Karel Janoušek

Who was Karel Janoušek?

Karel Janousek was a Czechoslovak military commander. In the First World War Janoušek fought in the ranks of the Czechoslovak Legions in Russia. Joining the newly formed Czechoslovak Army after the war, he progressed steadily up the ranks and after learning to fly, served in the Czechoslovak Air Force. During World War II Janoušek took part in the Czech resistance to Nazi occupation, before flying to France and the United Kingdom where he organized the creation of the Czechoslovak air force units in the Royal Air Force. The British granted him the rank of air marshal. After the War he again served in the Czechoslovak Army before being made a prisoner of the communist regime.