His studies were interrupted by World War I and, although he was able to complete three years of study, he was drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army in 1915. Cech spent three years in the army, but they were not totally wasted as far as his academic studies were concerned for he took the opportunity to learn Italian, German and Russian.
Sa kanyang pag-aaral ay interrupted sa pamamagitan ng World War I at, kahit na siya ay able sa kumpletong tatlong taon ng pag-aaral, siya ay drafted sa Austro-Hungarian hukbo sa 1915. Cech nagastos tatlong taon sa hukbo, ngunit sila ay hindi ganap na aksayado gaya malayo gaya ang kanyang mga akademikong pag-aaral ay nag-aalala para sa kinuha siya ng pagkakataon upang matuto ng Italian, German at Russian.