Lawyer Josef Scheiner, the head of the Sokolská obec (Sokol Society), watching Sokol members exercising in the courtyard of Tyrš House. Scheiner giving a speech on Old Town Square in Prague during the revolutionary days of October 1918. The footage includes images of politicians Václav Klofáč, Gustav Habrman and František Udržal.
In her contribution, the author deals with a complexview of the role of Sokol during the World War I. She uses both archive sources as well as available literature. She confronts the Sokol activity with philosophy of Miroslav Tyrš, co-founder of Sokol, who promoted the ideal of military service and the work of an individual for the improvement of the whole. Sokol members were active in both the Czechoslovak Legions (in France, Russia and Italy) and domestic resistance movement (financial support of so-called Maffie, intelligence activity). Because of military hospitals established in Sokol gymnasiums, the club activity was demonstrated rather on the social-cultural or charity level (assistance in military hospitals, cooperation with charity organization České srdce [Czech Heart]). On 28 October 1918 and shortly after this date, Sokol members helped keep order in the street and secure non-violent retreat of foreign forces from the territory.