TIL (Today I Learned)

1421-2021 – 600th anniversary of civilian firearms possession

In late night between 21 and 22 December 1421, reformed Czech militia conducted a breakthrough attack against German Catholic crusader encirclement near the town of Kutná Hora.

Czech militia had been using firearms on the battlefield for two years by then, but only in auxiliary role. On 21 December 1421, firearms first served as primary offensive weapon, on top of and in between of moving war wagons.

At Kutná Hora, it was tactical necessity due to inability of conducting standard cold-weapon based battle during nighttime, moreover while on move. It then became cornerstone of Czech militia’s tactic.

This anniversary belongs to gun owners everywhere, not only in the Czech Republic.