A military department ( cs, vojenská katedra, plural ') was a part of every civilian
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
in
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
from 1951 to 1990. Their goal was to provide basic military training to all male students eligible of army service.
Mandatory military training at the universities was mandated on August 8, 1951, military departments were mandated on October 1, 1951, and set up within few years at every university. Typically, for 4 years (later 2 years) one day in a week was dedicated to military training. Two military exercises (one month during the summer each) were held after 2nd and 4th year. After successful exams the students obtained minor military officer rank (', typically
platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may rang ...
leader) and their future mandatory military service was reduced to one year (the others served for two years). Exempted were those who took the military service prior the study, those unfit for the service for health reason and women.
The departments were subordinated to the university
rectors and to the Ministry of Defense for military specific tasks. They were staffed by army officers, sometimes as a punishment for drinking or incompetence, sometimes by those near retirement. The institution was universally loathed by the students.
During the student strike in November–December 1989 (part of
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution ( cs, Sametová revoluce) or Gentle Revolution ( sk, Nežná revolúcia) was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations agains ...
events) the military training stopped and it was largely ignored by students afterwards. In March 1990 the length of mandatory military service was reduced to 18 months (in July 1993 again to 12 months) and alternative civil service was established. The parliament discussed abolishing the departments during March 1990. All departments were officially liquidated on September 30, 1990.
Similar institutions
The first law mandating universal semi-military training was passed in 1937 as a response to threats by Nazi Germany. During rule of communist party in Czechoslovakia (1948–1989) some forms of semi-military training were provided by primary and secondary schools.
Svazarm
Svazarm or Union for Cooperation with the Army (Czech: Svaz pro spolupráci s armádou / Svazarm, Slovak: Zväz pre spoluprácu s armádou / Zväzarm), was, in Communist Czechoslovakia, the largest " paramilitary" organisation, although many of th ...
was the largest paramilitary organisation of the era.
People's Militias was paramilitary organisation composed by members of
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ( Czech and Slovak: ''Komunistická strana Československa'', KSČ) was a communist and Marxist–Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992. It was a member of the Comint ...
.
External links
List of military departments (section 608)(in Czech)
* Personal account of the military trainin
(in Slovak)
University
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
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