Josef Buršík was a Czech resistance fighter, general, dissident, and political prisoner. During World War II, while fighting with the First Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion, later reorganized as the First Czechoslovak Independent Brigade he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war Buršík was persecuted by the communist authorities in Czechoslovakia. He was imprisoned and stripped of all his wartime decorations, except for the Hero of the Soviet Union award. Buršík managed to escape and made his way to the west. He lived first in West Germany, then the United Kingdom. He was active in organizations working to help Czech and Slovak refugees. He published his memoirs "No pity for sacrifice" (Nelituj oběti) in the 1950s.
After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 Buršík returned his Hero of the Soviet Union medal.
Despite ongoing health problems he lived until the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia (later the Czech Republic) and was officially "rehabilitated" and promoted to the rank of Major General in the Czech Army. He was also awarded the Order of the White Lion and the Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order.
He died in Northampton, England and was buried with full military honours. His grandson of the same name is a footballer who plays for Stoke City and England U21.
After the war Buršík was persecuted by the communist authorities in Czechoslovakia. He was imprisoned and stripped of all his wartime decorations, except for the Hero of the Soviet Union award. Buršík managed to escape and made his way to the west. He lived first in West Germany, then the United Kingdom. He was active in organizations working to help Czech and Slovak refugees. He published his memoirs "No pity for sacrifice" (Nelituj oběti) in the 1950s.
After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 Buršík returned his Hero of the Soviet Union medal.
Despite ongoing health problems he lived until the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia (later the Czech Republic) and was officially "rehabilitated" and promoted to the rank of Major General in the Czech Army. He was also awarded the Order of the White Lion and the Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order.
He died in Northampton, England and was buried with full military honours. His grandson of the same name is a footballer who plays for Stoke City and England U21.
Josef Buršík was a Czech resistance fighter, general, dissident, and political prisoner. During World War II, while fighting with the First Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion, later reorganized as the First Czechoslovak Independent Brigade he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war Buršík was persecuted by the communist authorities in Czechoslovakia. He was imprisoned and stripped of all his wartime decorations, except for the Hero of the Soviet Union award. Buršík managed to escape and made his way to the west. He lived first in West Germany, then the United Kingdom. He was active in organizations working to help Czech and Slovak refugees. He published his memoirs "No pity for sacrifice" (Nelituj oběti) in the 1950s.
After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 Buršík returned his Hero of the Soviet Union medal.
Despite ongoing health problems he lived until the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia (later the Czech Republic) and was officially "rehabilitated" and promoted to the rank of Major General in the Czech Army. He was also awarded the Order of the White Lion and the Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order.
He died in Northampton, England and was buried with full military honours. His grandson of the same name is a footballer who plays for Stoke City and England U21.
After the war Buršík was persecuted by the communist authorities in Czechoslovakia. He was imprisoned and stripped of all his wartime decorations, except for the Hero of the Soviet Union award. Buršík managed to escape and made his way to the west. He lived first in West Germany, then the United Kingdom. He was active in organizations working to help Czech and Slovak refugees. He published his memoirs "No pity for sacrifice" (Nelituj oběti) in the 1950s.
After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 Buršík returned his Hero of the Soviet Union medal.
Despite ongoing health problems he lived until the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia (later the Czech Republic) and was officially "rehabilitated" and promoted to the rank of Major General in the Czech Army. He was also awarded the Order of the White Lion and the Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order.
He died in Northampton, England and was buried with full military honours. His grandson of the same name is a footballer who plays for Stoke City and England U21.
Inscription
HRDINA SOV. SVAZU
HERO OF THE SOV. UNION
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
