Book Review of
Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East
Vol. 1: Origins, Israel & Jordan 1848-1989
Author: Martin Smisek
Helion & Co., Ltd.
Middle East @ War Series no. 39
ISBN: 978-1-914377-19-8
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $29.95
Middle East @ War Series no. 39
ISBN: 978-1-914377-19-8
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $29.95
HISTORY:
Eager to fully use its excess arms manufacturing capabilities to earn as much hard currency as possible, communist Czechoslovakia became one of the principal arms suppliers to the Middle East during the Cold War.
After the end of WWII, Czechoslovakia became an integral part of the Soviet Bloc, which was heralded by the communist coup d’etat in February 1948. Before that date, however, the communist-led government in Prague had already decided, with backing from Moscow, to provide the newly established State of Israel with armament, which subsequently led to the violation of the UN arms embargo.
These arms – infantry weapons and fighter aircraft – played a crucial role in the subsequent 1968 Arab-Israeli War. As well as armament, the Czechoslovak Army also trained the initial cadre of personnel for the Israeli Air Force and Israeli paratrooper forces.
When it became clear that Israel would not become a communist country, solid relations between the two states were disrupted by the Czechoslovak government. From then onwards, the leadership in Prague concentrated on deliveries of military hardware to Israel's Arab opponents.
Jordan obtained Czechoslovak infantry weapons in 1956 and Amman expressed interest in arms supplies and military assistance from Czechoslovakia in subsequent years.
This volume also contains information related to minor deliveries of Czechoslovak weapons to other states in the Middle East . such as Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and to various Palestinian factions.
The first volume of the mini-series details the general development of the Czechoslovak arms industry post-1945 as well as detailing the principles , organization and history of arms export from communist Czechoslovakia, while also outlining the training of foreign military personnel in Czechoslovakia. Subsequent volumes will discuss other major Arab clients in the Middle East and Africa.
Using declassified original documentation, this is the most comprehensive account of Cold War Czechoslovak Military involvement in the Middle East ever published.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co., Ltd. is based in England.
This book is soft cover of 68 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover-art shows a black and white photo of Israeli soldiers being trained on a machine gun, over a color side-view profile of an Israeli Avia S.199 fighter.
It contains 56 black and white photos and no color ones.
There are 6 maps, 33 data lists and 9 color side-view profile illustrations.
The black and white photos show: a A-12 reconnaissance aircraft, a pair of LT-35’s, a OA-3 armored-car, a type 26 machine gun, a Jagdpanzer 38(t), a BTR-50, a SU-100, a Bf-109G/K, a Me-262, a B-35, a Mig-15 shown in a factory, a Yak-11, a Mig-19, a Mig-21F, L-20s in a factory, a L-29, a L-39, a no. 52 rifle, 2 photos of an Avia C-2, a MG-24 light machine-gun, a Mauser 98K carbine, an ILyushin IL-14.
Four photos of Czech government chief officials, 4 female soldiers, a no. 53 anti-tank gun, a no. 51 multiple-rocket launcher on a truck, a T-21 anti-tank weapon, a Douglas C-54B transport aircraft, an Avia S-199 aircraft, two photos of a 18/40N (105mm leichte Feldhaubitz howitzer, 5 photos of Israeli soldiers (including one of female soldiers) and a no. 53 anti-tank gun.
Color side profile illustrations show:
A 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 18/40 light field howitzer.
A Czech built Soviet Su-100.
Two illustrations of a OT-62 Topas APC
Two illustrations of a Czech built Soviet T-55.
A U.S. built Douglas C-54 Skymaster,
A Czech S-199 fighter.
A British built Spitfire LF. Mk.IXE.
This is a neat book covering this time in history.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Helion & Co. Books and all Helion titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Eager to fully use its excess arms manufacturing capabilities to earn as much hard currency as possible, communist Czechoslovakia became one of the principal arms suppliers to the Middle East during the Cold War.
After the end of WWII, Czechoslovakia became an integral part of the Soviet Bloc, which was heralded by the communist coup d’etat in February 1948. Before that date, however, the communist-led government in Prague had already decided, with backing from Moscow, to provide the newly established State of Israel with armament, which subsequently led to the violation of the UN arms embargo.
These arms – infantry weapons and fighter aircraft – played a crucial role in the subsequent 1968 Arab-Israeli War. As well as armament, the Czechoslovak Army also trained the initial cadre of personnel for the Israeli Air Force and Israeli paratrooper forces.
When it became clear that Israel would not become a communist country, solid relations between the two states were disrupted by the Czechoslovak government. From then onwards, the leadership in Prague concentrated on deliveries of military hardware to Israel's Arab opponents.
Jordan obtained Czechoslovak infantry weapons in 1956 and Amman expressed interest in arms supplies and military assistance from Czechoslovakia in subsequent years.
This volume also contains information related to minor deliveries of Czechoslovak weapons to other states in the Middle East . such as Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and to various Palestinian factions.
The first volume of the mini-series details the general development of the Czechoslovak arms industry post-1945 as well as detailing the principles , organization and history of arms export from communist Czechoslovakia, while also outlining the training of foreign military personnel in Czechoslovakia. Subsequent volumes will discuss other major Arab clients in the Middle East and Africa.
Using declassified original documentation, this is the most comprehensive account of Cold War Czechoslovak Military involvement in the Middle East ever published.
THE BOOK:
Helion & Co., Ltd. is based in England.
This book is soft cover of 68 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover-art shows a black and white photo of Israeli soldiers being trained on a machine gun, over a color side-view profile of an Israeli Avia S.199 fighter.
It contains 56 black and white photos and no color ones.
There are 6 maps, 33 data lists and 9 color side-view profile illustrations.
The black and white photos show: a A-12 reconnaissance aircraft, a pair of LT-35’s, a OA-3 armored-car, a type 26 machine gun, a Jagdpanzer 38(t), a BTR-50, a SU-100, a Bf-109G/K, a Me-262, a B-35, a Mig-15 shown in a factory, a Yak-11, a Mig-19, a Mig-21F, L-20s in a factory, a L-29, a L-39, a no. 52 rifle, 2 photos of an Avia C-2, a MG-24 light machine-gun, a Mauser 98K carbine, an ILyushin IL-14.
Four photos of Czech government chief officials, 4 female soldiers, a no. 53 anti-tank gun, a no. 51 multiple-rocket launcher on a truck, a T-21 anti-tank weapon, a Douglas C-54B transport aircraft, an Avia S-199 aircraft, two photos of a 18/40N (105mm leichte Feldhaubitz howitzer, 5 photos of Israeli soldiers (including one of female soldiers) and a no. 53 anti-tank gun.
Color side profile illustrations show:
A 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 18/40 light field howitzer.
A Czech built Soviet Su-100.
Two illustrations of a OT-62 Topas APC
Two illustrations of a Czech built Soviet T-55.
A U.S. built Douglas C-54 Skymaster,
A Czech S-199 fighter.
A British built Spitfire LF. Mk.IXE.
This is a neat book covering this time in history.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Helion & Co. Books and all Helion titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Recommended.