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VÚA-VHA DATABASES AND MILITARY RECORDS |
The "Vojenský ústřední
archiv - Vojenský historický archiv" (VÚA-VHA = Military Central Archive
- Military Historical Archive) in Prague has online access to databases with
basic information about Czechoslovak military personnel. It also, of
course, holds original personnel documents relating to these individuals.
1. LINKS TO VÚA-VHA WEB
PAGES
2. HOW TO USE THE VÚA-VHA
DATABASE SEARCH PAGE
2.(A) VIEW SEARCH
PAGE
2.(B) SELECT REQUIRED
DATABASE
2.(C) ENTER SEARCH
DATA
2.(D) VIEW RESULTS
ITEMS LIST
2.(E) VIEW ITEM
DETAILS
2.(F) VIEW OTHER
ITEMS OR RE-SEARCH
3. OBTAINING MILITARY
PERSONNEL RECORDS FROM THE VÚA-VHA
3.(A) BY REQUEST
3.(B) PERSONAL VISIT
1. LINKS TO VÚA-VHA WEB PAGES
The VÚA-VHA web pages,
unfortunately only in Czech, are at:
https://www.vuapraha.cz/vojensky-historicky-archiv/
For those of you who are confident
and want to go straight to it, the database search page is at:
https://www.vuapraha.cz/databaze-vha/
Otherwise, please see detailed
instructions below.
2. HOW TO USE THE VÚA-VHA DATABASE SEARCH PAGE
2. (A) VIEW SEARCH
PAGE
Bring up the VÚA-VHA Database search page (automatically in a new window) by
clicking on the following link:
https://www.vuapraha.cz/databaze-vha/
Scroll down to the
bottom of the page where you can see empty boxes for data entry.
NOTE: After entry of
any selection criteria (including which database), all results will be shown
DYNAMICALLY below the data selection entry boxes, in Surname alphabetical
order. Clicking on the "Vyhledat" button after entering all search
information is not required.
2. (B) SELECT REQUIRED
DATABASE
Select which database to use from the 4 options:
Legionáři = 1st World War Legionnaires (this is the default)
Padli v 1. světové válce = Those who died while serving with the
Czechoslovak Legions during WW1
Padli v 2. světové válce = Those who died while serving with the
Czechoslovak forces during WW2
Příslušníci čs. vojenských jednotek v zahraničí =
Those serving with Czechoslovak forces abroad during WW2
2. (C) ENTER SEARCH
DATA
Enter search data as required, using any one or a combination of the
available fields:
Příjmení = Surname
Jméno = First name
Místo narození = Place of Birth
NOTE:
The way the search works has changed over time, and continues to change. Try
it and see, but at time of writing:
You CAN enter ONLY a Surname. Unless it's a very common surname, I
recommend this.
Spelling does NOT now require the use of Czech accented letters. Unaccented
letters will also return items with accented letters.
Any items INCLUDING the specified search text will be returned.
Wildcard characters
are NOT valid. You CANNOT use "*" to represent anything, or "?" to represent
any one character at that position.
2. (D) VIEW RESULTS
ITEMS LIST
Returned items show here only Surname, First Name, Rank, Date and
Place of Birth.
If no items are shown below the column headers, then no items match your
search criteria. Check your
spelling (including possible alternatives) and that you have the right
database selected.
Multiple items may be returned, and if more than 10 there will be multiple
pages of search results to view..
There may be more than
one item relating to the same individual, coming from different sources used
to compile the database.
2. (E) VIEW ITEM
DETAILS
Identify which item is of interest to you. Click on the icon at the right
end of the line to view a page with full details for that entry.
2. (F) VIEW OTHER
ITEMS OR RE-SEARCH
From item details page you can use your browser's "Back" button to return to the
search results list page and select a different item. Alternatively, if
wishing to view multiple items you can right click on icons on the results
page and open each as a new
tab. Change text in search boxes to alter criteria and dynamic results
displayed or click on "RESETOVAT" to return search page to original default
state.
3. OBTAINING MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS FROM THE VÚA-VHA
Having identified
a specific individual of interest, documents relating to that person may be
obtained from the VÚA-VHA.
3. (A) BY REQUEST
Documents relating to an individual may be held in several different
sections. The easiest way to obtain the material held,
especially if not based in the Czech Republic, is to make a request and have
the expert VÚA-VHA research staff collate the information and send it
to you.
Requests for information about a person should include:
Full Name
Date of birth
Place of Birth
Serial Number (if known)
If you are a relative, you should also include details of that relationship.
The VÚA-VHA have staff who can translate your request from English, but all
original material will, of course, be in Czech.
Contact details are available on the "Adresy a
kontakty" page of the VÚA
site, or see below. Requests by
E-mail accepted, but in this case remember to include a postal address for photocopies to be sent to.
E-mail: [email protected]
Postal address:
Vojenský ústřední archiv
Pilotů 217 / 12
161 00 Praha 6 – Ruzyně
Czech Republic
3. (B) PERSONAL VISIT
I VERY strongly suggest that any initial enquiries be conducted by E-mail
request as detailed above.
For further research
you may wish to visit the Reading Room ("Badatelna") at the VÚA-VHA. A
reservation for a seat must be made and all original materials pre-ordered
BEFORE visiting. Material CANNOT be produced "on the day".
The VÚA-VHA with
Reading Room is located in an army complex at Ruzyně near
the airport. Out on Metro line "A" (green) to station "Nádraží
Veleslavín", then 10 minutes on bus 225 (every 15 minutes or more often) to
stop "Nádraží Ruzyně" right outside the gate for the complex.
E-mail: [email protected]
Opening Times:
Monday: 11.45 to 15.15
Tuesday: 08:00 to 15:15
Wednesday: 08:00 to 17:30
Thursday: 08:00 to 15:15
Friday: Closed
Check details in the "Badatelna
a fotoarchiv VHA" section on the page at:
https://www.vuapraha.cz/vojensky-historicky-archiv/
Full rules are
available (Czech only) in a document via the link:
https://www.vuapraha.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BADATELSKY-RAD.pdf
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