Matula, Robert: my Army and Intelligence recollections (November 21, 1982, and January 30, 1983)
PublicInterviewer: Stafford, David A. T.
An interview/narrative of Robert Matula's experiences during World War II. Matula served with the Czech Army and in British Intelligence, Czech Section. Interview took place on November 21, 1982 and January 30, 1983.
ABSTRACT: Robert Matula Czech Army British Intelligence, Czech Section Matula_R_0158_01.mp3 (Cassette 1, Side 1) A professional soldier in the Czech army. At the time of the surrender in March 1939 he retreated into Poland and remained near Krakow for about a month. The Czechs were sent to France by the Polish government where they were more or less forced into service in the French Foreign Legion. Served for six months and in Sept. 1939 were recruited by the Czech government-in-exile. Left the Foreign Legion with about five thousand others to join the Free Czech forces in southern France. Although taken prisoner by the Germans during the retreat of the French army in 1940, he and his unit escaped to rejoin the French army in its southward retreat. After the fall of France the Czechs were evacuated from Marseilles with the aid of the Royal Navy and taken to England. Became part of the Czech Infantry Brigade and later a driver-instructor in the Czech Armoured Brigade. Asked if he would join a small group of agents returning to Czechoslovakia. Five men were sent to the Czech section of British Intelligence where they underwent intelligence, commando, and parachute training. Practiced undercover work in London: false names, papers, cover stories; both following others and being followed. Taught German points of view, small arms, etc. at Beaulieu. Trained in burgling techniques, explosives, general sabotage. Sent to southern Italy to await air transport to Czechoslovakia. While there he assumed the cover name of Robert Danyik (sic). (42:00, transcript p. 25) Matula_R_0158_02.mp3 (Cassette 1, Side 2) False papers were perfect: a lumber clerk in south Moravia and a butcher in northern Slovakia. Before leaving England his final dental work was done by a Czech dentist in the Czech style. Civilian clothes made by a Czech tailor in mid-European style. Their mission to Czechoslovakia was to assist in the organization of a resistance of between sixty and ninety thousand ex-military personnel to rise in conjunction with a drop of British airborne troops at some future date. Collaborators within the resistance were a major concern. As a lieutenant in charge of supplies for his group he was parachuted in on Sept. 13, 1944. The party of six was dropped into the mountains of Moravia, but unfortunately not in the correct dropzone. Took them two weeks to re-form the group. Their wireless operator was captured so that they did not have any contact with London, although they eventually were able to do so through another group. Experiences with the Russians. Felt that after the Yalta Conference they had been abandoned to some extent; Czechoslovakia was then in the Russian sphere of influence. Comments on the problem of Germans infiltrating the partisans. (42:00, transcript p. 53) Matula_R_0158_03.mp3 (Cassette 2, Side 1) Attempted to cooperate with Russian groups, but they were not well-trained and reported only to the Russian Army for whom they directly laboured. A major effort by the Germans to destroy the partisans made life very hard. At the approach of winter decided to disengage and rely on the civilian population for shelter. Hid in a pigeon loft for two weeks while German troops were billeted in the same farm. Moved on foot 230 km. to Brno where they lived in the outskirts, in another barn. (42:00) Matula_R_0158_04.mp3 (Cassette 2, Side 2) Retreated to the woods north of Brno where the group acted as partisans. An account of the ambush of German troops. Took German prisoners (some Ukrainians) who were quite happy to assist the partisans in fighting S.S. troops. Made contact with the Russian army and were initially treated as virtual prisoners, but eventually obtained Russian papers which allowed them complete freedom of movement. Able to get to Prague and became involved with the Czech government and Czech Communist Party. The latter did not want any part of the "western" Czech forces and made life difficult. Matula had the job of investigating all former Czech officers to ascertain their loyalty. Traced war criminals. Forced by the Communists to leave this important post to take a teaching position at the Czech Military Academy. Left the army and, after considerable difficulty, evacuated English wife to England. After much subterfuge and a chase by Communist agents he managed to take a train to a border area. (44:00) Matula_R_0158_05.mp3 (Cassette 3, Side 1) Further details of his escape on foot in Apr. 1948 over the border mountains to Bavaria. Moved to the British zone of occupation and contacted his wife, eventually rejoining her in England. General comments. (25:00)
Interviewee: Matula, Robert
- In Collection:
- 5 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 48.69096, 9.14062
- Three original sound cassettes (ca. 210 min.) : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MR_158
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/david-stafford-fonds
- January 28, 2009
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by KG, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2009. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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