Czechoslovak Legions

Also known as Czechoslovak Legion

volunteer armed force fighting on the side of the Entente powers during World War I (1914-1920)

Key facts

Allegiance: Czechoslovakia
Type: Ground forces Expeditionary warfare
Size: 71,310 in Russia 19,476 in Italy 9,957 in France 46,871 Others Total: 145 614
Motto: "Nazdar" (meaning "Hello" or "Goodbye")
Equipment: Armored Zaamurets
Engagements: World War I Eastern Front Battle of Zboriv Italian Front Isonzo front Second Battle of the Piave River Battle of Doss Alto Western Front Battle of Arras (1915) Battle of the Terron Russian Civil War Operation Faustschlag Battle of Bakhmach Revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion
Notable commanders: Milan Rastislav Štefánik Radola Gajda Jan Syrový Stanislav Čeček Josef Šnejdárek
Leader: Czechoslovak National Council ( Tomáš Masaryk , Milan Rastislav Štefánik , and Edvard Beneš )
Merged into: Czechoslovak Army
Motives: Czechoslovak independence
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"Prague to Its Victorious Sons", a monument to the Czechoslovak Legions at Palacký Square

The Czechoslovak Legion (Czech: Československé legie; Slovak: Československé légie) were volunteer armed forces consisting predominantly of Czechs and Slovaks fighting on the side of the Entente powers during World War I and the White Army during the Russian Civil War until November 1919. Their goal was to win the support of the Allied Powers for the independence of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown from the Austrian Empire, and of Upper Hungary from the Kingdom of Hungary, which were then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With the help of émigré intellectuals and politicians such as the Czech Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and the Slovak Milan Rastislav Štefánik, they grew into a force of over 100,000 troops.