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Seeking freedom by going to czarist Russia is a bit like going to the Khmer Rouge run Cambodia because you were opposed to Vietnamese politics. By any definition the Czar ran a more authoritarian regime than Austria-Hungaria.
Perhaps so. However, as a Slavic race, the Czechs were an oppressed minority within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Russians, on the other hand, are a Slavic race as well. So in that regard the Czechs would have found a more welcoming environment within Russia as opposed to where they were. Add to that the fact that Ukraine is the traditional homeland of the Slavs, it all makes a bit more sense.
This is especially true if you look at the so-called "Pan-Slavic" movement that emerged in the mid 19th Century. It's goal was the unification of all Slavic people in Central Europe and the Balkans into either separate Slav nations or one giant one. The Russians strongly encouraged the Pan-Slavs, mainly because it caused strife and instability in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This in turn created an opening for Russia to flex more power in these areas because of their shared Slavic roots. It was this support for fellow Slavs that ended up painting a target on Russia's back when they mobilized their army in support of the Serbians in hopes of deterring the Austrians from attacking Serbia in 1914. We all know how well that ended up working out.
Yeah Tony but as western Slavs and Catholics wouldn't the Czechs have been pretty wary of the Russians? Poles sure were (and are) and with good reason.
It seems too that there's a strong shot of German influence in Bohemian culture. Or is that a strong shot of Bohemian influence in southern German culture?
I am reminded of the wittism of one of the politboro members Stalin shot, that "Stalin killed more good communist than the Czare ever dreamed of." The fact that the Russians were slavic did not keep them from killing lots of slavs, especially revolutionaries. And the Austrians, by the standards of Eastern Europe, ran a fairly lax ship if you were not actively rebelling.
Yeah Tony but as western Slavs and Catholics wouldn't the Czechs have been pretty wary of the Russians? Poles sure were (and are) and with good reason.
It seems too that there's a strong shot of German influence in Bohemian culture. Or is that a strong shot of Bohemian influence in southern German culture?
True, given history in general, the whole Catholic vs. Orthodox thing plus the Polish experience with the Russians would seem to be reason enough to preclude the formation of any "alliance" if you will, between the Czechs and Russians. However, the notion of Slavic brotherhood and the fact the Russians were the only ones pushing for formation of Slav nations, seems to have trumped religious differences, and so on. Whether or not the Czechs realized the Russians weren't serious and were only promoting the Pan-Slav cause as part of a larger European power game, isn't exactly clear. They may well have been clueless to the bigger picture, or they might have realized it and decided to use the Russians the same way the Russians used them. In the end, I guess it really doesn't matter since the Czechs got exactly what they were fighting for; a nation of their own.
As to the second part, based on historic migration patterns in and out of Bohemia over the centuries, I'm going with strong Germanic influence in Bohemian culture.
I just read the Osprey Publishing book on them and now I am desperate for a more detailed read but I can't find anything on Amazon. Any ideas?
Even more interesting is the story of the Basmachi Revolt against the Russians in Central Asia in the 1920s.
The story of the Czech Legion can usually be found in the more detailed history books of the First World War. I have only run across three books that deal strictly with the Czech Legion. They are:
"The Czechoslovak Legion in Russia, 1914-1920" by John Francis Nejez Bradley
"The Bolsheviks and the Czechoslovak Legion: Origin of their Armed Conflict - March to May 1918" by Victor M. Fic
"The Czech Legion in Russia, 1918: Britain's Support and the Mythical Ural Front" by Bonnie Ellen Bright
The first book is available through Amazon. The second one is as well but the cost is a bit steep. Unfortunately, the third book now appears to be out of print. Perhaps you could try your local library to see if they have copies of the last two books.
The story of the Czech Legion can usually be found in the more detailed history books of the First World War. I have only run across three books that deal strictly with the Czech Legion. They are:
"The Czechoslovak Legion in Russia, 1914-1920" by John Francis Nejez Bradley
"The Bolsheviks and the Czechoslovak Legion: Origin of their Armed Conflict - March to May 1918" by Victor M. Fic
"The Czech Legion in Russia, 1918: Britain's Support and the Mythical Ural Front" by Bonnie Ellen Bright
The first book is available through Amazon. The second one is as well but the cost is a bit steep. Unfortunately, the third book now appears to be out of print. Perhaps you could try your local library to see if they have copies of the last two books.
Thanks, Tony,
I will look for those books...you never know.. maybe a library sale or used book store would have them
I suspect there were serious disagreement within the Russian state about Pan-slavism with some supporting it to weaken Austria-Hungary and others fearful that it might weaken the authoritarian regime in Russia itself. As far as I know, none of the Czars actually endorsed it.
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