# Blue booklet

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blue_booklet
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Blue_booklet.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_booklet
> Source revision: 1256633848
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Czechoslovak certificate of exemption from military service

Politics of Czechoslovakia Constitution 1918 1920 1948 1960 1968 Executive Legislative Presidents Prime Ministers Federal Assembly Czech National Council Slovak National Council Elections Parliamentary 1920 1925 1929 1935 1946 1948 1954 1960 1964 1971 1976 1981 1986 1990 1992 Political parties Administrative divisions States First Czechoslovak Republic Second Czechoslovak Republic Third Czechoslovak Republic Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Czech Socialist Republic Slovak Socialist Republic Dissolution Hyphen War Foreign relations Communist foreign trade Other countries v t e

Czechoslovak blue booklet cover from 1992

The **Blue booklet** ([Czech](/source/Czech_language): *Modrá knížka*, officially ***Průkaz o neschopnosti k vojenské činné službě*** (Document of proof of incapacity for military service) or formerly ***Průkaz o osvobození od vojenské povinnosti*** (Document of proof of exemption from military service) was a certificate of exemption from military service in [Czechoslovakia](/source/Czechoslovakia) and later in the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic) and [Slovakia](/source/Slovakia). [Compulsory military service](/source/Conscription) had existed throughout the unified nation's history and was only abolished in 2004 in the Czech Republic[1] and one year later in Slovakia.[2] The holder of a blue booklet could not be drafted for [basic military service](/source/Military_service) nor included in the [reserve](/source/Military_reserve_force).

## Application process

Applications for a blue booklet had to be reviewed by the military administration's conscription board, usually on the basis of opinions from specialists. The usual procedure was that the applicant filled in a detailed questionnaire about his health condition and had it confirmed by his family doctor, who sent him for the relevant examinations according to the content of the questionnaire and the applicant's medical history. The applicant then submitted all pertinent documents to the conscription board for approval.[3]

## Reasons for exemption

Some common reasons for a person of eligible age to be exempted from military service included missing a limb, paralysis or immobility, lack of eyesight, deafness, and mental illness. In practice, allergies, asthma, spinal conditions, eye defects, or high blood pressure were the most common reasons for conscripts to receive blue booklets around the year 2000.

In addition, people opposed to the armed services or combat, known as [conscientious objectors](/source/Conscientious_objector), also tried to obtain blue booklets.

## Cultural references

Inside of Czechoslovak blue booklet

References to blue booklets can be found in various artistic media, including music, literature, and film. [Karel Plíhal](/source/Karel_Pl%C3%ADhal) recorded a song titled "Modrá knížka" on his 1992 album, *Takhle nějak to bylo...*,[4] dealing with the despair of a young man who has obtained the coveted document. The Czech underground rock band [DG 307](/source/DG_307) was named after a psychiatric diagnosis that allowed young men to get a blue booklet,[3] and the rock group [Blue Effect](/source/Blue_Effect)'s name is also inspired by the document, as most of its members were in possession of one. The 2010 comedy film *[Identity Card](/source/Identity_Card_(2010_film))* also references the booklet.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["15 Years Later — Was Ending Military Service the Right Move for the Czech Republic?"](https://english.radio.cz/15-years-later-was-ending-military-service-right-move-czech-republic-8116052). *english.radio.cz*. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Compulsory Military Service Abolished"](https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20026439/compulsory-military-service-abolished.html). *spectator.sme.sk*. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-idnes_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-idnes_3-1) ["Modrá knížka? Podle toho, kde žijete"](https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/modra-knizka-podle-toho-kde-zijete.A011119_211627_domaci_pol) [Blue Book? Depends Where You Live]. *idnes.cz* (in Czech). 20 November 2001. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Karel Plíhal – Takhle nějak to bylo..."](https://www.discogs.com/Karel-Pl%C3%ADhal-Takhle-N%C4%9Bjak-To-Bylo-/master/614833) *discogs.com*. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

## External links

Media related to [Blue booklet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Blue_Book_(certificate_of_incapacity_for_military_service)) at Wikimedia Commons

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blue booklet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_booklet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_booklet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.