[2] He was captured at Berestechko on 5 October 1916, during the Russian campaign but by 1917 he had returned to duty as a member of the French Army and would later serve with the Czechoslovak Legions in France.

[3][8] In 1938, in a bid to prevent the occupying German forces from using Czechoslovak Army matériel, he disposed of it by selling arms to the militant Haganah organization in Palestine.

[8][9]: 57–58  (Selling arms to non-state actors was forbidden by international conventions but the Czechoslovak foreign affairs department granted its approval.

[4]: 93  Loyal to the London-based government of exiled Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš, Píka supported their democratic policies despite Soviet opposition.

[9] He held this position until late February 1948, when he was dismissed from the Army on the orders of Rudolf Slánský, with the assistance of Army Security Intelligence Office (known as (Czech: Obranné zpravodajství), (OBZ) its Czech abbreviation) chief Bedřich Reicin (the former head of Czechoslovak military intelligence,[9]: 58  who held a grudge against Píka from the time in which they served together in the USSR).

[10]: 28 ) Charged with high treason, damaging the interests of the Czechoslovak Republic and the Soviet Union, and undermining the ability of the state to defend itself, Píka was not allowed to present a defence, and no witnesses were called.

[12] Offered the chance to express his last wishes as he stood at the gallows, he said: "my ultimate desire is that the nation remain united, and that everyone, without regard for their differences, work toward the unity of our people".

[14] In 2001, Karel Vaš was indicted by the Czech police's State Office of Investigation on charges of having knowingly used false evidence, falsifying a confession, exceeding his powers and using psychological violence during the Píka affair.

[8] In June 2001, after a trial before the Senate of the Prague City Court, the eighty-five-year-old Vaš was found guilty of introducing false documents and statements, and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.

[5] Following the conviction of Vaš, on 21 June 2001 a ceremony was held at Czech Army headquarters in Prague to confer full military honours upon Píka.