During World War I, the country was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. No fighting was taking place on Czech territory, but men were subject to military duties with the joint Imperial and Royal Army (kaiserlich und königliche Armee or k.u.k). As of 1914, also civilian men and reservists were drafted into the army. With their regiments they went to fight in far-off countries, where many lost their lives. Thousands refused to fight on the Austro-Hungarian side but joined the independent Czechoslowak Legions (Russian, French, and Italian). The activities of the Czechoslovak Legions significantly  contributed to the establishment of the independent state of Czechoslovakia at the end of the war (27 October 1918).

After the founding of this new state, memorials for WWI were built in many municipalities as a statement of thanks and remembrance. If the monuments were large enough, additional names were added later for WWII as well.

Very often the monuments are owned by the municipality, but many are also private (on private land), which are maintained by local residents, often belonging to the same families to this day.