Milan Vyhlídal

Abstract

Prepared primarily on the basis of documents from the Military History Archive and the Security Services Archive in Prague, the study focuses on the restructuring of the Czechoslovak military intelligence service during the Second Republic as the curtailed Czechoslovakia was forced to respond to changes in geopolitical situation. Intelligence activities aimed at Nazi Germany were officially prohibited and intelligence activity moved to the east, in the direction of Poland and Hungary. Headquartered in Carpathian Ruthenia’s Svalyava, the Intelligence Centre for Carpathian Ruthenia became a new element in the intelligence service restructuring, tasked with both offensive and defensive intelligence activity targeting Poland and Hungary while monitoring the internal political situation in Carpathian Ruthenia. The Centre was taken from the usual structures and was fully subject to the 2nd (Intelligence) Department of the Head Staff in Prague. Sr. Capt. Jan Krček chaired the Intelligence Centre throughout its existence (December 1938 – March 1939). In addition to him, Sr. Capt. Jindřich Krátký, Sr. Capt. Oldřich Vomáčka, Capt. in retirement Stanislav Vondřich and First Lt. Štěpán Kareš were also stationed in Svalyava. Rating the group’s activity comprehensively is rather difficult due to a lack of sources. It is however certain that its work suffered from a lack of time where it could not fully develop its intelligence activity. It is important to note that many members of the Svalyava intelligence centre joined anti‑Nazi resistance movement after the occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.