Milan Paumer

Milan Paumer was born April 7, 1931 in Kolín, but he spent his childhood in Poděbrady. From the beginning, his parents brought him up in the spirit of Sokol and the legionnaire ideals. He learnt the machine fitter's trade and studied at an industrial school for machinery in Kolín. In the 1940s, he met the Mašín brothers, and after February 1948, he became the driver for the resistance group. In October 1952, he began his military service from which he escaped in 1952 using a false "let-pass." He joined the Mašín brothers' group as they headed for the American sector in Berlin. Out of the group's original five members, only the Mašín brothers and Paumer made it to Berlin after 29 days; Zbyněk Janata and Václav Švéda were caught and then executed in Czechoslovakia in 1955. Paumer served in the U. S. Army for five years, of which 19 months were spent in Korea. After his return from Korea he settled in Miami, Florida, and worked as a pool serviceman, a motel receptionist, a nutria hunter, an aircraft engine repairman, and a taxi driver. He eventually became an owner of a small taxi company, which he ran until his retirement in 1998. In 2001 he permanently returned to the Czech Republic. He gave lectures, especially for young people, and became an honorary member of the Club of Political Prisoners and of the 53rd Scout Troop - scout troop of the Mašín brothers. He also became a member of the Conservative Party. In 2008 he was awarded a plaque from the Czech Prime Minister. He died on July 22, 2010.

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