he joined the [[Czechoslovak Army]] and between 1937 and 1938 studied at the Reserve Officer School in [[Olomouc]].<ref name=praha6></ref>
==War==
After [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler's]] annexation of Austria, Špaček's studies came to a halt and he was deployed with Hraničářskému Battalion to Frývaldov (now [[Jeseník]]). He continued his studies while serving as a machine gunner in May 1938, and after passing of training and examination was promoted to a rank of a [[sergeant]].<ref name=praha6/>
In January 1939, Špaček, as a commander of a [[machine gun]] platoon, was sent from Upper [[Benešov]] to Military Training College in Bory, Plzeň where he was later imprisoned for ten years in Borská prison. After his release, Špaček returned to Olomouc, and while there helped smuggle Czech migrants abroad. In 1940, in order to fight the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] occupiers more effectively, he left Czechoslovakia to [[Marseille]] and [[Agde]] via so-called Balkan route; [[Hungary]], [[Yugoslavia]] and the [[Middle East]]. Once in France, Špaček was assigned to the 10th Company Infantry Regiment in [[Pézenas]] which ineffective fight against the Germans caused French to surrender. With the camouflage of Czechoslovak forces, Špaček was able to immigrate to Great Britain, where, after taking several courses, he participated in the siege of [[Dunkirk]] with Czechoslovak Motorized Brigade.<ref name=praha6/>
While serving at Melksahm Air Base in England, Špaček met his love, Jean Thomas, whom he married in May 1943. A year later, Thomas gave birth to a son, named Milan (after [[Milan Rastislav Štefánik]]). After the war, Špaček returned to his homeland where he continued his service with the [[Prague Castle Guard]] along with 60 members of tank brigade. In October 1946, he was admitted to a military school in Prague, but in February 1948 got expelled from both school and army by [[Ludvík Svoboda]].<ref name=praha6/>
==Imprisonment and reunion==
In June 1948, because of his expulsion and the laws of that time, Špaček was ordered to leave the country in 24 hours or become imprisoned. In February 1949 he was arrested and transported to [[Domeček]] where he awaited his sentence. After being sentenced to 10 years of hard labor for treason by the [[military court]], Špaček was released, but was deprived of Czechoslovak citizenship, following an attempt of immigrating to England. The attempt as foiled, and Špaček again ended up behind bars, this time at [[Pankrác Prison]]. Following that, he was transported to a prison cell in Bory, then to [[Opava]] and eventually to the mines in [[Jáchymov]] and [[Leżnice]]. After serving half of his sentence, Špaček was released, and then worked in [[Uranium mining|uranium mines for 13 years.<ref name=praha6/>
He abandoned mining due to health concerns, and instead became a stoker at OPBH in Prague 3, eventually becoming caretaker at [[Žižkov]]. In 1989, Špaček was reunited with his wife and son and soon after he joined Czechoslovak Legionnaires, which he chaired until 2001.<ref name=praha6/> In 2005, two years before his death Špaček became an Honorary Citizen of Prague 6.<ref></ref>
==Awards==
*[[Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945|Czechoslovak War Cross]]<ref name=praha6/>
*[[Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de Guerre]]<ref name=praha6/>
*[[War Cross for Military Valor]]<ref name=praha6/>
*[[Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)|Medal of Merit]]<ref name=praha6/>
==References==
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Prostějov District]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Czechoslovak War Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the War Cross for Military Valor]]
[[Category:Legion of Honour recipients]]
==Early life==
Špaček was born in 1917 in [[Hradčany]], [[Prostějov District]]. At the age of three, when his brother returned from the front, Špaček decided to become a soldier. When he grew up, Špaček decided to attend an aviation school in [[Prostějov]], but before it, studied business the city's academy. In mid 1930's he joined the [[Czechoslovak Army]] and between 1937 and 1938 studied at the Reserve Officer School in [[Olomouc]].<ref name=praha6></ref>
==War==
After [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler's]] annexation of Austria, Špaček's studies came to a halt and he was deployed with Hraničářskému Battalion to Frývaldov (now [[Jeseník]]). He continued his studies while serving as a machine gunner in May 1938, and after passing of training and examination was promoted to a rank of a [[sergeant]].<ref name=praha6/>
In January 1939, Špaček, as a commander of a [[machine gun]] platoon, was sent from Upper [[Benešov]] to Military Training College in Bory, Plzeň where he was later imprisoned for ten years in Borská prison. After his release, Špaček returned to Olomouc, and while there helped smuggle Czech migrants abroad. In 1940, in order to fight the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] occupiers more effectively, he left Czechoslovakia to [[Marseille]] and [[Agde]] via so-called Balkan route; [[Hungary]], [[Yugoslavia]] and the [[Middle East]]. Once in France, Špaček was assigned to the 10th Company Infantry Regiment in [[Pézenas]] which ineffective fight against the Germans caused French to surrender. With the camouflage of Czechoslovak forces, Špaček was able to immigrate to Great Britain, where, after taking several courses, he participated in the siege of [[Dunkirk]] with Czechoslovak Motorized Brigade.<ref name=praha6/>
While serving at Melksahm Air Base in England, Špaček met his love, Jean Thomas, whom he married in May 1943. A year later, Thomas gave birth to a son, named Milan (after [[Milan Rastislav Štefánik]]). After the war, Špaček returned to his homeland where he continued his service with the [[Prague Castle Guard]] along with 60 members of tank brigade. In October 1946, he was admitted to a military school in Prague, but in February 1948 got expelled from both school and army by [[Ludvík Svoboda]].<ref name=praha6/>
==Imprisonment and reunion==
In June 1948, because of his expulsion and the laws of that time, Špaček was ordered to leave the country in 24 hours or become imprisoned. In February 1949 he was arrested and transported to [[Domeček]] where he awaited his sentence. After being sentenced to 10 years of hard labor for treason by the [[military court]], Špaček was released, but was deprived of Czechoslovak citizenship, following an attempt of immigrating to England. The attempt as foiled, and Špaček again ended up behind bars, this time at [[Pankrác Prison]]. Following that, he was transported to a prison cell in Bory, then to [[Opava]] and eventually to the mines in [[Jáchymov]] and [[Leżnice]]. After serving half of his sentence, Špaček was released, and then worked in [[Uranium mining|uranium mines for 13 years.<ref name=praha6/>
He abandoned mining due to health concerns, and instead became a stoker at OPBH in Prague 3, eventually becoming caretaker at [[Žižkov]]. In 1989, Špaček was reunited with his wife and son and soon after he joined Czechoslovak Legionnaires, which he chaired until 2001.<ref name=praha6/> In 2005, two years before his death Špaček became an Honorary Citizen of Prague 6.<ref></ref>
==Awards==
*[[Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945|Czechoslovak War Cross]]<ref name=praha6/>
*[[Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)|Croix de Guerre]]<ref name=praha6/>
*[[War Cross for Military Valor]]<ref name=praha6/>
*[[Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)|Medal of Merit]]<ref name=praha6/>
==References==
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Prostějov District]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Czechoslovak War Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the War Cross for Military Valor]]
[[Category:Legion of Honour recipients]]
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