Battle of Šatov (WFAC)

The Battle of Šatov was fought between Germany and Czechoslovakia between October 1 and October 13, 1938. It was fought around the small town of Šatov in the Znojmo Sector of the Czechoslovak border fortification line.

Despite the invading German forces' vast numerical superiority, the Czechoslovak defenders managed to prevent a German breakthrough through the fortified line between Hnanice, Šatov and Chvalovice for two weeks.

The defence was concentrated around the three fortified infantry block houses MJ-S 2 Úvoz, MJ-S 3 Zahrada and MJ-S 4 Zatáčka, fifty light fortifications and various improvised defences. Initially consisting of soldiers of the Stráž obrany státu (State Defence Guard), they would later be reinforced by elements of the Pěší pluk 74.

After two weeks of constant artillery barrages and attacks the defenders were running out of ammunition and had suffered heavy lossed. On October 13, the Germans finally broke through, forcing the Czechs to retreat. By the morning of October 14, the Germans had captured Znojmo and were advancing northwards.

Light fortifications
The majority of the fortifications in the sector were fifty light fortifications of the type LO vz. 37 Řopík built in 1937.

The vz. 37s represented by following chiefly the principle of flanking fire a very modern concept of fortifications and had a crew of two to seven men depending on type and performance. They had one or mostly two main embrasures and could stand artillery shelling from calibre 75 mm to 150 mm. The armament consisted of light or heavy machine guns (Lk vz. 26s or Tk vz. 24s) and the personal firearms of the crew.

Improvised defences
When the Czechoslovak government on September 30, 1938 announced they would not abide by the Munich Agreement, the troops in the area initiated various improvised defences, including constructing trenches and rigging the railway bridge with explosives.

Czechoslovakia

 * 19. divize ''Arbes
 * CO: Brig.Gen. František Hněvkovský

All troops in the area were under command of Gen. Hněvkovský.

On October 1, 1938:
 * Men of the Stráž obrany státu (State Defence Guard)
 * Fifty light fortifications LO vz. 37 Řopík.
 * Three fortified infantry blockhouses:
 * MJ-S 2 Úvoz
 * MJ-S 3 Zahrada
 * MJ-S 4 Zatáčka
 * 4. dělostřelecká baterie of the I. dělostřelecký oddíl
 * Three 100 mm vz. 14/19 light howitzers (Škoda)

From October 4, 1938:
 * I. polní prapor of the Pěší pluk 74.