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HISTORY OF THE SIGNAL CORPS By Michal Burian |
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Wednesday, 28 January 2009 09:20 |
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The real glory of the book is the photographs. Each page is profusely illustrated...
Not the sort of book that would normally arrive on the doorstep, but luckily this one did. In 2007 the Signal Corps of the Czech Republic celebrated 90 years; this book is the official history.
The English translation is somewhat forced, and the text assumes some knowledge of the complicated politics concerning the Czech and Slovak alliances. However the story runs from the birth during the Great War when as part of Tsarist Russia the service was formed, through the Bolshevik Revolution, the following civil war and formation of the Czech Republic.
During the Second World War, Czech forces served with Russia, Great Britain (The headquarters being my old College at Moreton Morrel, Warwickshire), and with the resistance in their own country. Afterwards they were part of the Red Army, and now serve as International Peace Keepers with the UN.
The real glory of the book is the photographs. Each page is profusely illustrated; there are photos and descriptions of the equipment used, and the vehicles. This range through Studebakers, Renault FT tanks, Dodge WC’s (Rigged as telephone cable layers), Dorchester Armoured vehicles, Bren Carriers and M20 motorcycles Eastern Bloc vehicles, up to a Land Rover 110 Safari fitted with a Warn Winch.
The radio equipment illustrated includes rare pictures of Soviet spy sets. The spread of equipment used and manufactured by the Czechs themselves, is enormous and will keep any techie happy for hours.
Published by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic Military Information and Service Agency ISBN: 978-80-7278-415-8 (English edition) ISBN: 978-80-7278-411-1 (Czech Edition)
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Last Updated on Monday, 02 February 2009 09:57 |
