Stefanik Cairn, Mnichovice, Czech Republic
Posted by: 
ToRo61
N 49° 56.090 E 014° 43.171
33U E 479871 N 5531422
Memorial dedicated to Czechoslovak Legionars and Milan Rastislav Stefanik
Waymark Code: WMF6WA
Location: Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 09/02/2012
Views: 57
Czechoslovak Legions
The Czechoslovak Legions (Ceskoslovenské legie in Czech, traditionally called Czech Legion in English) were volunteer armed forces composed predominantly of Czechs and Slovaks fighting together with the Entente powers during World War I. Their goal was to win the Allies' support for the independence of Bohemia and Moravia from the Austrian Empire and of Slovak territories of the Kingdom of Hungary (the new country was later named Czechoslovakia), which were then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Legions originated with small armed units organized from 1914 onwards by volunteer Czechs and Slovaks. Later, many Czechs and Slovaks captured during the war joined these units; with help of émigré intellectuals and politicians (Tomáš Masaryk, Milan Rastislav Štefánik and others) the Legions grew into a force of tens of thousands. The independence of Czechoslovakia was finally obtained in 1918.
Source: (
visit link)
Milan Rastislav Štefánik
Milan Rastislav Štefánik (July 21, 1880 in Košariská (Kosaras), Kingdom of Hungary – May 4, 1919 in Ivanka pri Dunaji, Czechoslovakia) was a Slovak politician, diplomat, and astronomer. During World War I, he served as a General in the French Army and, at the same time, as the Czechoslovak Minister of War. As one of the leading members of the Czechoslovak National Council (i.e. resistance government), he contributed decisively to the cause of Czechoslovak sovereignty. (The status of Czech- and Slovak-populated territories, among others, was in question until shortly before the disintegration of Austria-Hungary in 1918.)
Source: (
visit link)