Czechoslovak arms industry in the second half of the 1950s

This work examines the arms industry in Czechoslovakia during World War II, the Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1960) and, the changing international political and economic climate which influenced and changed armament plans. During a period of time this work examines individual aspects of the production of military equipment, changes in production plans and processes, attenuation of some weapons categories, and development of new weaponry following plans to rearm the Czechoslovak People's Army - older equipment was decommissioned and replaced with new equipment which required a greater amount of raw materials. This work discusses the research and development of military technology, the introduction of projects into production, or the abandonment of projects. An integral part of these plans was the development of the Ministry of National Defence and production ministries, for the needs of the troops and the effective defence of the state. The arms industry played an important role in special foreign trade - both in the import and export of military equipment and satisfying the requirements of other Soviet Bloc states, as well as finding markets in developing countries and special foreign trade in arms production and trade deficit adjustment