Modernization of Czechoslovak army

The Czechoslovakian army was armed for full state of war already in the 1950’s. It was gradually motorized, its firepower was increased, tank units and modern air forces were created, chemical defence was strengthened, missile technology was implemented, etc. The army also went through a lot of organizational and dislocation changes.

The inclusion of the Czechoslovakian army in the operation plans of the Soviet Union assumed its deployment as the first echelon on western battlefields using both powerful nuclear and conventional weapons. Czechoslovak Army was supposed to advance deep into the hostile area and disarm the enemy’s forces. By doing that it was supposed to protect its own area against attacks by the enemy. In order to perform this task, the Czechoslovakian army deployed highly mobile motorized and tank divisions in the western part of the country. However, the deployment of these forces as the first echelon for fast progress of offensive operations would have meant enormous losses to the Czechoslovakian army and it would have been sacrificed within the Soviet Union’s strategy.

The general public could always become acquainted with the weaponry of the army, with certain delay, at military parades. That was the case in 1954, at the beginning of the 1960’s as well as in 1985.