English Translation

The investigation on the basis of questionnaires sent to the individual prisoner-of-war camps for the purpose of recording the Czech legionaries is still under way and is expected to be completed in the course of October. The Czech deserter Josef C h a l u p n i k's statement on the use of the Czech legion on the front gives more detailed information. Chalupnik travelled to Yugoslavia on behalf of a German service in January 1940, but did not return from there with obligation, but went via Italy to France with the help of illegal Czech advertising agencies. Right on his arrival in Marseille, he was interrogated in detail by a news officer (Leutnant V e - v e r k a ) in the Czechoslovak Konsulat, as every newcomer from the Protectorořat was told to see the spy for Germany. From Lille, Chalupnik came directly to Agde. At that time there were Jews in the camp (the rest of the Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, Germans and Ruthenians emigrated). Nadh and after that the number of Czech legionaries increased to 10,000. The conditions in the camps were nothing less than gratifying. There were very often disputes between Czech officers, among whom were many Hungarian and Slovak officers, and French officers. In the team itself, suspicions and disagreements were commonplace. Disciplin could almost not be spoken of, and obedience and revolts also occurred. The crew was clothed with old French uniforms and armed with French rifles of old design.