Nazi - Communist Oppression in Prague

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Jan Palach (11 August 1948 – 19 January 1969) was a Czech student who sacrificed himself in protest against the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union. Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square on the 16th of January 1969. Prague-born Palach was a student of history and political economy at Charles University and the most common belief is that he chose self-immolation to protest the end of the Prague Spring (the brief period of liberalization in Czechoslovakia under Alexander Dubček in 1968). Palach did not die from the burns until several days later. The burns specialist at the hospital claims that Palach stated he set himself on fire to protest against the “demoralization” of Czechoslovak citizens in response to the Soviet occupation. His funeral became a protest itself against the communist occupation. Following his self-immolation, there were several others in the same location in Wenceslas Square in the political center of Prague. A bronze cross was laid into the cobblestone at the location where Palach (and another martyr, Zajic) after the 1989 Velvet Revolution or liberalization of the Czech Republic. Several places throughout Europe have been named in tribute to him including Jan Palach Square.

2. Federal Assembly

Originally dating from the late 1930s, this building once held the Communist government of Czechoslovakia. It is located at the end of Wenceslas Square, between the National Opera House and National Museum. The Assembly, with its sharp, geometric angles and modern glass-and-steel facade, is an architectural anomaly for the area. This building was where the demands of the Velvet Revolution were accepted in 1989, beginning the transition to post-Communism. Today it houses exhibits from the Czech National Museum and is open to the public.

3. Farewell Memorial

The Farewell Memorial was unveiled in May 2017 in Prague's main rail station and is a memorial to the parents who sent their children, mostly Jewish, to England in 1939 with the help of Sir Nicholas Winton. The memorial is an expression of thanks from the children to their parents, most of whom did not survive the Holocaust. Designed to look like a train door from that era, the memorial shows the hands of the children and their parents saying farewell. Beside the memorial, is a plaque explaining the memorial in Czech and English, from the surviving children known as Winton children.

4. Petschek Palace (Petschkův palác (Pečkárna))

Originally constructed as a bank in the 1920s, this building served as the Gestapo headquarters during the occupation in World War 2. The building was sold to the Czech state in 1939 when its owners fled to escape the Nazis, only to be confiscated by those Nazis shortly thereafter. While occupied by the Gestapo, thousands of Czechs were brought in for interrogation (and oftentimes torture) in the basement.

5. Hotel Jalta

Hotel Jalta (now known as Jalta Boutique Hotel), is a Cold War Era hotel. It is known for its fallout shelter in the basement. Currently, the hotel is running as a five-star boutique hotel, with the bunker open as a museum. The building was designed by Czech architect Antonín Tenzer.

6. Wenceslas Square

During the mid 1300’s King Charles IV build the New Town of Prague. HIs plans included open areas for markets, one of which was Wenceslas Square. The square was used as the town horse market, with the southeastern end having a Horse Gate, one of the gates in the walls of New Town. Anchored by The National Museum on one end, Wenceslas Square is now a hub of activity, with hotels, restaurants, and shops lining both sides. A statue of Saint Wenceslas stands in the shadows of the The National Museum and watches over the people of Prague. This statue, in its current place, was erected in 1912, when the government requested the street name be changed for a more noble one. Prior to that, a statue of Saint Wenceslas was near the Grand Hotel Europa. It was in this square, in front of the Saint Wenceslas statue, that Alios Jirásek read the proclamation of independence of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918. The square is a constant reminder of the recent history of the country. Often a place of dissidence, the Nazi’s used the square to spread their propoganda. Here students and citizens protested during the Prague Uprising of 1945. On January 16, 1969, student Jan Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square to protest the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.Again, during the Velvet Revolution of 1989, people used the square to demand change. This square continues to be a space for social and political protests. As recent as June 2019, 150,000 Czech citizens marched and demonstrated against the current Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš. Additionally, there is another schedule protest against the Prime Minister in November, 2019. Today, all this history is recorded and can be seen in and around the square. The top end of the square has a statue of Saint Wenceslas, who was killed by his brother in an effort to keep control of Bohemia. Below that is a vigil and plague recognizing the two students. Jan Palach and Jan Zajic, who self immolated themselves to protest the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Beyond that benches etched with famous quotes provide visitors an opportunity to reflect on the complicated past of the Czech Republic while understanding the force and determination the people have in keeping their independence.

7. Grand Hotel Europa

The Grand Hotel Europa is where Nicholas Winton had an office during his rescue mission in Prague. He worked to rescue 669 Jewish children between March and August of 1939.

8. Unitas Hotel Prague

The Unitas Hotel, located in Prague 1, which is now a hotel is home to multiple organizations. Built in the 1800s, this building was occupied by the Saint Bartholomew Monastery. It was later given to the Congregation of the Grey Sisters of the Order of Saint Francis. In the years after World War II, the Communist took over this building to serve as a building for the State Secret Police.

9. The Jewish Primary School

In this building was the based The Jewish Primary School in the years 1920-1942. Most of the children, teachers, and museum personnel perished during the war.

10. Prague Metronome

Located in the north side of Vitava River where gigantic Stalin statue used to stand. Construction completed on May 1, 1955 by Otakar Svec who committed suicide on the day before it debuted. It was built to watch the Czech people's every move and exert control over the Soviet satellite. It was blown up and destroyed in 1962 by Moscow's order during a process of de-Stalinization. In 1991, Vratislav Novák made a massive metronome on its base for a reminder of communism oppression.

11. Hradcany (Prague Castle)

Prague Castle is nestled on a hill overlooking the city of Prague making it a great vantage point for those that hold power over the lands. Unfortunately, this makes it easy for the castle to be used for darker purposes in its 1,000+ year history.

12. St. Nicholas Church

Saint Nicholas church is the most famous Baroque church in Prague. Before the church towers were built by the Jesuit college designers it was a Gothic parish built in 1283. The towers and facade were added to the church and the Pope declared the church the main parish of the Lesser Town in 1775. The construction of the church lasted for one hundred years, and consisted of three generations of Baroque architects within the same family. All of the paintings, sculptures, and carvings one can see in the church are from the 17th and 18th centuries. During the Soviet regime the church was secretly used as a place from which to spy on the local townspeople. If the guard on watch saw something he didn't like he would call that person or persons for an interrogation. At the top of the church there is a small room in the tallest steeple that no one was aware of at the time. Only after the Soviet regime had ended the room was discovered by church goers and its dark history revealed.

13. John Lennon Wall

The John Lennon Wall, also simply known as the Lennon Wall is literally a wall near the French Embassy in the Malá Strana area of Prague 1, Czech Republic. When John Lennon was assassinated in 1980, an unknown artist painted his portrait on the wall with lyrics in remembrance of him and was soon followed by many others. During communism, this wall was a piece of public art covered in graffiti expressing protestations against the government. It has been repainted several times by authorities, but there is always more graffiti and art by the very next day. Upon our visit in the summer of 2019, the Lennon wall represents a place promoting love, peace, and occasionally celebrating anniversaries, like that of the Velvet Revolution, or themed protests related to climate change, such as on Earth Day of the same year. And of course, it contains a Beatles reference or two...

14. Memorial to the Victims of Communism

Located at the base of of Petřín hill in Malá Strana, across from the tram stop, The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is a series of bronze statutes commemorating the victims of the communist era between 1948 and 1989. Sculptor Olbram Zoubek, along with architects Jan Kerel and Zdenek Holzel, created this public work that shows seven life-sized nude male figures descending a flight of concrete stairs. Unveiled 12 years after the fall of communism in 2002, the memorial was not without controversy. Many complained a woman was not represented, and one figure was damaged in two explosions in 2003. No one was found responsible. The same figure repeats and appears to break open, decay or melt away. All that remains of the last figure at the top of the stairs is a foot. This breaking apart or decaying symbolizes how Communism affected everyone—prisoners, those executed, as well as those who endured a life of totalitarianism.

15. Milada Horáková Grave Marker

Amongst the gravestones in Vyšherad Cemetery lies a tribute to Milada Horáková. Many probably don't even know her story or the incredible sacrifices that she made for her country. This site is a small tribute to the enormous impact that she had on the people and government of Czechoslovakia.

16. Church of Sts. Peter and Paul at Vysehrad

Vysehrad is a castle complex built by Vratislav II, Duke of Bohemia (1061-92, King of Bohemia after 1085) when he quarreled with his brother Jaromir Gebhart. This settlement is located on the opposite side of the Vltava River from the Prague Castle. Part of the grounds of Vysehrad includes the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, one of only three Catholic churches that were allowed to hold services during the communist occupation from 1968-1989. Construction of the Chapter church began around 1070 and when first finished was dedicated to St. Peter. St. Paul was added as the church's second patron saint at the beginning of the 12th century. In its 900 years of existence, the church experienced many building eras, including Romanesque, Early Gothic, High Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neo-Gothic. The last reconstruction on the church was in 1903 and is now the present-day appearance of the church.

17. Žižkov Television Tower

Originally constructed as a communist broadcasting tower, the Žižkov Television Tower represents a time in Czech history where public opinions were oppressed through the usage of media and propaganda. The tower sits on the grounds of what used to be an old Jewish cemetery, but that was destroyed during and after WWII. Today, the tower hosts the infamous baby sculptures created by famous Czech artist and political activist David Černý and has become a tourist attraction for visitors in search of a panoramic view of Prague. With a complicated history, the Žižkov Tower is a unique representation of Czech history.

18. National Monument at Vitkov

When people think of Vitkov Hill most people immediately think of the Massive equestrian statue (largest in the world) of Jan Zizka that is located in the front of the museum that overlooks the city of Prague. The National monument was built between the years of 1927-1932 to honor the creation of the Czechoslovakian state and its history. Vitkov Hill has played an important role in several events in Czech history. Vitkov Hill was first mentioned as being used as a vineyard during the 1300s under the rule of Charles IV. Later it was used in a battle against the Roman Empire and a rallying point for the Hussites against Roman occupation. In 1918 when an independent Czechoslovakia was created there was a desire to create a place that celebrates the rich Czechoslovakian history. The hope was to create a place that housed a library, archive, and museum. However, more recently the monument had been used by occupying forces such as the Nazis and Soviets. During World War II the monument was seized by the Germans and everything of any value such as metals and artwork was confiscated. From 1942 until the end of the war the Nazis used it as an administration building and storage facility. It is rumored that once the Nazis heard of the plan to create the equestrian statue of Jan Zizka the model had to be broken into little pieces and be hidden from the Gestapo who were eager to find it and destroy it. The sculpture was finally created at the end of World War II and the hope is that it would be used as a tribute to resistance movements in Czech history. The Soviets had different ideas and under their occupation of Czechoslovakia, the National monument was used for propaganda by the communist regime and prominent communist leaders in Czechoslovakia were buried there. In 1953 the Soviets decided to turn the monument into a mausoleum for Klement Gottwald the first communist leader of Czechoslovakia. His body was on display from 1953-1962. Today the monument is home to some wonderful pieces of Czech history and is specifically focused on five key milestones: the foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the Munich period in 1938 and the end of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the revival of Czechoslovakia in 1945 and the communist takeover three years later, the foundation of the Czech and Slovak Federation in 1968, and the fall of communism in 1989 together with the split of Czechoslovakia in 1992.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Nazi - Communist Oppression in Prague

Created by Kevin Oliver on July 17th 2019, 7:54:21 am.

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In summer 2019, twenty North Carolina teachers participated in an international professional development program in Prague sponsored by the Triangle Community Foundation's Borchardt Fund, studying strategies for connecting with and reflecting on culture using varied technology tools including Clio. Teachers were assigned the theme of Nazi-Communist oppression faced by Czechs in Prague between the 1930s and late 1980s, and each teacher selected a site to research and curate. This resulting tour based on their work helps to contextualize world history around World War II and the Cold War using specific examples from Czech history. The tour can be taken virtually/online, or by walking on site.

Entries on This Tour

Nazi - Communist Oppression in Prague

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