The Story of the Czech Medieval Knight Who Stopped German Tanks During WWII

World War II was a time of incredible and often tragic events. One of the most unusual and inspiring stories comes from Czechoslovakia in 1938. This is the story of a man who stood alone against German tanks, dressed in armor and riding a horse. His name was Josef Menclik, and he became known as the “Last Knight of Strakonice.”

In late 1938, German forces were ordered to occupy the Sudetenland areas of Czechoslovakia. These areas bordered Germany and had large populations of ethnic Germans. The invasion was approved by Britain and France after long talks that did not involve the Czechoslovaks. They hoped that giving Germany this land would prevent another world war. The Czech Army was told by its government to stay out of the Sudetenland and not fight the invading forces. However, the Germans did face resistance from one very surprising person.

Encounter with Josef Menclik

As a column of German tanks and vehicles moved into the small village of Bina in the Bohemian Forest, they were stopped by a strange sight. A man dressed in medieval armor and riding a horse blocked their path. This was Josef Menclik, who called himself the last knight of Strakonice.

Menclik wore a black tunic with metal armor plates on his chest and back, shoulder guards, and metal skirts. He also had a helmet with a feather plume, like those worn by Spanish conquerors. At his waist hung a long sword, and he held a medieval battle axe in his hand. The leading German tank stopped, and the soldiers stared in shock at Menclik, who sat proudly on his horse.

A Legend

Born in 1870, Josef Menclik came from a wealthy family in the village of Dušejov, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was raised in a rented apartment in the local castle, owned by the Schwarzenberg family. Menclik dreamed of one day owning this castle. In 1911, after a fire, he bought the ruins from the Schwarzenbergs and began to gradually restore it. Menclik lived like a knight from the Middle Ages, avoiding modern conveniences like electricity. He rode horses instead of using cars and often wore his armor.

The people in his village saw Menclik as an eccentric but harmless character. He even turned part of his castle into a museum to show off his collection of armor and weapons, believed to be French in origin. No one was quite sure how he managed to get his hands on these valuable items or how he maintained his lifestyle. Some suspected he brought them into the country secretly.

Standing Against the Germans

Menclik was determined to act when he heard that German forces would cross into Czech territory on October 1, 1938. He decided to confront them alone. After putting on his armor and grabbing his weapons, he rode 30 kilometers on horseback to the village of Bina, near the German-Czech border.

When the Germans saw Menclik, they were so stunned that they halted their advance for a while. Eventually, they figured out that he was a local oddball and ordered him out of their way at gunpoint. They did not harm Menclik, and he lived to become a national hero for his bold act of defiance.

Life After the Confrontation

Josef Menclik continued living in his castle until 1945, when the new Czechoslovak government took it from him. He moved in with his son and died on November 19, 1945, at the age of 75. His castle was turned into a school, but since 1989, locals have been restoring it. Menclik’s stand against the Germans has become a cherished part of Czech history.