Otakar Jaroš

Otakar Jaroš (; 1 August 1912 – 8 March 1943) was a Czech officer in the Czechoslovak forces in the Soviet Union. He was killed in the Battle of Sokolovo and became the first member of a foreign army decorated with the highest Soviet decoration, Hero of the Soviet Union.

Early life Otakar Jaroš was born in Louny, Bohemia (Austria-Hungary, today the Czech Republic) into the family of a Czech railway engineer. When he was nine months old, his father was transferred to Mělník and the family followed him. Jaroš spent his childhood in Mělník and joined the Sokol and Scout organisations. These two organisations formed his physical skills and later fighting spirit.

Military career Following Czech independence in 1918, Jaroš studied in grammar school, but he left and attended high school in electrotechnics. After graduation, he was drafted and served his basic military service in the 3rd Signals Brigade in Trnava. He attended the non-commissioned officers school for a year and finished as a corporal. Jaroš went on to attend the school for reserve officers in Turnov.

Otakar Jaroš received a few decorations issued by the Soviet and Czech Communist parties. He became an icon for the communist propaganda even though he was an anti-communist and he did not even try to make it any secret.

Other decorations: Military Order of the White Lion 1st class (1948) Československý válečný kříž 1939 (Czechoslovak Military Cross), 13 March 1943 Order of Lenin, 17 April 1943 Sokolovská pamětní medaile (Commemorative medal of Sokolovo), 8.3.1948

Honoring One of the streets in Kharkov was named after Otakar Jaroš to memorialize his deed.

The Embankment of Captain Jaroš (nábřeží Kapitána Jaroše) along the Vltava River in Prague (and its eponymous tram stop) also has been named in his honor since 1948.

A primary school in the town of Trutnov is named after Otakar Jaroš "Základní škola kapitána Jaroše".