Künzl, Josef

Josef Künzl

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A member of the away team Chalk.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Kuenzl-Josef-t61369#221310 Version : 0
Also written as Josef Kunzel


Born 10.1.1919 Podmokly nad Labem



In Podmokly he graduated from the municipal school, then moved with his parents to Prague where he attended 4 classes of the bourgeois school in Smichov. After graduating from the so-called burgher school he became a waiter in the famous Prague hotel Šroubek on Wenceslas Square. While still learning, he attended a continuation school for 3 years.
After graduation he went to work in France, worked briefly in North Africa and at the outbreak of war in the Trocadero Hotel in Piccadilly Circus in London.


1940 He enlisted in the Czechoslovak Army in England


24.9.1940 at the Czechoslovak camp at Cholmondeley Park he was posted to the 4th Company, 2nd Battalion


1.1.1941 reassigned to 1st Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion


7.3.1942 promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal


August 1942 selected and transferred to a group designated for special tasks and special courses. Assigned to CHALK


28.10.1942 promoted to the rank of corporal


6.8.1943 promoted to the rank of sergeant


8.10.1943 transported with the group to the base Bari in Italy, they were accommodated at the Czechoslovak station Laureto, where their training continued


7.3.1944 awarded the Commemorative Medal of the Czechoslovakia. Army Abroad with the label VB


March 1944 an attempt was made to drop them in the Protectorate, but due to bad weather the drop did not take place


8.4.1944 the group was dropped in the area of Kamýk nad Vltavou, soon they were betrayed and had to escape from the Gestapo


8.5.1944 they successfully established contact with the Intelligence Department in England


13.5.1944 the Gestapo, with the help of Confident A.Horák, managed to capture the group


29.5.1944 on the order of the Gestapo they started a radio counterplay with London, but managed to warn the intelligence headquarters in time


In February 1945, the Gestapo ended the radio communications and the group remained imprisoned in Prague at Jenerálka in the Šárecké valley until liberation.


On 30.10.1946 he was released from service, returned to his original occupation as a waiter


24.5.1947 promoted to second lieutenant in reserve


After February 1948 he emigrated to Colombia, later moved to Australia


1990 lived in Australia



Honours:


Czechoslovakia Commemorative Medal with the label VB
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939
Medal of Valour
Medal of Merit 1st Class



Source: J.Šolc-Were Few Men, http://www.lib.cas.cz/parasut/kunzll.htm ,
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Kuenzl-Josef-t61369#318924 Version : 0
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