1938 Czech river units

[Leo Niehorster]

I think these are river units (Danube Flotilla?). A translation/explanation would be appreciated.

družstvo strážních motorových člunů
družstvo vlečných motorových člunů
družstvo minových motorových člunů
pobřežní rota
lodní rota,
minová četa
světlomet ná četa

--
Leo

[Cekekb]

Roughly translated
družstvo strážních motorových člunů - guard motorboat squad
družstvo vlečných motorových člunů - towing motorboat squad
družstvo minových motorových člunů - minelaying motorboat squad
pobřežní rota - coastal company
lodní rota - boat/ship company
minová četa - minelaying platoon
světlometná četa - searchlight platton

In the late 1930s Czechoslovak river forces were organized as "Engineer regiment 6" garrisoned in Bratislava, which consisted of:
+regimental HQ with suport company
+"machine" battalion with searchlight, machine and coastal companies
+river battalion with boat company and minelaying company
+replacemen/depot battalion
Altogether 909 men of all ranks on peactime establishment.

During mobilization the regiment would be probably dissolved and individual elements subordinated directly to Border area 39 or VIIth corps, but that is "educated" guess

[Leo Niehorster]

Many thanks Cekekb for your reply.

You are right.

Plus some other units atatched elsewhere.

This from the book:

  Bedřich Hamák, Ivo Vondrovský -
  "Mobilizovaná československá armáda 1938"
   Pevnosti 32. svazek

If you can add anything to this, I would appreciate it. I am in the process of translating many bits of this book via typed input to Google, so you can imaging it will take some time to complete the order of battle for 30.09.1938.

Unfortunately, the authors do not list any service units.

--
Leo

[Cekekb]

Glad to help. Your site is incredible.

As to service units. Iam not able to identify individual units, but standard complet of service units for border area was supposed to consist of:
+"weapons park" (really not sure of translation)
+medical company
+"intendature park"
+veterinary ambulance
+2 horse-drawn train columns
+field post
+2 labour companies
+field bakery
+field butcher shop
Most of these units would as rule be designated by the number of "their" border area.

As to Border are 39 I would note distinction between "hraničářský prapor 50" and "hraničářský prapor 31". While "50" was "fortification unit" and already on peace establishment,"31" was "regular infantry" independent battalion formed during mobilization as reserve unit of "hraničářský prapor 11".

[Leo Niehorster]

Again, thank you for your response.
I actually mean the river forces service units, but your information about the border areas (HO) is very welcome, as they are not indicated in the book. From this, it appears that they had similar service units to those the (infantry) divisions. According to the book, they had (in italics):

+"weapons park" (really not sure of translation) [This appears to be an ammunition park for small arms, light artillery, and field artillery]
— Zbonjni park (Pěši munični kolona, Lehka dělostřel. munični kolona, Dělostřel. prac. rota)
+medical company
— Zdravotnická rota
+veterinary ambulance
— Veterniární ambulance
+"intendature park" (= QM Park)
— Intendanči park
+2 horse-drawn train columns
— 2× Vozatajskà kolona
+field post
— polní posta
+2 labour companies
— 2× Pracovaá rota

Apparently, the (infantry) division does not have these two units,
+field bakery
+field butcher shop
but, additionally, has a motorized supply column.
— Nákladni autokolona

As to Border are 39 I would note distinction between "hraničářský prapor 50" and "hraničářský prapor 31". While "50" was "fortification unit" and already on peace establishment,"31" was "regular infantry" independent battalion formed during mobilization as reserve unit of "hraničářský prapor 11".

I take it you read this in the text below the OOB? How am I to distinguish between these type units? The box certainly makes no noticible distinction.

I am thinking of having this volume translated, at least the relevant parts, omitting the biographies of the various generals, the mobilization, as well as the tables at the back. About 85–90 pages.

Well, we'll see.

Cheers
--
Leo

[Cekekb]

[quote="Leo Niehorster"
I take it you read this in the text below the OOB? How am I to distinguish between these type units? The box certainly makes no noticible distinction.



Well, we'll see.

Cheers
--
Leo[/quote]

There is no way how to distinguish between them based on their designation. Those are things that "must to be known".
I would like to note that even lot of Czechs have "problems" with interwar army. Most of 30s military terminology is today anachronistic, being replaced overt time by Soviet/NATO equivalents. And back then they liked to make things complicated.....

We are something "out of topic" but briefly

Hraničářský pluk - Border regiment : 4,6,17,18,19 - those are fortress units
Hraničářský prapor 50: also fotress unit

Rest of border battalions numbered 1 to 11 are "regular infantry units, during mobilization they formed reserve battalions numbered 21 to 31
+Of these battalions 1,21,4,24,10,30 are motorised and attached do Fast divisions

+Then there are two additional border regiments - 3 and 11. Those were provisional regimental commands based on battalions of the same number.

[Leo Niehorster]

Many thanks, again.

--
Leo