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The Czechoslovak Legion played a critical role in the emergence of Czechoslovakia as an independent state, forging its identity through action during World War I and the subsequent Russian Civil War.
When World War I began in 1914, Czech and Slovak leaders like Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Milan Rastislav Štefánik saw an opportunity to push for independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Czech and Slovak emigrés in Russia petitioned to establish a volunteer military unit, the "Družina," which later evolved into the Czechoslovak Legion, to demonstrate allegiance to the Entente Powers. Though small initially, this unit was soon bolstered by Czech and Slovak POWs from Austria-Hungary, growing into a formidable force of over 100,000.
In Russia, the Legion gained fame after winning battles against Austrian forces, particularly at Zborov in 1917, which significantly raised their profile and led the Russian Provisional Government to officially recognize and expand the Legion. Following the October Revolution in Russia, Masaryk orchestrated a plan for the Legion’s withdrawal to France via the Trans-Siberian Railway, aiming to continue the fight against the Central Powers. However, tensions with Bolshevik forces eventually led to clashes along the railway route, and the Legion became deeply embroiled in the Russian Civil War. The Legion's control of the railway and its strategic victories against Bolshevik forces were critical to the White movement’s anti-Bolshevik resistance in Siberia.
Meanwhile, in France and Italy, smaller Czechoslovak units, like the “Nazdar” Company, served with distinction in Allied armies, contributing to the Legion's reputation across Europe. By 1918, Allied governments began to formally recognize the Czechoslovak National Council as a legitimate government in exile, a recognition bolstered by the Legion's valor.
In the fall of 1918, with World War I drawing to a close and the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrating, Czechoslovakia was officially declared independent. After the Armistice, the Legion’s priority shifted to returning home. Despite being initially delayed by White and Red Russian factions, the Legionnaires finally left Siberia in a series of organized transports, returning to their new homeland by 1920. Legion veterans played prominent roles in the newly formed Czechoslovak Army and established influential organizations like the Association of Czechoslovak Legionnaires, which helped stabilize the young state.
The Legion’s legacy is deeply interwoven with Czechoslovakia's founding narrative, symbolizing the struggle for self-determination. Its story remains a powerful testament to the Czech and Slovak people’s journey from subjugated ethnicities within the Habsburg Empire to citizens of an independent Czechoslovakia.