Not a whole lot unexplained by the meme. The Czechoslovak Legion was a group of mostly Czechs and some Slovaks formed from exiles/deserters/Russian POWs fighting in the Russian Army during WWI to convince the Allies to support independence for their homeland. This meant that, come Red October, they were basically the only part of the Russian Army that wanted to keep fighting, and requested a transfer to the Western Front. However the mutual mistrust between the Western Allies the Soviets forced them to do this in Vladivostok, all the way on the pacific coast. Unfortunately this mutual mistrust exploded a Trotsky in one of his diplomatic blunders, tried to disarm the Legion in transit. This provoked a massive revolt along the line of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and also (inadvertently) the execution of the Tsar and his family as Czech soldiers advanced on the house where they were being held. The Czechs allied with the emerging White Movement, arguably turning the Russian Civil War from a bunch of local revolts into a real battle. However this got the, entangled in Russian politics, when all they wanted to do was go to France or go home. Despite some victories including a navy victory on Lake Bikal (where the Russians managed to lose a navel battle against a landlocked country that did not exist yet) they were no closer to getting home. Eventually they struck a deal to continue on to Vladivostok (then occupied by the Japanese and other Allied powers) in exchange for the Legion handing over the Imperial Russian Gold Reserve, which they had seized along the way. They eventually got home where famously nothing bad ever happened to Czechoslovakia ever again.
AnhaytAnanun on
One particular Czech legionaire with last name Hašek: Imma going to write a satire about my WW1 experience, from conscription to Czech Legion, and return home.
That same Hašek: dies writing his book before his protagonist reaches the front. Frankly, no one believes his death since he was a reknown prankster.
“The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War” – I strongly recommend it.
TheHistoryMaster2520 on
Never ask the Czechoslovak Legion what happened to Alexander Kolchak
TimeKepeer on
Taking a bunch of guns, stolen gold, a train, and crossing an entire two continents while fighting off the whole country – now that’s the ultimate male fantasy. Those guys probably didn’t think of their adventure as such, but we can sure agree that it was epic
5v3n_5a3g3w3rk on
Also they won a naval battle against Russia, yeah the landlocked nation won a naval battle against a world power
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Context?
Not a whole lot unexplained by the meme. The Czechoslovak Legion was a group of mostly Czechs and some Slovaks formed from exiles/deserters/Russian POWs fighting in the Russian Army during WWI to convince the Allies to support independence for their homeland. This meant that, come Red October, they were basically the only part of the Russian Army that wanted to keep fighting, and requested a transfer to the Western Front. However the mutual mistrust between the Western Allies the Soviets forced them to do this in Vladivostok, all the way on the pacific coast. Unfortunately this mutual mistrust exploded a Trotsky in one of his diplomatic blunders, tried to disarm the Legion in transit. This provoked a massive revolt along the line of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and also (inadvertently) the execution of the Tsar and his family as Czech soldiers advanced on the house where they were being held. The Czechs allied with the emerging White Movement, arguably turning the Russian Civil War from a bunch of local revolts into a real battle. However this got the, entangled in Russian politics, when all they wanted to do was go to France or go home. Despite some victories including a navy victory on Lake Bikal (where the Russians managed to lose a navel battle against a landlocked country that did not exist yet) they were no closer to getting home. Eventually they struck a deal to continue on to Vladivostok (then occupied by the Japanese and other Allied powers) in exchange for the Legion handing over the Imperial Russian Gold Reserve, which they had seized along the way. They eventually got home where famously nothing bad ever happened to Czechoslovakia ever again.
One particular Czech legionaire with last name Hašek: Imma going to write a satire about my WW1 experience, from conscription to Czech Legion, and return home.
That same Hašek: dies writing his book before his protagonist reaches the front. Frankly, no one believes his death since he was a reknown prankster.
“The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War” – I strongly recommend it.
Never ask the Czechoslovak Legion what happened to Alexander Kolchak
Taking a bunch of guns, stolen gold, a train, and crossing an entire two continents while fighting off the whole country – now that’s the ultimate male fantasy. Those guys probably didn’t think of their adventure as such, but we can sure agree that it was epic
Also they won a naval battle against Russia, yeah the landlocked nation won a naval battle against a world power