| Alois Vocasek | |
 | |
| Birth: | 13 April 1896 Pecky, Central Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic) |
| Death: | 9 August 2003 Prague, Czech Republic |
| Age: | 107 years, 118 days |
| Country: |  CZE
|
| Centenarian | |
Alois Vocasek [Czech: Alois Vocásek] (13 April 1896 – 9 August 2003) was a Czech centenarian who was the oldest living man in the Czech Republic at the time of his death as well as the last surviving Czechoslovakian veteran of the World War I and the last survivor of the Battle of Zborov in Ukraine.
Biography[]
Alois Vocasek was born in Pecky, Central Bohemian Region, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic) on 13 April 1896. Later he was growing up in Chrást near Pilsen, where his family moved in search of work. His father was a founder and Alois learnt the metal casting trade as well, but later he also studied at a state industrial school. He did not complete his studies, however, because in 1915 he was drafted in the 7th defence infantry regiment of the Austrian-Hungarian army. He was trained in Rumburk and he and his unit were then sent to Carpathian Ruthenia. After the launch of Brusilov offensive in Ukraine he defected to the Russians. While in the prisoners’ camp in Dárnice, he joined the Czechoslovak legions which were being formed at that time. As an espionage soldier, he experienced his first combat situation at the river Stochod, and later he fought at Zborov and Tarnopol, where he was seriously wounded. He had not even fully recovered from his injury when he returned to the front and continued with the legions to Chelyabinsk and from there further to the Siberia.
He returned to his homeland in 1920. He married and lived in Chrást, where he was working for the state railways company until the outbreak of World War II. At that time, he supported fascist organizations and he became a member of the nationalist - and later collaborationist - organization Vlajka. He continued working for the railways during the war. After the end of war he was charged with collaboration with the Nazis and an extraordinary people’s court sentenced him to life imprisonment, but he was released in amnesty in 1954. After the fall of communism in 1989 he strove to clear his name and requested the courts of all levels to reinvestigate his trial. He claimed that he had been sentenced unjustly. The courts however turned down his petition.
Vocasek was the oldest member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Czech Republic.
Alois Vocasek died in Prague, Czech Republic on 9 August 2003 at the age of 107 years, 118 days.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Stošesťročný legionár sa nedočkal rehabilitácie Svet SME, 4 April 2002
- ZEMŘEL NEJSTARŠÍ ČECH LEGIONŘ ALOIS VOCÁSEK Slovensko-český klub, 13 August 2003 (Archived)
- Oldest Czech legionnaire was never able to clear tarnished reputation Radio Prague International, 14 August 2003
| Czech Republic's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Ludvik Petruj • Alois Vocasek • Julius Kubelka • Stanislav Vecera • Dusan Kalok • Josef Flandera • Gabriel Miksa • Karel Kasparek • Jan Nitka • Stanislav Spacil • Martin Kahun • Cenek Petrik • Jiri Vysoudil • Anonymous • Anonymous • Jan Gomola • Eduard Marek • Karel Lavacek • Anonymous |