Gen. Josef Šnejdárek (Schneidarek)

Šnejdárek: A film documentary with original period film footage. This documentary was premiered in June 2008 by Czech Television on channel CT2. In all respects a most professional and captivating 25 minute account.

„General, Sir“ Army General Josef Snejdarek
Theme - Zdeněk Šámal, screenplay - Jiří Podlipný and Lt-Col. PhDr. Eduard Stehlík,
directed by Jiří Podlipný, produced by Czech TV.

Documentary can be found on internet:
Neznámí hrdinové - Pan generál Josef Šnejdárek (in Czech language)

monument (1935), only railing remained (2008)	left to right; J. Podlipný, M.Gajdoš, Lt-Col. PhDr. E.Stehlík	work on the TV documentary near Badin

Pole and Czech in Silesia, page 101:
Colonial officer, who, besides commanding the Czech troops in the Teschen sector, has assumed administrative control within the occupied territory. Snejdarek is a strong man of outstanding ability who, through long dealing with Arabs and such gentry, has acquired a subtlety and resource in argument which is difficult to counter, and impossible to get the better of.
He is a capable organizer, and impresses one as a good soldier, a man of decision, intelligence, and great force of character. He is attractive in manner and courteous in address, the type of man who, if he once gives his word, leaves one with the comfortable assurance that it will be carried out to the letter.
Now, the Commission has a higher respect for his ability, admiration for his capacity has increased, but it has lost faith somewhat in its own powers of discernment. Snejdarek is, undoubtedly, a master mind, and whatever tune he chooses to pipe the others will dance to.

J.S.MACHAR – Five years in army barracks, Memoirs and documents 1925-1926
Praha – Aventinum – 1927 Czechoslovakia
Page: 172 – 173:

...and the successor to the post of of the city’s military governor? I want to talk to Colonel Snejdarek.
Colonel Snejdarek: Impression of a soldier. I explained to him what I wanted from the Army, he wholeheartedly agreed, wholeheartedly promised full cooperation. And whether he would accept the burden of the post of Military Governor? Yes.
After he left I phoned Chalupa informing him that I will be sending him a written recommendation with regard to Snejdarek.- That is how Snejdarek became the Military Governor of Prague.
He did not dissapoint, then or ever. He instilled order into the sloppy army. In a few days the soldiers were no longer walking the streets in their customary duck waddle and they were saluting as tightly wound springs, as they should have.
Snejdarek was like lightning, appearing where least expected, saw everything, nothing escaped his attention. Brief, concise, he simply commanded. With his look and pointed finger he managed to send shivers down ones‘ spine.
In a few days I had the assurance that the army in Prague was one continuous chain whose link would not break and could be depended on.

„Generál Maurice Pellé“ (Radko Břach, Praha 2007)
Military History Institute in Prague
Defence Ministry of Czech republic, Praha 2007
Generál Maurice Pellé – head of the French Military Mission in Czechoslovakia from February 1919

Mr. R.Břach writes about Šnejdárek (p. 119-120):

General Pellé’s priority was to renew the combat readiness of the existing army units. Retreat was often sensless and disorganized, moralite depleted and discipline lax. General Pellé ordered an immediate investigation to determine the cause. He held the officers accountable for not being able to deal with the situation. He dismissed General Letovský and on the 4th of June 1919 placed Colonel Josef Šnejdárek in command of the 2nd division.
This time Pellé did not insist on a general's rank and it paid off. Šnejdárek was a soldier as solid as a rock and easily outclassed the native Generals. He came from a Czech family, graduating from cadet school in Prague. Service in the Austrio-Hungarian army proved to be boring so he set out abroad in search of adventure.
In 1899 he joined the French Foreign Legion and seven yeras later became a French citizen. He was wounded several times while serving in North Africa in mountain and desert campaigns.
During the Great War (W.W l) he took part in the heaviest battles - in 1914 in Marne and Aisne, in 1915 near Arrase, in 1916 Somme and Chemin de Dames – each followed by breaks to treat his injuries. He certainly did not spare himself.
In 1917 he was assigned as liaison officer to the Czechoslovak National Council and assisted in organizing the legions. In 1919 he arrived with French Legionnaires to Czechoslovakia and shortly thereafter lead the Army operations in Silesia (January 1919).
After being put in command of the 2nd Division he quickly excerted supremacy and gained the soldiers respect (June 1919). He assembled the scattered units, encamped with them in the hills above Banská Štiavnica, immediatelly attacking the Hungarian Bolsheviks and on June 13th 1919 he secured strategic Zvolen. Seldom were personnel replacements so successful and fortunate.