Labarum of the 11th Albanian MVSN Legion "Tirana". DVX

Flag of the Legion

Albanian First Minister Verlaci attending a ceremony at the 11th Albanian Black Shirts Legion. DVX

Ceremony at the 11th Albanian Legion

General Frantisek Moravec, Chief of Czech Military Intelligence in the years immediately preceding the German takeover of Czechoslovakia.  In the years immediately preceding the war, he established close relations with the British espionage and security services and, on the eve of the German invasion (and following a tip-off from Czech agents in Germany), accompanied by 10 colleagues, he made a hair-raising flight from Prague to London, taking with him the most sensitive Czechoslovak intelligence files.  From 1940 to 1945, he was Head of Intelligence for the Benes Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile in London, planning and co-ordinating espionage and sabotage operations in Czechoslovakia with the Britise SOE.  This was a difficult job, as Czechoslovakia was a problematic environment for clandestine operations - "independent" collaborationist government in Slovakia, and highly competent, ruthless German Occupation security services in the Czech Lands.  The most dramatic, and successful, operation in which he had a part in planning and executing was "Operation Anthropoid", the successful assasination attempt on the life of Reinhard Heydrich, Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia and Head of the Reich security services.  After the war, he returned to Czechoslovakia, but left again following the Communist takeover.  He moved to Washington D.C., where he worked as an adviser to the US Department of Defense.  Died of natural causes in Washington, 1966.  Best regards, JR.