Karel Pezl

Karel Pezl (born September 14, 1927 in Domažlice ) is the first general of the Czech Republic, founded on January 1, 1993 . His appointment was on September 23, 1993.

Pezl is a graduate of the military academies in Hranice and Prague . From 1948 he worked as a trainer and held management and staff functions at various levels. Most recently he headed the Operational Affairs department of the General Staff before he was expelled from the armed forces in 1971 because of his sympathy with the Prague Spring .

On the eve of the fall of the Wall , he took part in the drafting of a reformed military doctrine . In 1991 Defense Minister Luboš Dobrovský appointed him his adviser. A few weeks later he succeeded Lieutenant General Anton Slimák as Chief of the General Staff . He remained in this post until his replacement by Colonel General Jiří Nekvasil in July 1993. He then became a military adviser to President Václav Havel .

Pezl is considered a strong proponent and trailblazer for his country's accession to NATO in 1999.

Web links

• Short biography (Czech)
• Interview about the invasion of the Soviet troops in Prague 1968 (Czech)
• Comment on his resignation (English)
• Statement on Civil Control of Armed Forces (English)
• Statement on NATO membership (English)