Do anyone have any information on the Czechoslovak Legion in the middle east?
I am especialy interested in the period 1940-1943.
They are suposed to have served under brittish command in Egypt Libya Syria and Lebanon.

Thank you!

Omly that it was 11 Czech Bn, Not in the Aussie Histories. I'll dig further.

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Whe're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ - 6 Australian Infantry Div, Bardia January 1941

Are they airmen or infantery? I have documents about the routes the Chechs used to escape in early 1939, some went to France and then to Syria. Others went there via England. I have merely information about the men who took part in the Battle of France, but they are probably the same. Icare Magazine has made a great issue in the nineties about the Chech volunteers (volume 131 ) "1939/40 La Bataille de France Volume x: Les Tcheques". There are many names mentionned + rare pictures.

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I belive it should have been a ground unit of some sort, probably infantry.
The person i have read about that is supposed to have served with the chech legion was recruited in Alexandria some time during 1940.

It could very well be so that he joined a unit formed in England and then transferd to the middle east.

thanks for your info so far

Well infantery is not my speciality, but I know there were Chech units were in Chartres until June 1940 until they moved to England via Dunkirk and Nantes . I will dig into that direction. I still have the copy of a propaganda flyer welcoming Tchecoslovakian troops. I'll post it for you later today.

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These are the flyers I mentionned earlier

The map shows the routes used to get to Syria and other places. You will notice that most coming from England of them went via France while they had a chance. Many joined the foreign legion (free French and fought Italy and Germany in North Africa. It was easier to get to Africa than the Midlle East.

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Martin,

According to Tobruk & Alamein by Barton Maughn,

The Czech Bn (Looks like 2nd Bn, maybe II Bn?) relieved various Aussie bns on the Tobruk perimiter, at the time it was under command of the Polish Carpathian Bde. Varous entires in Oct -Dec 1941.

Last entry was when the 9th Div moved from Syria-Palestine to Alamein in July/Aug 1942 it took command os about 120 Czech troops in the Alexandria area for a short time.

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Whe're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of OZ - 6 Australian Infantry Div, Bardia January 1941