The secret factory built to hide arms from Nazi Germany

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1936, Czechoslovakia established a state-of-the-art weapons plant in Uherský Brod. It wasn't just about modernization; it was a strategic maneuver to move critical production capacities far from the western borders threatened by Nazi expansion. This facility would eventually become one of the world's leading small arms manufacturers.

The origins of today’s Česká zbrojovka (CZ) are rooted in defensive strategy. While Jihočeská zbrojovka was founded in Strakonice in 1919, the specific site in Uherský Brod was established in 1936 as a large-scale transfer of strategically important production capacities. By moving these facilities to the southeast of Moravia, Czechoslovakia aimed to protect its industrial output from potential German aggression during the era of rising Nazi power.

The factory proved highly efficient early on, focusing on demanding aircraft machine guns. Following World War II and subsequent nationalization, the Uherský Brod branch became independent in 1950 and emerged as the primary Czechoslovak manufacturer of small firearms. It gained notoriety for producing the Sa vz. 23 submachine gun, which featured a revolutionary telescoping bolt design that allowed it to be significantly more compact than contemporary models.

The facility's output has been massive over the decades. By 1953 alone, Uherský Brod produced 545,000 units of the Sa vz. 23. Later, the plant manufactured approximately 920,000 units of the vz. 58 assault rifle, a Czechoslovak alternative to the Soviet AK-47. Today, as part of the Colt CZ Group SE, the company remains a global powerhouse, ranking among the top ten small arms manufacturers worldwide and exporting to more than 100 countries.

Beyond military hardware, the site has evolved into a diversified manufacturing hub. While it continues to produce high-quality firearms like the revolutionary CZ 75 pistol, it also utilizes its remaining capacity to manufacture high-precision components for the aerospace and automotive industries.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The Czechoslovak masterpiece that became the world's most influential light machine gun
• The Czechoslovak bolt-action rifle that armed global conflicts for over four decades
• How the Nazi regime used the occupation of Czechoslovakia to fuel its war machine
• The Czechoslovakian rifle that looks like a Kalashnikov but works in a unique way
• The secret patents that allowed a pistol to clone itself globally
• The damp, subterranean final stand of the Nazi regime
• The Grand Duke who survived a childhood of royal tragedy
• The 'Stringbag' that outlasted modern planes to sink more Axis shipping
• The German General who planned to bleed France to death
• The Falaise Pocket: How a Decisive Allied Victory Became a Controversial Escape
• The jet-powered bomber that defined the Cold War and stayed airborne for decades
• How a British military stronghold fell to a smaller, faster-moving Japanese force in 1942.

More in World wars era · More in Wars & Conflicts · Latest · A–Z · All topics