Sergěj Ingr

Jan Sergěj Ingr (2 September 1894 – 17 June 1956) was a Czechoslovak Army four star general and the Minister of National Defense in the Czechoslovak government-in-exile during the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.[1]

Sergěj Ingr
(Photograph taken onboard the Polish Navy submarine ORP Wilk (Wolf).)
Minister of National Defense of Czechoslovakia
In office
21 July 1940 – 19 September 1944
Preceded byJan Syrový
Succeeded byJan Masaryk
Personal details
Born (1894-09-02)2 September 1894
Vlkoš, Margraviate of Moravia, Austria-Hungary
Died 17 June 1956(1956-06-17) (aged 61)
Paris, France
NationalityCzech
Military service
Branch/serviceAustro-Hungarian Army
Serbian Army
Czechoslovak Legions
Czechoslovak Army
Years of service1913 - 1915 (Austria-Hungary)
1915 - 1916 (Serbia)
1916 - 1945 (Czechoslovakia)
RankSergeant (Austria-Hungary)
Army General (Czechoslovakia)
Commemorative plaque in Vlkoš.

Early life

Ingr was born in Vlkoš in the Margraviate of Moravia (present-day Czech Republic) in 1894 to his father Jan, mayor of the municipality. He had four brothers and three sisters. He was studying on the gymnasium in Kyjov and in 1913 he became a member of the cadet school in Královo Pole.

First World War

After the outbreak of the First World War he went as a Sergeant to Eastern Front. In fall of 1915 he was captured by Russians in Caricyn. He then joined 1st Serbian Voluntary Division and fought against the Bulgarian soldiers in Dobruja. In 1916 he moved to the 2nd Artillery Regiment of George of Poděbrady in rank of Lieutenant and joined the famous Czechoslovak Legions. He also adopted the name Sergěj and became a member of Eastern Orthodox Church. In 1917 he also fought in France, in 1918 he took part in battles in Ardennes and in Foligno. At the end of the war he was a Captain and was able to speak in five foreign languages (German, Russian, Serbian, French and Italian).[2]

Between wars

In December 1918 he returned to Czechoslovakia to battle the Hungarians, who were claiming a part of Czechoslovak territory, as a part of Hungarian–Romanian War of 1919. After the successful fights, he moved to Cieszyn Silesia and helped the army to solute the problems with Poland. He won in Jablunkov, as well as in Třinec and was promoted to Major. During the mobilization in 1938 he was already a divisional general and commander of the 3rd Czechoslovak Army Corps.

Second World War

According to call of president Edvard Beneš, Ingr moved to exile in France. In Paris, he established an Army Office and started to organize Czechoslovak troops in town of Agde, becoming Commander of the Czechoslovak Army in France. In 1940 he and his 11,405 voluntaries took part in Battle of France in fights on Marne, Seine and Loire. After the establishment of Czechoslovak government-in-exile in London, Ingr became the Minister of National Defense. In 1944, after the intervention of Communists, he had to be removed from office, but was instead appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces.

Post-war

On 6 July 1945 Ingr was promoted to army general and retired, becoming his country's ambassador in The Hague. In 1949 he established The Council of Free Czechoslovakia as the attempt to reestablish the democracy in Czechoslovakia after the Communist's victory. He died in 1956 on heart failure.

Decorations

Awarded by Czechoslovakia

  • Czechoslovak War Cross, three tilia sprouts (1919)
  • Czechoslovak War Cross (1940, 1945)
  • Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order (1991)
  • Czechoslovak Revolution Medal (1919)
  • Allied Victory Medal (1919)
  • Medal of Distinguished Service, 1st class (1944)
  • Medal of Valor (1945)
  • Memorial Medal of Czechoslovak Foreign Army (1944)
  • Commemorative medal of the Battle of Zborov (1947)
  • Commemorative medal of the second national resistance (1947)
  • The Commemorative Medal of the 2nd Shooting Regiment "Jiri z Podebrad" (1947)

Awarded by France

  • Légion d'honneur, Grand Officier (1950)
  • Légion d'honneur, Commandeur (1947)
  • Légion d'honneur, Officier (1940)
  • Légion d'honneur, Chevalier [Knight] (1926)
  • Médaille des services militaires volontaires (1928)

Awarded by Great Britain

Awarded by Greece

Awarded by Italy

Awarded by the Netherlands

Awarded by Norway

Awarded by Poland

Awarded by Romania

Awarded by Russia

Awarded by USA

Awarded by Yugoslavia

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References
  1. "Military Muzeum - Podrobný Životopis Armádního Generála Sergěje Jana Ingra". Militarymuzeum.cz. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  2. "Sergěj Ingr". Fronta.cz. 2006-12-15. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
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