Background
Josef Mašín was born at Lošany near Kolín.
army officer of Czechoslovakia
Josef Mašín was born at Lošany near Kolín.
He was the father of Josef and Ctirad Mašín
After the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany he, together with Josef Balabán and Václav Morávek, formed a resistance group concentrated on intelligence gathering and sabotage. While more resistance groups existed, this one, aptly named Tři Králové (Three Kings), is the most known among the Czechoslovakian public. Mašín was captured by the Gestapo on May 13, 1941.
After being tortured, he twice attempted suicide.
As part of the German retaliatory measures for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich he was executed in Prague, aged 45. His body was disposed of at Strašnice Crematorium.
After the war, Josef Mašín received a posthumous promotion to Brigadier General.
He was a member of the Czechoslovak Legions fighting in Russia (1916–1921) and later an officer in the Czechoslovak Army (commander of an artillery regiment).