9 May 1915 Battle of Arras Czechoslovak Legionnaires

By their courage, the Czech legionaries at the Battle of Arras also drew other soldiers to the attack. However, due to heavy casualties, the Nazdar Company practically ceased to exist. To this day, however, a monument commemorates it in France. The fighting began at 10 a.m. on May 9, 1915.

The town of Arras is located in the north of France and to this day is synonymous with the battle in which our legionnaires took part on 9 May 1915. It is also commemorated by the square in the north of the town, which since 16 July 1939 has been called Place de Tchécoslovaquie. The Czech "Rota Nazdar" fought bravely at the cost of great losses, among them, for example, the leading Cubist sculptor Otto Gutfreund, considered a pioneer of Czech modern sculpture of world importance. His sculpture Anxiety is considered to be the first Cubist sculpture.

The reason for the battle was that France needed to destroy the commanding German positions on Vimy Ridge. Things were not going well in the east and the Russians needed help. Therefore, it was necessary to weaken the German position overall. The French offensive was supposed to start on May 1, 1915, but was postponed due to preparations.

Soldiers dug new trenches to give the French infantry a better line of communication. The soldiers also went through training, where each unit was given precise instructions in terms of what its objectives were and what was expected of it. At the same time, the French air force was mapping the German lines from the air and taking pictures.

The units were ordered to attack at 10 a.m. on 9 May. Among them were volunteers from the ranks of Czech compatriots in France, who rushed into the attack against the German trenches. "By their example, they pulled down other members of Battalion "C" of the Moroccan Division. During the attack, Nazdar Company did advance several kilometres into enemy territory to the strategically important Hill 140, but had to retreat to German pressure after its capture. The result was only huge losses," said historian Aleš Binar.

One hundred soldiers were severely wounded and 48 were killed, almost making the company cease to exist. It also lost its battalion. The names of the fallen can be read on the tombstones of a separate Czechoslovak military cemetery in France, which was built outside the village of La Targette.

The land was purchased by the Association of Czechoslovak Volunteers in France and a monument "Monument aux morts tchécoslovaques de l ́Artois" was erected by the roadside. It is the work of sculptor Josef Hruška. The association raised the money through a public collection abroad and the sale of historical postcards. The monument was unveiled on the 10th anniversary of the battle on 31 May 1925.

Sources.

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