Památník padlým legionářům 4. střeleckého pluku Prokopa Velikého v Hradci Králové

The Memorial to the Fallen Legionaries of the 4th Rifle Regiment of Prokop the Great stands in Hradec Králové, a town in eastern Bohemia, honoring soldiers of the 4th rifle regiment of the Czechoslovak legions who died fighting in Russia between 1917 and 1920. It ties together the history of the local garrison with one of the defining episodes of the Czechoslovak independence movement.

How to get there?

The memorial is located in Hradec Králové, on the grounds of the former Gayer Barracks complex, at coordinates 50.2119042, 15.8313392. The town is well connected by rail and road to Prague and other cities in the region, and the memorial itself stands in an accessible urban space open to pedestrians.

Where does this memorial come from?

The story begins in the early 1920s. On 13 June 1920, soldiers of the 4th regiment of the Russian legions of the Czechoslovak army returned to their now-independent homeland and headed straight to their new garrison in Hradec Králové, which remained their home throughout the First Republic period. It was the regiment's officer corps who initiated the idea of honoring their fallen comrades.

The memorial was unveiled on 6 June 1937, at the edge of the Gayer Barracks complex — named after Lieutenant Jan Gayer (1885–1918), the regiment's commander and a hero of the Battle of Lipyagi, who himself became the 199th soldier of the unit to fall. The design was created by academic sculptor Josef Škoda and architect Prof. Oldřich Šmída.

What did the original memorial look like?

The base of the monument was an oblong slab of light-colored stone. Its left side bore the engraved names of 198 fallen soldiers, while the right side carried a portrait relief of Lieutenant Gayer. In front of the slab stood a bronze statue of a fully armed Czechoslovak soldier on one side, and an eternal flame on the other. Together, these elements combined a personal tribute to the commander with a collective memorial to the regiment's fallen.

Destruction and restoration

The original memorial stood in Hradec Králové until 1940, when it was destroyed by the German occupying authorities. Legionaries managed to save only the metal relief bearing Gayer's likeness, which is now held in the collections of the Museum of Eastern Bohemia. The memorial was later rebuilt; the present version includes a life-size statue of a soldier and plaques listing 209 names of fallen members of the 4th rifle regiment of the Czechoslovak legions in Russia who died between 1917 and 1920.

Why is it worth a stop?

The site carries meaning beyond its architecture — it bears witness to the fate of Czechoslovak legionaries who fought in Russia for their country's independence and, upon returning home, became permanently tied to the garrison in Hradec Králové. The rebuilt memorial recalls both the sacrifice of individual soldiers and the difficult history of the monument itself, destroyed during the occupation and later restored.

Frequently asked questions

Who does the memorial in Hradec Králové honor? It honors the fallen soldiers of the 4th rifle regiment of the Czechoslovak legions in Russia, including their commander, Lieutenant Jan Gayer.

When was the original memorial built? It was unveiled on 6 June 1937, at the edge of the Gayer Barracks complex in Hradec Králové.

What happened to the original monument? It was destroyed by German occupying forces in 1940; only a metal relief bearing Jan Gayer's likeness survived and is now kept at the Museum of Eastern Bohemia.

How many names appear on the current memorial? The rebuilt memorial lists 209 names of soldiers from the 4th regiment who died between 1917 and 1920.