czechoslovak emigrants in poland were roughly separated into three groups: political refugees, jewish refugees and military personnel, the latter being the only group who wanted to stay in poland and wait for the war to come. lev prchala, czechoslovak general and former member of the autonomous government of ruthenia, negotiated with his friends from the polish military. however, the polish government was reluctant to allow any military organization of czechoslovak emigrants, so the majority, about 4,000 czechs and slovaks, left the poland in six transports between 22 may and 21 august 1939 to join the french foreign legion. about 1,000 men stayed in poland either by their own decision or because they arrived in poland in late summer.