Utajená vazba Hrdiny SSSR. Životní osudy Richarda Tesaříka v období poúnorových perzekucí v armádě 1948–1954
A secret tie of “Hero of the Soviet Union”. The adventures of Richard Tesařík during persecutions in the army in 1948–1954

Summary/Abstract: The article studies the broad context of life of lieutenant colonel Richard Tesařík, holder of the “Hero of the Soviet Union” title, during persecutions in the army after February 1948. His life story serves to document the situation in the army in that period and the working methods used by the military counter-intelligence, whose name and subordination evolved in time, but whose work remained the same. In terms of time and content, the text is structured according to the different positions Tesařík held in the military after WWII. The first part is dedicated to the problems he faced during his studies at the tank academy in Moscow, the second part focuses on his tenure at the Higher Military School in Prague in the years 1949–1950. After that follows a description of his years at the tank and motorized army headquarters at the Ministry of National Defence in 1951–1952. Part four depicts his life as head of tank and motorized army of the 2nd Military District in Trenčín in the times of intensified surveillance by the military counter-intelligence. Last part of the text describes his arrest in December 1953, the course of his secret jailing and his sentence. The study, which draws on archival sources, specialized literature and eye-witness testimonies, reveals unsuccessful attempts by the military counter-intelligence to accuse Tesařík of treason despite employing methods including breaching of valid legislation.

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