K činnosti Lidových milicí v únoru 1948
The Activities of the People’s Militia in February 1948

Summary/Abstract: The People’s Militia (Lidové milice) became one of the symbols of the communist rule. Their activity, especially in February 1948, was glorified or almost mythicised before 1989. One problem for modern-day researchers is that the militia’s units were established basically with no written records at that time, and the majority of commands were issued in person or by telephone. This study aims to provide some information on the establishment of the People’s Militia, based on testimonies of some of the leading participants, mostly dating back to the time of the political trials in the early 1950s and apparently gained under duress and often with the clear intention to harm a particular person or pass the blame onto others. These materials therefore require a careful approach. Many facts given herein are disputable, yet they may yield new information following an appropriate critical analysis.

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