Man who was Bothersome for Liberation Generals (Portal of Prague)

Lilacs hadn’t even lost their blossoms yet when a note from the Soviet Union arrived to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cernin Palace demanding the removal and punishment of people who signed the capitulation treatise with the Germans. Highlighted were General Kutlavasr and Captain Nechansky. They were labelled as enemies of the Soviet Union because they made it possible for half million German soldiers to make it to the American zone and thus they were supposed to empower the enemy of the Soviet Union.

It didn’t take long before the Soviet ambassador V. Zorin singed on 31 ^st May 1945 a second note which was urging fulfilment of the first one. This time he wrote directly to the Prime Minister Z. Fierlinger:
”Dear Prime Minister, I’m sending in the attachment documents of the Czechoslovakian corps headquarters in Kladno that were signed by General Vojtech and spread about by fly-posting on visible locations. I’m also referring to the editorial from the journal Národní osvobození (National liberation) from 9 ^th May 1945 in which the agreement about withdrawal of the Germen army from Prague was published. From the above mentioned documents it is apparent that the Czech National Council that was in office after the arrival of Red Army to Prague had beforehand prepared plans for the rescue of the Germen army and for helping them to keep their weapons. These plans were published with signatures of Albert Prazak, Josef Smrkovsky, Josef Kotrly, Jaromir Nechansky, General Karel Kutlvasr, Lt-Col Frantisek Burger, Lt-Col Jaroslav Kadainka and also the already mentioned General Vojtech.

In connection with above stated facts I have the honour to announce that stated persons who participated on the rescue of the German army which was in Czechoslovakia shattered by the Red army, can’t be trusted by headquarters of Red Army and obviously also by the Czechoslovakian government and they can’t head the administration in Prague.”

The Czechoslovakian government Presidium’s reaction was swift and the resolution was passed at the meeting in June:

1) Prime Minister will appeal to political parties to withdraw Josefa Kotrly and Josef Smrkovsky from the Provincial National Committee.

2) Minister of Defence was asked to pension off General Kutlvasr, General Julius Fiser, Lt-Col Burger, Lt-Col Kadainka and Brigade Commander Nechansky.

A few days afterwards General Kutlvašr commented: Reading of the Soviet note was a shock. It was shocking to find out that Generals who signed the capitulations of General Toussaint are enemies of the Soviet Union because they made it possible for half a million German soldiers to move to the American zone and that they empowered the enemy. “Enemy? I asked Prime Minister. Which enemy?Well, Russians mean the United States, said Fierlinger.

František Sládek