Convoy of Liberty passed through Pilsen

People with Czech, American and Belgian flags and bouquets of lilacs lined a more than two-kilometre stretch of Klatovská Avenue in Pilsen today, along which the traditional Convoy of Liberty passed. The parade, which every year is one of the highlights of the Pilsen Freedom Festival, this year involved a record number of more than 400 pieces of mostly American military historical equipment. Military history enthusiasts from several countries came with them.

The fighting head of the parade was the heavy equipment of the 16th Armored Division, which was the first to enter Pilsen on the morning of May 6, 1945. The legendary American M4 Sherman medium tank took the first place in the column, followed by a Jackson tank, the M8 Greyhound armoured vehicles that were the first to enter Pilsen on 6 May 1945, half-track half-tracks and jeeps with family members of American and Belgian veterans who had visited the city in the past decades. Most of them carried photographs of veterans. Passing crowds greeted them with applause and chants. Ninety-nine-year-old Harry Humason, who is the only foreign World War II veteran participating in this year's festivities, received the biggest ovation. In May 1945, he liberated southwest Bohemia and made it as far as Volary. George Patton Waters, a regular guest at the festivities and the grandson of General Patton, commander of the 3rd U.S. Army, which liberated western Bohemia, was also applauded.

Tens of thousands of spectators did not miss the spectacle, which started at 11:00 a.m. and selected vehicles from the head of the convoy reached the square around 1:00 p.m., according to Hana Josefová from the town hall. "Thank you to all the enthusiasts of historical military equipment who came to Pilsen. Thanks to them, this year, during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen, we can be proud that we had one of the largest parades of period military equipment in Europe in the West Bohemian capital. I am happy that we celebrated this important anniversary with dignity and joy," said Mayor Roman Zarzycký (ANO).

In the convoy, people could see not only historic tanks and jeeps, but also armoured cars, ambulances, trucks, motorcycles and other rear or service army equipment, civilian period cars, infantry units, Scottish pipers and drummers. Members of military history clubs take great pride in keeping the equipment, clothing and other realia as authentic and true to life as possible. Thus, just as 80 years ago in the May days of joy of the newly acquired freedom, many cars were driven by girls in Pilsen costumes with typical large caps, soldiers with red lipstick on their faces smoked victory cigars and swing sounded from the lilac decorated cars.

This year, exceptionally, several cars of the current American and Czech army joined the convoy. For example, Stryker armored vehicles of the U.S. Army and Czech Pandurs, American HMMWVs, Czech Iveco, Dingo and others passed along Klatovská třída. In addition to historic Mustang, Stinson Reliant and Boeing B 75 Stearman aircraft, Alca fighters, Gripen fighters and helicopters of the Czech Air Force flew over the heads of the spectators.

The Freedom Convoy arrived after noon at the Republic Square, where there is a cultural programme until the evening. Military historical camps are also going on. On Monday, a live radio broadcast will be heard from the confluence of the Radbuza and Mže rivers. It will be broadcast from the place from where the opening words of Czech Radio Pilsen were heard 80 years ago: 'Pilsen speaks, free Pilsen speaks'. The Freedom Celebration will end on Tuesday with the main commemorative act at the Thanks, America monument, where Belgian King Philippe and President Petr Pavel are also due to arrive.

Source: www.ceskenoviny.cz