Civic Defence

Civic Defence (Czech: Občanská obrana) was a Czech paramilitary organisation active on the territory of Cieszyn Silesia during the so-called plebiscite period of the Polish–Czechoslovak dispute over Cieszyn Silesia (1919–1920).

The Civic Defence was created based on the system of the so-called fives: in each municipality there was one trustee who directed five persons he selected.

[1] Later in time the Civic Defence was rebuilt on a military basis and became substantially stronger.

The head of the organisation was captain Kučera of Orlová and lieutenant Cingr of Ostrava, for a certain period of time it was led also by major Uvíra of Kroměříž.

[2] The Civic Defence was active also on the Polish side of the demarcation line, led by captain Puckman of Cieszyn.