The Czech Republic remembered the end of the war, Pavel and Fiala agreed on the need to help the attacked

People in the Czech Republic commemorated the 79th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Aid to attacked countries against aggressors is important and needed even today, President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) agreed on Wednesday at Prague’s Vítkov, referring to the war in Ukraine attacked by Russia. According to Pavel, the war unleashed by Russia has nothing to do with World War II. He saw the importance of the allies in defeating the aggressor in World War II as a message for Fiala’s present. Anyone who downplays the threat from Russia is doing the Czech Republic a disservice, he said. President Pavel promoted 13 soldiers, police officers and firefighters to the rank of general at Prague Castle.

In his speech at the memorial service in Vítkov, the President called it a historical paradox that the Soviet Union was an essential part of the allied coalition in the fight against aggression in the Second World War, and now Russia itself has become the aggressor. He expressed pride in the fact that the Czech Republic is not slacking off in helping Ukraine. According to the head of state, its defenders deserve respect and all support. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of the Czech Republic’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), which, according to him, achieved the highest security guarantees in history.

Footage from the war in Ukraine resembles scenes from the Second World War, again civilians are dying and blood is being shed, Fiala told journalists in Vítkov. According to him, a brutal war conflict can only end if everyone does what they can for the success of the attacked country, and the aggressor will be defeated. According to him, peace cannot be obtained by waiting for it, it is necessary to strive for it, and the only way to this is the failure of Russia. Minister of Defense Jana Černochová (ODS) reminded that the Czech Republic provides Ukraine with military material aid and training of soldiers.

The commemorative event in Vítkov began with a military parade. Representatives of the state, local governments and the church laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, among them, along with Pavlo and Fiala, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS), Speaker of the Chamber Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09), Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka and Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda ( ODS). Veterans, representatives of veteran associations and falconers also came. Military fighter jets and helicopters flew over Vítkov.

The heads of other government parties also linked their statements today to the anniversary of the end of the war with the war in Ukraine, and published them on the X social network. “The Victory Day we celebrate today reminds us, among other things, that there is no victory without a fight,” https://twitter.com/Vit_Rakusan/status/1788131801623392604 head of STAN Vít the Austrian. The chairman of the Pirates, Ivan Bartoš https://twitter.com/PiratIvanBartos/status/1788101530987729336, that the opponents of Hitler’s Germany first tried to negotiate with him, made concessions and sacrificed Czechoslovakia. “It did not work. And it never works. The voracious aggressive empire must be stopped as soon as possible. Let’s remember that,” he added. True peace can only be achieved on the basis of respect for territorial integrity without forced concessions and pressure from the aggressor, https://twitter.com/market_a/status/1788164485951193268 the boss of TOP 09 Pekarová Adamová.

Pavel promoted the director of the Security Information Service (BIS) Michal Koudelka from the rank of brigadier general to major general at the proposal of the government. At the same time, Pavel appointed Koudelka a brigadier general only a year ago, Pavl’s predecessor at Prague Castle, Miloš Zeman, refused a similar government proposal seven times before. Being appointed general or being promoted to a higher general rank is the fulfillment of long years of work and preparation, Pavel said at the ceremony. He recalled the responsibility that generals should have towards their subordinates, loyalty to the country and the effort to provide the best possible professional advice to its leadership. The president also thanked the wives and partners of the generals.

Pavel promoted former director of Military Intelligence Jiří Růžek and former director of the Office for Foreign Relations and Information (ÚZSI) Petr Zeman to the rank of retired brigadier general. Director of the General Inspection of the Security Forces (GIBS) Vít Hendrych became a brigadier general today. Pavel also appointed four other soldiers, two policemen, two firefighters and one member of the Prison Service as brigadier generals.

Commemorative acts on the anniversary of the end of the war also took place on Wednesday, for example, in Brno, Pardubice, Havlíčková Brod or Liberec. In Hranice in the Přerovsk region, members of the American National Guard, who came to the Czech Republic for an alliance exercise in the Libavá military area, took part in the ceremonial entry of Czech army units. On the anniversary of the end of the war, the Museum of Armored Technology in Smržovka na Jabloneck showed visitors for the first time a recently acquired replica of the Tiger I heavy tank. The Straka Academy, i.e. the seat of the Czech government, will be ceremonially lit up in the Czech tricolor this evening.