The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 2/Oath of Czechoslovak Soldiers

Oath of Czechoslovak Soldiers.

Very little it known of the fortunes of the Czechoslovak Army in Russia since the conclusion of the Bolshevik German peace. The April issue of La Nation Tcheque tells us of the resistance made by this army to the German invasion of Bessarabia. On that occasion a special oath was taken by these troops which throws an admirable light on their spirit and character. The oath is given herewith:

 

Throwing off for ever all ties that bound us to the Hapsburgs and to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and remembering all the wrongs that had for centuries been committed upon our people and remain unavenged, we, Czechoslovak soldiers of the first revolutionary army created beyond the frontiers of our country, take this solemn oath before our beloved Czechoslovak nation and before the chiefs of our revolutionary movement in foreign lands, the Czechoslovak National Council with Professor Masaryk at its head.

In the name of our national honor, in the name of all that is most dear to us as men and as Czechoslovaks, with full realization of this step, we swear to fight alongside of our allies to the last drop of our blood, against all our enemies, until we have obtained complete liberation of our Czechoslovak nation, until the Czech and Slovak lands are reunited into a free and independent Czechoslovak state, until our nation is absolute mistress of her destinies.

We solemnly promise, whatever may be the danger and whatever may be the circumstances, without fear and hesitation, never to abandon the sacred goal of our fight.

As faithful and honorable soldiers, heirs of our noble history, cherishing the memory of the heroic deeds of our immortal chiefs and martyrs, Jan Hus and Jan Žižka of Trocnov, we promise to remain worthy of them, never to flee from battle, to shirk no danger, to obey the orders of our officers, to venerate our flags and standards, never and under no circumstances beg for our lives from our enemy and never to surrender with weapons in our hands, to love our companions as brothers and to give them aid in danger, to have no fear of death, to sacrifice all, even our lives, for the freedom of our fatherland.

So freely, without pressure of any sort, we pledge ourselves to act, and so shall we act. Such is the duty imposed upon us by honor and fidelity toward our people and our country.