Do you have any questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact us.
OUR RESEARCH TEAM
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PROJECT
Daniel Maly
Founder, researcher, webmaster
Daniel is the head administrator, editor and graphic designer of our website and database. He is in charge of the project archive and oversees the careful preservation of all collection items. Daniel graduated from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen with a master’s degree in history. He currently works as a primary school teacher. Daniel is also the chairman of the Military Historical and Reenactment Association Tommy & Yankee and also a member of the Association of Czechoslovak Legionaries.
Tomas Hataj
Founder, researcher
Tomas is in charge of communication with WWII veterans and their families. He graduated from the Prague University of Economics and Business and currently he works as a financial manager at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. In 2016, Tomas was awarded through Brian LaViolette Foundation with the General George S. Patton Scholarship of Honor for his longtime work with WWII veterans. He is a member of the Military Historical and Reenactment Association Tommy & Yankee, Association of Czechoslovak Legionaries and the Second Indianhead Division Association, USA.
Viktor Simek
researcher
Victor handles communication with veterans and families. He is also responsible for some of the research on the 2nd Infantry Division. He is a historian, author of a book regarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and author of several articles. He is currently studying a second program that focuses on security. His interests are NATO policies and armed forces and society. He is a member of the Czech Armed Forces, Military Historical and Reenactment Association Tommy & Yankee, and Association of Czechoslovak Legionaries.
Arjan Messemaker
Researcher
Arjan has always been interested in WWII. He has especially been focusing on the Battle of the Bulge and the role of the 2nd Infantry Division herein. Over the years he has spent many days investigating this topic in his spare time by reading about it, visiting the former battlefields and interviewing WWII veterans or their relatives. Arjan is currently writing a book about a specific battle that took place during the Battle of the Bulge, the battle for the Lausdell crossroad. With this book he strives to combine personal stories with artifacts recovered from the area around Lausdell. Arjan is in charge of research activities, communication with WWII veterans and their families.
Tomas Karnik
researcher
Tomas Karnik is in charge of editing, researching and collecting data for creating the profiles in our database. He managed to digitize more than 3,300 names of men of the 2nd Infantry Division, creating, for example, a complete list of members of the 12th and 15th Field Artillery Battalions. Tomas is a member of the Military Historical and Reenactment Association Tommy & Yankee. He is also the proud father of his young son Matt, to whom he passes on the legacy of the men of the 2nd Infantry Division and the importance of the fight for freedom.