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Draft:Josef Menčík

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Interior Room of Dobrš Castle, Czech Republic

Josef Menčík also known as the "Knight of Strakonice",[citation needed] was a Czechoslovakian councilor and adventurer who is most known for confronting German tanks in medieval armor.[1]

He grew up in the Bohemian Forest and was the oldest of four siblings.[1]

In 1911 Menčík bought the 14th-century Dobrš Castle from the House of Schwarzenberg which had burned down and he began renovating it. He started giving historical tours in medieval armor that he purchased in France. Menčík called himself "the Last Knight".[1][2][3][4]

In 1938 amidst the German annexation of the Sudetenland an armored column was crossing the border at Bučina. Menčík confronted them in his armor on horseback and charged at them with a sword and halberd. He stopped them for a moment but he was eventually forced aside.[1][5][6][7][8]

After the war the communist government nationalized his castle.[9]

He died at his son's home at age 87 on November 19, 1945.[1][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Stilwell, Blake (2024-02-22). "This Czech Knight Resisted Nazi Aggression When the World Abandoned His Country". Military.com. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  2. ^ "Tvrz a zámek Dobrš". bbkult.net (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  3. ^ "Josef Menčík". wesclark.com. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  4. ^ "Josef Menčík ostatni czeski rycerz. W 1938 r. na koniu i w zbroi stawił czoła niemieckim czołgom wkraczającym na teren Czech. Josef Menčík urodził się w 1870 r. Był najstarszym z czwórki rodzeństwa. Wiemy, że siedział w więzieniu..." www.onet.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  5. ^ Franco, Samantha (2023-01-11). "Europe's Last Knight Valiantly Stood Up to the German Invasion of Czechoslovakia". warhistoryonline. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  6. ^ György (2024-02-18). "Európa legutolsó lovagja, aki páncélban lovon ment a tankok ellen - Helló Magyar". hellomagyar.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  7. ^ Pike, Travis (2023-12-15). "With Sword in Hand, This Armored Knight Stood Against the Nazis". The National Interest. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  8. ^ rix (2022-12-18). "Poslední český rytíř Josef Menčík: Na koni vyjel proti nacistům!". Blesk.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  9. ^ csodapatika_htd56d (2023-06-01). "JOSEF MENCIK – A TÖRTÉNELEM UTOLSÓ PÁNCÉLOS LOVAGJA, AKI EGYEDÜL MEGKÜZDÖTT A NÁCI HADSEREGGEL". Csodapatika (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Dimri, Bipin (2022-10-01). "The Last Knight: Josef Mencik and the Nazis". Historic Mysteries. Retrieved 2024-07-28.