Events of October 28^th, 1918 in Milovice

Soldiers with a banner in Czech national colours.

On Monday, October 28^th, 1918, news of the declaration of independence began to spread along the railway. All afternoon and evening, people brought fragmentary reports to Milovice that there was a “coup” in Prague. When these rumours were confirmed on Tuesday morning, there was tremendous enthusiasm among the residents. Flags in national colours were flying everywhere.

The military training grounds and the barrack camp were used to train soldiers during the WWI.

A group consisting of Czech officers was formed and immediately took over the command of the Milovice garrison. Czech soldiers were placed in the places of the Hungarian guards and, due to the lack of personnel, members of the local Sokol were called in to substitute. The previous commander, Colonel Müller, requested further orders from the military headquarters in Litoměřice, proposing that he march to Litoměřice with the entire machine gun course and military material (42 machine guns and one million rounds of ammunition). Such an order did indeed arrive by telephone, but Sergeant Hepnar passed it on to Captain Suchard. He informed Colonel Müller that he was taking over the entire camp and that the order would not be obeyed. In the afternoon, Colonel Bartůněk was appointed commander of the garrison and Suchard was appointed station officer. Lieutenant Čapek was appointed commander of the guard company of five officers and one hundred and sixty men.

Hotel Malý, from whose balcony the proclamation of Czechoslovakia was solemnly announced in Milovice.

On the evening of October 29^th, a procession was organized, in which, in addition to local residents and soldiers, prisoners of war also participated. The procession passed from the post office building to the courtyard of the manor house, accompanied by the singing of national songs and Italian music. On the way back, the crowd stopped in front of the hotel Malý, where teachers Vávra, Švankmajer, and Pečínková stepped out of the balcony. The procession dispersed amid cheers and shouts of praise for Dr. T. G. Masaryk and President Wilson.

The Revolutionary National Assembly elected T. G. Masaryk in absentia president on November 14, 1918.

The first week was marked by the return of men from the fronts. The interim garrison commander Bartůněk was retired for his previous ruthless treatment of civilians and prisoners. Colonel Běhal became the new commander. The establishment of the republic did not end the hunger, and entire groups of begging prisoners wandered around the area, looking for food. Many farmers regretted that the coup did not come a month earlier, so they could have saved more of the harvest taken away as tax. Another great national celebration took place on All Saints‘ Day. The ceremonial procession of the local garrison and prisoners was led by the regimental physician, MUDr. František Tichý, and the military builder Hamrlík. The faces of the participants shone with joy and noisy greetings of „Na zdar“, „Živio“ and „Vivat“ echoed far and wide.

Convalescents from the military hospital in Milovice, 1918.