The Raid Toward Prague

About the Book

Kevin Keefer took a leave of absence from Army Counterintelligence to search for the origin of the first military action of the Cold War, which occurred in Czechoslovakia in May 1945. Kevin was familiar with his father’s relentless efforts to uncover the circumstances surrounding this event, in which his father played an important role. His father died before he could complete his research. Kevin took it upon himself to continue it. After visits to the Czech Republic and pursuing leads in the United States, he eventually hit pay dirt when he came across extensive files in a Pentagon storage area. Kevin was surprised to find that the raid had almost failed, namely, the capture of intelligence on the Soviet Army, which were in the possession of the German Army headquarters, which had retreated into Czechoslovakia. Czech partisans guarding the headquarters refused passage of the truck his father had seized and insisted on taking it back with him. Finally, only after citing that he was under direct orders from Eisenhower did the partisans relent. Whether Eisenhower actually was involved in the raid is not clear. However, Eisenhower was familiar with Washington’s proclivity to acquire data on the military capabilities of the Soviets.

About the Author

Harry Jacobs graduated from Georgetown University and American University. During World War II he was assigned to SHAEF and attached to the Fourth Armored Division. His awards and decorations include five battle stars, the Bronze Star for Heroism, the Croix de Guerre, and the Diplôme, Conseil Régional de Basse Normandie.