Operation Prague began on 6 May 1945, in the final phase of the Second World War on the European continent. This last strategic offensive of the Red Army on the Eastern Front was aimed at liberating Czechoslovakia, including the capital Prague, from occupation by Nazi Germany. Parallel to these military actions, the Prague Uprising broke out on 5 May.

In the strategic 'race' between the Allies, specifically between the Americans and the Soviets, it was important who would accomplish the liberation of the Czech capital. Militarily, the Soviet Union's main objective was to liberate the north-western part of Czechoslovakia and defeat the German forces under Field Marshal Schörner, who commanded Army Group 'Central'.

Polish units also participated in this operation: the 2nd Army of the Polish Army and the 1st Armoured Corps under General Karol Świerczewski. These units, after heavy fighting at Budziszyn in April 1945, as a result of General Świerczewski's command errors, not only suffered defeat, but also heavy losses, with an estimated 20,000 soldiers killed at the time.

Despite these difficulties, Polish forces managed to contribute to the liberation of Prague. 9 May 1945. The Red Army entered Prague, successfully surrounding and isolating German forces attempting to retreat towards the Americans. The Poles reached the then suburbs of Prague.

On the other hand, on 10 May, Polish units reached Mielnik, where the Polish participation in this operation ended.

The history of these events is relatively little known in Poland. There are several monuments preserved in the Czech Republic, erected during the communist era and serving primarily propaganda functions.

The 1st Monument to Polish Army Soldiers in Prague

Date of construction: circa 1970

Author: unknown

Number in the register of war graves: CZE-0008-20324

Inscription on the monument: V RÁMCI PRAŽSKÉ OPERACE SOVĚTSKÝCH VOJSK / JEDNOTKA 2. POLSKÉ ARMÁDY / GENERÁLA ŚWIERCZEWSKÉHO / DOSÁHLA 11. KVĚTNA 1945 PROSTORU / MEZI ÏÁBLICEMI A ČAKOVICEMI / A ZAKONČILA ZDE PO BOKU SOVĚTSKÉ ARMÁDY / BOJOVOU CESTU POLSKÝCH VOJSK / PŘI OSVOBOZOVÁNÍ ČESKOSLOVENSKA //.

Description: A monument in the form of a column, placed on a base with quarter-circle chamfered upper edges, forming a base narrower than the monument at the junction. On the front there is a panel with a flat relief image of the Polish emblem of the People's Republic of Poland (eagle without crown), below there is a plaque with a cast inscription. The monument is made of light sandstone, the plaque of bronze.

2nd Czechoslovak-Soviet-Polish Friendship Monument, Mělnik

Date of construction: 1961 r.

Authors: Viktor Dobrovolný (1909-1987), cooperation František Maria Černý (1903-1978).

Inscribed in the cultural register of the Czech Republic No. ÚSKP 45848/2-1375

Renovation: 2015

Inscription: NA VĚČNOU PAMĚŤ HRDINNÝM VOJÁKŮM II. POLSKÉ ARMADY / A JEJÍHO VELITELE KARLA SWIERCZENSKÉHO / KTEŘÍ PO BOKU SOVĚTSKÉ ARMÁDY PŘISPĚLI K OSVOBOZENÍ / ČESKOSLOVENSKA A ZAKONČILI SVOU BOJOVOU CESTU V MĚLNÍKU / 10. KVĚTNA 1945 //.

Monument with an openwork finial depicting three figures framed by a frame: a Soviet soldier embracing a Polish soldier and a Czech partisan shaking hands. The whole is set on a sandstone pedestal in the shape of an ellipse. On the lower edge of the frame a cast inscription.

3 Monument to Polish Army soldiers, Mikulášovice

Date of construction: circa 1970.

Central register of war graves No. CZE-4212-00363

Inscription: POLSKÁ 8. PĚŠÍ DIVIZE ARMÁDY / GEN. K. SWIERCZEWSKÉHO ZLOMILA / 9.KVĚTNA 1945 SILNÝ ODPOR NĚMEC / KÝCH FAŠISTŮ V MIKULÁŠOVICÍCH. BOJ / POLSKÝCH VOJSK PO BOKU SOVĚTSKÉ / ARMÁDY NAPOMOHL OSVOBOZEN / NAŠÍ VLASTI Z HITLEROVSKÉ POROBY //.

Monument in the form of a stone plaque bearing a metal plaque with a Polish eagle, with an engraved inscription below. The whole on a two-step base, the steps of which are set at 90 degrees so that the second step runs out in front of the front of the monument.

4th Monument to the Polish Liberators, Ludvikovice

Creators: Military Art Studio.

Inscribed in the Cultural Register of the Czech Republic No. ÚSKP 18530/5-4966

Inscription: Při osvobonování severních Čach / prošly dne 10.5.1945 Ludvíkovicami / jednotky pelaké 5.přãi divise./ V době do 13.5.1945 tu působily 9. pěší / 16. tanková brigáda a 28. samohybný / pluk polaké 2. armaddy ganarála / Karola Swierczeswského. //.

Description: granite memorial in the shape of a truncated pedestal, on the front of which is a slightly curved bronze plaque (70 x 80 cm) with a bas-relief depicting two soldiers, one kneeling and firing a machine gun, in the foreground a second soldier standing, in his left hand holding a grenade ready to throw. Below the inscription, on the left side the emblem of Poland. A pylon of roughly hewn granite blocks and eight hewn blocks form the frame around the plaque.

Today (before 2019) the monument has been dismantled, only the plaque embedded in the low plinth remains.

5th Monument to Polish Army Soldiers, Lobendava

Date of construction; 1970.

Creators: Military Art Studio.

Entered in the Cultural Register of the Czech Republic No. ÚSKP 53039/5-4967

Inscription:

On the pedestal in 2/3 height: 8. května 1945 osvobodil / 34. pluk 8. pšší divize 2. pol- / ské armády Lebendavu. //.

on the pedestal at the bottom: Hrdinnou smrtí padli / Capt. Anteni Grodzki / Lt. Kazimir Kaczynski / Lt. Aleksander Ivanov / Lt. Vladimir Mishchenko / Lt. Marian Bilinski / Plut. Jeřzy Biechenski / Plut. Stanislaw Kraczkowski / Pvt. Jósef Cinkiewicz / Captain Eugenius Kojel / Cpl. Jan Kroscanczuk / Private Antoni Drob / Private Wladyslaw Gierasin / Private Jan Kierski / Private Antoni Kulesza / Private Stanislaw Podkapaik / Private Jan Mlynarzik / Private Florian Wojno / Private Stanislav Szymkiewicz //

Description: Monument with a representation cast in bronze of a Polish eagle without a crown, holding in its talons a machine gun and a laurel branch. Set on a rectangular base and a plinth in the form of a roughly hewn tapering granite block. At 2/3 of its height is a bronze plaque with a cast inscription. The monument is placed over the grave of 18 Polish soldiers

Monument to Polish soldiers in Úštěk

Date of construction: circa 1970.

Central register of war graves No. CZE-4205-00449

Inscription: JEDNOTKY 2. POLSKÉ ARMÁDY / GEN. SWIERCZEWSKÉHO PŘINESLY / V KVĚTNU 1945 SVOBODU ÚŠTĚKU A / DESÍTKÁM MĚST SEVERNÍCH ČECH. / THEIR VÍTĚZNÝ POSTUP PO BOKU / SOVĚTSKÉ ARMÁDY PŘISPĚL K DOVRŠENÍ / SPOLEČNÉHO BOJE NÁRODŮ / SOVĚTSKÉHO SVAZU A / ČESKOSLOVENSKA PROTI FAŠISMU. //.

Description: Monument in the form of two sharp-edged columns facing each other in the form of a triangular prism with chamfered upper edges. On the side connected at 1/3 of its height by a plaque with an engraved inscription, on the front side of one of the columns a plaque with a representation of a Polish eagle without a crown. The whole made of light sandstone, granite plaque.

7th General Karol Swierczewski Memorial, Mělník

Date of construction: 1965 r.

Author: Andrzej Jesion

Central register of war graves No. CZE2114-27547

Inscription:

on the pedestal GEN. KAROL ŚWIERCZEWSKI //.

on the tablet: GENERÁLPLUKOVNÍK KAROL ŚWIERCZEWSKI / VELITEL 2. POLSKÉ ARMÁDY, / KTERÁ SE V ROCE 1945 ZÚČASTNILA / OSVOBOZENÍ ČESKOSLOVENSKA / Z PODRUČÍ HITLEROVSKÉ OKUPACE. //.

Description: A monument in the form of General Karol Swierczewski's head on a pedestal with mitred corners and a base. At the front at the bottom a copper alloy plaque.

The monument was donated to the town of Mělník to commemorate the liberation of the town by the Polish Minister of Defence Marian Spychalski. Originally located in the town hall, it was later moved to the place where it still stands today. It was unveiled in its new location on 7 May 1965. The bust measures 80 x 45 x 45, the pedestal 180 x 110 x 110 cm.