Raditian Army reforms of 1935

The Raditian Army reforms of 1935 also knows as the Mrázek Reforms, were a series of sweeping changes to the structure of the Raditian Army. These were undertaken and championed by the contemporary Minister of War Karel Mrázek. The goal of these reforms was to follow up on the Raditian Army reforms of 1910 and elevate the Raditian military to western standards.

Background

The need for a major re-structuralization was well known to the Raditian Army leadership by late 1920s. Voivod Karel Mrázek, who by that time served as the Chief of the General Staff already, proposed his plans to the Minister of War in 1927. While the administration of President Miroslav Červenka promised to implement Mrázek's plans, it was postponed as a result of the difficult economic situation in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Following the retirement of Mrázek in 1931, it seemed that none of the reforms will take place.

The idea of sweeping military reforms resurfaced again with the dismissal of Minister of War Arnošt Švec in 1933. President Augustín Němec, who wished to gain an upper-hand in the chaotical political situation of the 1930s, appointed Mrázek as the new War Minister. The appointment of a former legendary general and a veteran of the First Kryvian War gave the Němec's administration the necessary reputation boost.

Following the economic stabilisation of 1934, Mrázek used his position to pressure the President and the Parliament into approving the necessary legislation. The first bills were introduced in May of 1935.

Strategic level re-organization

Army Air Inspectorate

The 1901 reforms abolished the system of Voivodeships of the Tsarist Army. The Army was now organized into seven six Inspectorates and various independent commands. Most 'Air Regiments' were dispersed among these individual army inspectorates. The only central standing operational air command was the Long-Range Bombardment Group. The LRBG was tasked merely with strategic bombers, zeppelins and air transports. Though there was a position called Chief of Aviation who was a member of the General Staff, it was mainly an administrative office. The Chief of Aviation was mainly responsible for the procurement of aircraft and training of pilots.

The newly created Army Air Inspectorate consolidated those under a organization commanded by a single General. The Army Air Inspectorate was further subdivided into three air corps, each leady by a General 2nd Class. The position of the Chief of Aviation was eliminated, instead three minor positions called Chief of Intereceptors, Chief of Bombers and Chief of Air Reconnaisance were created. These reported directly to the Army Air Inspector.

New General Staff positions

Two new positions were created at the General Staff: the Chief of Signals and the Chief of Anti-Air Defense. While the Raditian Army already fielded a large quantity of signal and air defence specialist, these were part of the engineering and artillery troops respectively. Both of these officers were to be given the rank of General 2nd Class.

The reforms also created the post of the Special Inspector for Motorization, who was a General 3rd Class. His task was to co-ordinate the procurment of motor vehicles for the various combat branches of the Army.

Divisional re-organization

Infantry

The Raditian infantry divisions before the reforms followed the square structure. This meant that the core of each division was organized into two infantry brigades which were subsequently composed of two infantry regiments. Each regiment included four infantry battalions, a machine-gun company and, a mortar company. Additionally, the division included a single artillery brigade, composed of two light and a single heavy battalion. Other support formations were attached on an ad-hoc basis.

The Mrázek reforms changed it this structure, by getting rid of the battalion level. The companies then were to be commanded by Majors, and all independent battalions were elevated to regiments. The infantry divisions thus consisted of three infantry brigades and one artillery brigade. The three infantry brigades were each composed of three infantry regiments.

Each brigade was to be supported by four independent companies (an anti-tank company, an engineering company, a recon company, and a signal company). Additionally, multiple permanent support units were established at the divisional level. Namely; an engineering regiment, a hospital regiment, a recon regiment, a signal regiment, a supply regiment, and a platoon-sized military police detachment.

Some infantry divisions were further enhanced by a tank regiment. These tank regiments were composed of three companies of T-26 and T-33 light tanks. The regiment would never operate on its own. Instead, it would attach its companies to the brigades and regiments of the division as necessary. Only a small number of infantry divisions were ever attached with such regiments.

Cavalry

The cavalry divisions of Raditia followed the same path. Under the new model each cavalry division consisted of two cavalry brigades and one artillery brigade. Each cavalry brigade consisted of three cavalry regimets, one anti-tank company, one engineering company, one recon company, and one signal company. Just like their infantry counter-parts, these cavalry divisons were also given the same array of support regiments.

Most interestignly, the cavalry began more and more experimenting with mechanization. Prior to the reforms the cavalry already maintained three motorized cavalry divisions (organized along the same lines as other cavalry divisions but equipped with truck and motorcycles). Following the reforms, the 1st Mechanized Brigade was formed and attached to the 1st Motorized Cavalry Division. At first the brigade consisted of armored cars, but those were soon replaced by modified T-33 light tanks and later by TJ-36 and TJ-38 cavalry tanks. Unlike other tank units, which were supervised by the Engineering Branch, the 1st Mechanized Brigade would be exclusively under the administration of the Chief of Cavalry.

Soon after, the 1st Mechanized Brigade would became an organic unit of the division and the division itself would be renamed to the 1st Mechanized Cavalry Division. In the following years, more mechanized divisions would be raised following the same structure.