1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade
| 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Československá samostatná obrněná brigáda | |
| Active | Sep 1943 - May 1945 |
| Country | Czechoslovakia |
| Allegiance | Czechoslovak government-in-exile, formation equipped and supplied by the United Kingdom |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 21st Army Group |
| Engagements | Siege of Dunkirk (1944) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Major-general Alois Liška |
The 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group (Czech: Československá samostatná obrněná brigáda, Slovak: Československá samostatná obrnená brigáda) was an armoured unit of expatriate Czechoslovaks organised and equipped by the United Kingdom during the Second World War in 1943.
The brigade landed in Normandy in August 1944 and was given the mission of containing the German-held port of Dunkirk for the rest of the war in Europe. In May 1945, the brigade moved to Czechoslovakia and was absorbed into the Czechoslovak Army.
The 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade was created on 1 September 1943, when the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Brigade (itself originally formed as 1st Czechoslovak Mixed Brigade in July 1940 from remnants of the French Army's 1st Czechoslovak Division) converted to armour and was redesignated as the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade Group (this was often simplified to 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade or abbreviated 1st CIABG). The brigade was under the command of Major General Alois Liška. The motorised infantry battalion of the brigade traced its lineage back to Czechoslovak units that had fought in Libya and Lebanon, notably the 11th Infantry Battalion which took part in the defence of Tobruk.
The formation continued to train in the UK until the summer of 1944 when, with some 4,000 troops under command, it moved to Normandy, joining 21st Army Group at Falaise on 30 August. On 6 October, the brigade advanced to Dunkirk, northern France, and relieved the 154 (Highland) Infantry Brigade on the eastern side of the besieged German-held "fortress" of Dunkirk. The brigade was subordinated to the First Canadian Army, which was, at the time, responsible for the conduct of the siege.
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