As a forester, he helped courier Vladimír Lutovský deliver packages

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František Korbel was born into a peasant family in Hodětín in southern Bohemia on 7 October 1920. His father was a nimrod and František inherited his talents. He entered a forestry school and graduated in 1944. After a short employment with Count Harrach, he found his way to Šumava where it was necessary to staff the positions left by the deported Germans. František Korbel became a forester and worked under chief forester in Strkov. Due to his excellent knowledge of the forests, he came into contact with agent-walker (courier) Vladimír Lutovský from Tábor who worked for the western intelligence service and smuggled packages across the border. František Korbel sometimes assisted him and also delivered parcels inland. František Korbel was arrested in 1953. He was detained in České Budějovice. He was sentenced to 15 years for treason. He went through the uranium camps in the Jáchymov and Příbram regions. He also worked as an assistant plasterer, which helped him get out of the camp. He was released in the amnesty of 1960. After release, he settled near Stříbro in West Bohemia, working in forestry administration. After a year, he became a forester and worked at the Stříbro forestry for over 30 years. After 1989, he briefly communicated with the former courier Vladimir Lutovsky who returned to Czechoslovakia after the Velvet Revolution. František Korbel wrote a memoir of his illegal activities and prison stay. He received an award as a participant of the anti-communist resistance.