12 Hat belonging to Bohuslav Grabovský, Parachutist from Operation Intransitive, 1942

Fotogalerie

One of the vital tasks of Czechoslovak paratroopers during World War II was to blend in perfectly with the crowd. Therefore, they were provided with complete civilian clothing over which only a parachute jumpsuit was worn for the duration of the flight and jump. The most important criteria in selecting suitable clothing items before parachuting was a Czechoslovak manufacturer or origin, the quality of the fabrics and the natural patina. Headwear was also an essential part of the clothing and most often it was a hat or sports cap. The hat is made of rabbit felt, with a leather sweatband inside and the manufacturer’s marking “LIGA R. Thiele, Tabor”.

Sergeant Bohuslav Grabovsky was assigned to the INTRANSITIVE sabotage paratrooper unit, whose task it was to destroy the Cologne mineral oil refinery, after completing an assault course and a parachute course. After parachuting in late April 1942, he initially failed to find the other members of the unit and went to the interception addresses. After months of hiding, he was finally arrested by the Gestapo and persuaded to cooperate. Due to his reluctance, he was imprisoned in the Terezin Small Fortress, where he was executed in October 1944.