Monument to standard-bearer Karel Bezdicek at the World War I Czechoslovak Cemetery and Memorial at Neuville-Saint-Vaast (Pas-de-Calais), France
At the end of the 18th century the Czechs and the Slovaks were forced to live under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At the start of World War I, the members of a Czech educational movement called Sokol and a social-democrat organization called Rovnost were quick to volunteer and sent for training in Bayonne where they formed the Nazdar Company. These volunteers took part in the Artois offensive launched by the French on 9 May 1915, and many lost their lives in that battle. At the entrance to the Czech cemetery stands a monument to commemorate the standard-bearer Karel Bezdicek who was killed on the first day of fighting. He is remembered by his fellow soldiers as the first free Czech soldier to carry the standard of the Czech lion. In addition to the 70 soldiers who lost their lives in the fighting of 1914-1918 another 136 Czechs were laid to rest there during the Second World War.
Size: 5760px × 3840px
Location: RD 937, 62580 Neuville-Saint-Vaast, Pas-de-Calais, France, Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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