[Michal]

France was for Czechoslovakia an Ally Number One. Czechoslovakian-Soviet Treaty was signed after French Politicians agreed. The Higher Czechoslovakian Politicians were not united if accepted Soviet Help or not. If somebody saying that Czechoslovakia was biggest Soviet Ally than I would like to write, that it was Czechoslovakian Legion who fought to bolsheviks 1918-1920 and made the trip from Ukraine to Vladivostok. Most of Czechoslovak officers in 30s in High Position were former so called Legionnairies who pretty well know what are Bolsheviks for. Agreement between Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union clearly states that Soviet Help will be possible if France says yes. Czechoslovakian Army (mainly Air Force) was prepared to accept French Military Help (France Military Organization was a pattern for new-built Czechoslovakian Army and connections were really were close), morally, politically and mainly technically. Czechoslovakian Army was not fully prepared to accept Soviet Planes. There would be no trouble to transfer Soviet Plane to Czechoslovakia When Soviet Union wanted for Poland and Romania to agree with transfer flights over their territories, it was clearly impossible. But supplies of Soviet-built Planes Tupolev SB-2 (in Czechoslovak Air Force Avia B-71) regularly came through - in that time - common Czechoslovakian - Soviet Border. According to documents from Meeting Czechoslovak HQ and Politicians in September 1938 is clearly visible how big was fear of destabilization of suverenity of Czechoslovakia when Soviets came to the country. Yes, Soviet Union wanted to help but for other reasons (similar to later occupation of part of Poland and of Baltic States). Czechoslovakian Ministry of Interior was afraid of Czechoslovakian Communists because they against Czechoslovak Constitution didn´t speak about independent Czechoslovakia but fought for so called Communist "International" which in fact would be integration of Czechoslovakia into Soviet Union. That´s why Czechoslovakian Communist didn´t want to defend independency. Only in late 30s when situation allowed they openly claimed about their will to defend counry with support of Soviet Union. And yes, slogan about "Czechoslovakia as earth-based Soviet aircraft-carrier" was produced by Goebbels Propaganda. It is not any joke but historically proofed information.