Jan Syrový

Jan Syrový

Jan Syrový (January 24, 1888 - October 17, 1970) was a Czechoslovak general and prime minister during the Munich Crisis.

During World War I, he fought in Czechoslovak Legion and lost his right eye in the Battle of Zborov. Later he was in command of the Legion and anti-bolshevik forces on the Trans-Siberian railway. After the war, he was Chief of Staff of the Czechoslovak Army (1927-1933) and then its general inspector (1933-1938).

After Milan Hodža's government demission on September 23, 1938, Syrový was appointed a prime minister and minister of national defence.

As a prime minister, he was forced to accept the terms of the Munich Agreement on September 30. When Edvard Beneš resigned a few days later on October 5, he served as the acting president of Czechoslovakia until the election of Emil Hácha to the office on November 30, 1938.

He resigned from his office of prime minister on December 1, 1938, but remained a minister of national defence until April 27, 1939.

After World War II, he was charged with collaboration (though he carefully avoided it) and sentenced to 20 years. He was awarded amnesty in 1960.

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Preceded by: Milan Hodža	Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia 1938	Succeeded by: Rudolf Beran
Preceded by: Edvard Beneš	President of Czechoslovakia (acting) 1938	Succeeded by: Emil Hácha