Classroom

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.  

Jan Palach Memorial

Instructor

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.

Originally constructed as a stock exchange in the late 1930s, the Communist government elected to greatly expand the building.&nbsp;This expansion took place during&nbsp;the late 1960s by the Communist government in Czechoslovakia. It is located at the end of Wenceslas Square, between the National Opera House and National Museum, in the Nové Město area of Prague. Just across the street from the Assembly&nbsp;is Petschek Palace, which was used as the Gestapo headquarters during Nazi occupation. The neighboring street's name is&nbsp;Politických vězňů, which translates as "Street of Political Prisoners". The area was originally a marketplace and now serves as a commercial, transportation, and cultural hub of Prague. The Assembly, with its sharp, geometric angles and modern glass-and-steel facade, is an architectural anomaly for the area, which is dominated by more traditional construction. This building was constructed to withstand a nuclear attack; as such, it&nbsp;contains two nuclear fallout shelters. This building housed the Czech Communist government for decades,&nbsp;and it was where the demands of the Velvet Revolution were accepted in 1989, which began the transition to post-Communism and laid the foundations of the&nbsp;modern-day Czech Republic. Until the partition of 1992, the building served as the National Assembly of Czechoslovakia.&nbsp; Beginning in 1995, then-President&nbsp;Václav Havel supposedly rented the building to Radio Free Europe for a nominal fee.&nbsp;Since 2015, it has housed exhibits from the Czech National Museum and is open to the public.&nbsp;Today, you can see museum exhibits, take a tour of the building's old parliament rooms, or visit the Communism-themed cafe. The Assembly's many purposes over time&nbsp;mirror the&nbsp;sociopolitical evolution of Prague and the Czech Republic over the past century -&nbsp;it has served as a capitalist stock exchange, the seat of the Communist government, a center of post-Cold War liberalism and free expression, and finally as a public space commemorating the cultural legacy of the Czech nation.

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. 

Federal Assembly

In late 1938, as the Nazis were advancing across Europe, Nicholas Winton, a British citizen, arrived in Prague to help with the transport of Jewish children out of Prague and Czechoslovakia known as the kindertransport.&nbsp; Winton, with the help of others, was able to successfully arrange for the evacuation of 669 children to Britain. Great Britain had approved the entry of refugees younger than seventeen as long as they had a place to stay and a 50 pound deposit.&nbsp; The main obstacle facing Winton was getting the children across the Netherlands which was no longer allowing Jewish refugees entry. Once Winton was able to secure passage across the Netherlands, the transport went smoothly.The memorial is located in Praha hlavní nádraží which is the main train station in Prague.&nbsp; It is the site where many of these farewells took place.&nbsp; The memorial is on the lower level of the historic building on the way to the train platforms.&nbsp; Jan Hunat, a Czech glassmaker, created the glass for the memorial.&nbsp; In June 2019 the memorial was vandalized and a large crack now stretches across the window damaging some of the fingers. The culprit and motivation remain unknown, although Jan Hunat, believed that the damage was intentional and was done using a hammer. There was also speculation that the motive was&nbsp;anti-semitism.

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.  



Farewell Memorial 

This building was built in the 1920s by a wealthy Polish banker.&nbsp; The architectural style is neoclassical; however, the building was quite modern.&nbsp; It was air-conditioned, had a pneumatic tube system, and boasts on of the three still-exiting Paternoster elevators in the city.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1938 the Pretschek family fled then-Czechoslovakia and sold the building to the state. When the Nazi regime took over and Czecholovakia became a "protectorate," the party requisitioned the building and used it as Gestapo headquarters.&nbsp; This is the building that suspected resistance and political opponents were brought in for questioning.&nbsp; The basement was used for what we might call "enhanced interrogation" - torture, and many died here. I find its location a bit ironic, since it sits at the far end of Wenceslas Square in the vicinity where ordinary Czechs organized against the Nazis just before the end of the war.&nbsp; They actually built a barricade of cars, furniture, and just about anything they could find to hold the Nazis back from being able to access the train station for escape. Pro-tip on this location.&nbsp; You can get a better picture if you climb a nearby hill.&nbsp; But beware that the grass on this (very steep) hill is really slippery.&nbsp; If you lose your footing, you will s-l-i-d-e all the way down the hill on your butt and possibly right into a parked car.&nbsp; Just sayin'

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.  

Petschek Palace (Petschkův palác (Pečkárna))

At 61 years old, Hotel Jalta is fairly young by Prague's standards. However, it's Cold War history marks it as a UNESCO Czech heritage site. Architecturally, the facade of Hotel Jalta is a clear example of Stalinist architecture, with it's square shape and uniform windows. However, it's functionalist influence by Czechoslovakian architect Antonin Tenzer shows up in it's interior. Additionally, the stonework on the facade was overseen by Czechoslovakian president Antonín Zápotocký, who also commisioned the building. Most unique about the building is the fall-out shelter located in the basement, which was only revealed to the public in 1990 after the end of the Soviet Occupation. This fall-out shelter is notable for it's size: it was built to hold 250 people, and included kitchens, living areas and offices.&nbsp; In addition to it's use as a fall-out shelter, the basement was also used during the Soviet Occupation as a communication center for the secret police. Since many foreign guests were visitors of this hotel, the secret police wire-tapped and followed conversations in the hotel rooms.&nbsp; 61 years later, this location is still an operating hotel (Jalta Boutique Hotel), and the former underground bunker is home to the "Cold War Museum," where guests can take tours of the former bunker. As an example of Socialist Realism architecture and a glimpse into Soviet Occupation era history, Hotel Jalta is a significant location.&nbsp;

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. 

Hotel Jalta

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.  

Wenceslas Square

The Grand Hotel Europa, located on Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czech Republic, was the site where Nicholas Winton ran his rescue mission in 1939.Nicholas Winton was a stockbroker in London, England in 1938.&nbsp; He heard about the threats to Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe, and was concerned about the anti-Semitism that was already happening.&nbsp; He and many others were afraid of the possibility of worse events occuring in the future.	In 1938, many countries (32) met in France to discuss the worsening Jewish refugee crisis.&nbsp; All of these 32 countries tightened their immigration policies and refused to allow more Jews in.&nbsp; After the violence against Jews, and destruction of Jewish synagogues and businesses, known as Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), Britain agreed to open its borders to Jewish children.&nbsp; Britain was open to taking in Jewish children, but there were some stipulations- 1. There had to be a family willing to take in each child that came into the country, and 2. A fee of 50 pounds had to be paid for each child for their return trip home.	Nicholas was supposed to go on a trip skiing in Switzerland in 1938, but instead became involved in the operation to evacuate Jewish children from Prague when his friend Martin Blake asked him to come help in the refugee camps in Prague.&nbsp; He was appalled by the conditions the Jewish refugees were living in and crafted a plan to help evacuate children from Prague, as he was convinced that the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia would be coming soon. Nicholas reached out to many countries he thought would be willing to help; including The United States.&nbsp; Out of all the countries he contacted, only Sweden and Great Britain agreed to help evacuate children from Czechoslovakia.	Nicholas set up an office in the Grand Hotel Prague, where parents would apply to have their children evacuated to either Sweden or Great Britain.&nbsp; If parents were unsure about sending children on their own, Nicholas was able to convince them by explaining they were saving their future. Nicholas worked hard in Prague to sign up the children and get them to the train station, to negotiate with countries to allow them passage through their county, and set up families for the children when they arrived in London.&nbsp; Families from all over volunteered to take in children.	On March 14, 1939 a plane with the first evacuees left Prague by airplane.&nbsp; After that, 7 more transports left from Prague’s railway station, which traveled through Nazi-occupied Germany, through Holland, and across the English Channel by boat.&nbsp; The last successful trainload of children left Prague on August 2, 1939. On September 1, 1939, a trainload of children was scheduled to leave, but that was the same day Hitler invaded Poland and all borders controlled by Germany were closed.	Ultimately, Nicholas Winton was able to rescue 669 children.&nbsp; He kept quiet about his efforts to save Jewish children, and it wasn’t until 1988, when his wife found a scrapbook of all the children’s names and pictures that his story was shared.&nbsp; Nicholas has been able to reunite with several of the children that he helped rescue from Prague.<div> </div>

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.  

Grand Hotel Europa

The Unitas hotel was built in the 18th century,
not as a hotel, but as a monastery. This building was built by Kilian Ignaz
Dientzenhofer. Maria Theresa closed this monastery in 1773 and the building was
used for storage. It even became a place for concerts that Ludwig van Beethoven
visited to perform in.

It was not until the 19th century that the
Congregation of the Grey Sisters of the Order of Saint Francis took over the
building. Their congregation grew to be 500 members. The Grey Sisters inhabited
the building until the end of World War II. In 1948 Czechoslovakia was taken
over by the Communist Party. The Grey Sisters were sent away in 1950 and the
building became home to the State Secret Police. 

When the building was taken over by&nbsp;the State Secret Police, a
prison was added to the building. This prison housed people who were being
interrogated, including former president, Vaclav Havel, of the Czech Republic.

The Congregation of the Grey Sisters was given back their
building in 1990 after the revolution. The building was not in great shape, so
the Grey Sisters converted part of the building into a hotel so that they could
earn money to fix up the building. This building became popular and had
celebrity visitors including the Prince of Wales and former president of the
Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, visit.&nbsp; The
whole building became a hotel after this and is now named, Unitas Hotel.&nbsp;

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. 

Unitas Hotel Prague

Inside of the building now, you can see a picture of the class in 1942, just before the school was closed due to Nazi Oppression. It is a good depiction of the lives of young Jewish children before horrow began. Each name of the 37 students and 2 teachers are listed, along with their story. Of the 39 total, only 10 lived to see the end of the Second World War, while 26 are known to have been murdered. The names and story of each of the 37 students and 2 teachers is also posted on the wall.&nbsp;The information given inside is valid as of November 2014.&nbsp;

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. 

The Jewish Primary School 

The 50 meter high 17000 ton granite Stalin leading his workers in line stood on the Letna Hill for seven years from 1955 to 1962.&nbsp; It took 5 years and 6 months and 600 men and women to construct to honor the Soviet Communist party chief Josef Stalin. The sculptor was Otakar Scec (23 November 1892 – 3 March 1955), who killed himself a day before its debut.&nbsp; However, Nikita Khrushchev took over Stalin in 1953, and the statue was destroyed just seven years later in 1962.&nbsp; Since it was too heavy to displaced, it was blown up in pieces by 800 Kg of dynamite.&nbsp;&nbsp; The pedestal stayed and now a giant metronome stands in its place.&nbsp; The metronome was designed by Vratislav Novak. Novak was born in Prague in 1942 and died in 2014.&nbsp; He was a metal artist and designed and constructed the Prague Metronome in 1991 for a reminder of people’s struggle of communism.&nbsp; He became famous for mainly his mobile metal sculpture at the end of the 1960s. In the 1980s, he started making larger objects like steal cars.&nbsp; Since the 1990s, he developed kinetic sculptures. The Prague Metronome maybe the most famous Novak product. He also made jewelries. The Prague Metronome is 23 meters (75 feet) tall and supposed to be functioning; however, the e-bike tour guide, Gary told us that the metronome stopped moving in the last week of June.&nbsp; It was still malfunctioned as of July 8. The site is a meeting place and skate board park for young people, and Letna Park is most famous for the scenic view overlooking Prague and beer garden.<div> </div>

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. 

Prague Metronome

Prague Castle was first build in 880 by Prince Borivoj of the house of Premyslides. Keeping with medieval tradition the original structure had a moat and the first walled building constructed was the Church of the Virgin Mary. St. George Church and St. Vitus Church were later founded in the first half of the 10th century. Prague Castle acted as the seat of the Head of State, princes, kings, and the Prague Bishop. Prague Castle was also the location of the first convent, the order of the Benedictine nuns, in Bohemia that was located next to St. George. &nbsp; In 1939 the castle took on a darker role. The Czechoslovakian president met with Hitler and was informed that his country would be invaded and it was up to him to allow it to happen peacefully or to be met with catastrophic and deadly force. He tried to resist but realized that his country did not stand a chance against the Nazi army and agreed to allow the Nazi army peaceful entry into Prague. Residence were warned to allow them to enter and many stayed inside their homes when the Nazi forces marched in and made their way to Prague Castle on March 15th, 1939.&nbsp; Hitler arrived later that day. He took a tour of Old Town and then went to Prague Castle to inspect his troops. He spent that night in the castle. The castle then became the headquarters for Reinhard Heydrich until May 27th, 1942 when he was ambushed on his way to the castle. He later died from his injuries.&nbsp;

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. 

Hradcany (Prague Castle)

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.

St. Nicholas Church

Why I chose this site I am fairly sure that I am named for a Beatles album, though my father denies this upon my asking. Evidence: <ul><li>My name is Abbey, not Abigail</li><li>My dad is a huge Beatles fan</li><li>They have an album called&nbsp;Abbey Road. </li></ul>I don't think it's that much of a stretch, and I thought it would be a travesty not to visit this location once I learned about it. <ul><li>The assassination of John Lennon: When John Lennon died, it rocked the world (no pun intended). So many people were moved by his passing that monuments and mementos were everywhere. However, this particular spot has managed to stay maintained by the public and his fans from all over the world to this day.</li><li>Lennonism and Communism: The Lennon Wall gave birth to a movement of people that fought to express John's ideas, primarily circulating around peace, love, and peaceful activism. This became especially important during Communist Rule in the Czech Republic.</li><li>How this demonstrates oppression: The wall was painted over by the government several times in an attempt to stifle public protest.</li><li>Climate Change: This past Earth Day, an organization orchestrated a full cover of the wall to spread awareness about climate change and environmental activism. The wall has also been used by organizations to commemorate important historical anniversaries, like that of the Velvet Revolution.</li></ul>

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...

John Lennon Wall

<div>After the end of WWII, Czechoslavakia fell under the rule of the Soviet Union. From 1948 until the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Czechoslavakia was communist. Any free-thinking ideology, including religion, was eradicated from society. There was no longer private ownership. The economy was planned, and education was under government control. All students learned what the communist government decided was important to know—eliminating any western ways from the curriculum. Anyone who spoke or acted against the regime was fiercely reprimanded, sometimes killed.Running up the center&nbsp;of the memorial’s&nbsp;concrete steps is an embedded bronze strip with the estimated numbers of those impacted by communism:&nbsp;205,486 arrested;&nbsp;170,938 forced into exile; 4,500 died in prison;&nbsp;327 shot trying to escape;&nbsp;248 executed.&nbsp;The&nbsp;nearby memorial plaque reads:<blockquote>"The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism."</blockquote>As I looked at the memorial, seeing the man (representing all human beings), melting or decaying, I am confused by him descending the stairs. I originally thought the remaining foot at the top was the end. However, the figure is walking towards us. I think the top step with only the foot, is where it begins—how life was in 1989, when communism fell. Society, the people, had dwindled to near nothingness. I think the memorial shows how, with the fall of communism, there is renewed hope. And with each step of the figure down the stairs there is truth; the figure comes closer, and more whole as he descends. The repeated image is coming toward us, down the stairs, facing forward, not walking away from us, up the stairs. He (society) becomes one body again—healed.</div><div><div>The Charter 77 movement—an informal civic group that united from 1976-1992 and helped lead toward what became the Velvet Revolution in 1989--had the motto, "Truth prevails for those who live in truth.” This memorial is a reminder of the truths about communism. This memorial shows visually, the reality of the people. It says truth will prevail and the future is full of hope.Researched by Jennifer McIntyre </div></div>

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.


Memorial to the Victims of Communism

Milada Horáková’s life was anything but simple. Her&nbsp;story began with her fight against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia at the beginning of World War II. She, along with her husband, Bohuslav Horák, helped to lead a resistance against the Nazis which ended in her imprisonment in a concentration camp in 1940. After being freed by the United States forces in 1945, one would think that her life would become simpler. Unfortunately for Milada, this was just the beginning of a five year battle against communism, corruption, and injustice.&nbsp; Following the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945, Horáková returned to Prague and joined the leadership of the re-constituted Czechoslovak National Socialist Party, becoming a member of the Provisional National Assembly. In 1946, she won a seat in the elected National Assembly representing the region of České Budějovice in southern Bohemia. Her political activities again focussed on the role of women in society and also on the preservation of Czechoslovakia’s democratic institutions. Shortly after the Communist coup in February 1948, she resigned in protest from the parliament. Unlike many of her political associates, Horáková chose not to leave Czechoslovakia for the West and continued to be politically active in Prague. On September 27, 1949 she was arrested and accused of being the leader of an alleged plot to overthrow the Communist regime. When she was arrested she was tortured and tormented into stating a lie that she would not tell. Her trial began in 1950 and she, along with several of her co-defendants were sentenced to death on June 8, 1950. Many people petitioned for her life, most notably Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Eleanor Roosevelt. This did not change her sentence. She was executed by hanging in Prague’s Pankrác Prison on June 27, 1950&nbsp;at the age of 48. Her final words were, "I have lost this fight but I leave with honour. I love this country, I love this nation, strive for their wellbeing. I depart without rancour towards you. I wish you, I wish you..." She was cremated following the hanging and her remains were never returned to the family.&nbsp;This grave marker paying tribute to her sacrifices was erected in 2000, however, the whereabouts of&nbsp;the urn containing her ashes remains unknown. Inside the tomb are the remains of other brave souls that fought for the freedom of Czechoslovakia.&nbsp; The night before her execution, Milada wrote three letters. The first was to her daughter, Jana, the second to her husband, and the third to her sister. These letters were not delivered, but reappeared in 1970 in an underground paper. The family was finally able to read Milada's final words to each of them, and a feature film about her life was released in 2017.

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. 

Milada Horáková Grave Marker

Before WW II and the Soviet takeover in 1968, the Czech Republic was mostly Catholic. In Prague alone, there are about 120 Catholic churches; however, during communism, Catholics were forbidden to attend services. In Prague, the only three churches where Catholics could attend mass were St. Vitus Cathedral, the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, and&nbsp;Church of Our Lady before Týn (Chrám Matky Boží před Týnem). Attending these services was not easy though, as a person needed to show an ID and a pass, as well as answer many questions about why they were attending services. In addition to being closed, many Catholic churches were used by communist soldiers who destroyed the interiors and sold the religious relics for money. In addition to Catholic churches, monasteries and convents being closed, priests and Catholic intellectuals were arrested and put in prison or labor camps; many people had to worship in secret or in underground makeshift “churches.”&nbsp;The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul was born of strife as well. When Bishop Šebír (Severus) of Prague died in 1067, he was succeeded by Jaromír Gebhart, who was living at Prague Castle with his brother,&nbsp;Vratislav II, Duke of Bohemia (1061-92, King of Bohemia after 1085). When disagreements escalated between the brothers, Vratislav decided to build a new residence for himself at a Slavonic fortified settlement on the cliff of Vyšehrad – in a deliberate move to directly oppose the grandeur of Prague Castle. The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul was built at this settlement. Original founding documents of the Chapter Church did not survive, but in the middle of the 12thcentury, a forged document by Pope Alexander II placed the original construction date as May 9, 1070.One of the more popular stories about the building of the church is that Vlatislav is said to have carried 12 baskets filled with stones to put in the foundation of the church; it was a way to imitate how Emperor Constantine had founded St. Peter’s Church in Rome. In the 900 years of its existence, the church underwent seven stages of construction and styles. The first building stage was Romanesque, similar to the basilica within Prague Castle; the next stage was still Romanesque architectural style, but under the guidance of Duke Sobêslav, up until the year 1129 – this is when the interior of the church began to be painted and furnished. The third stage was Early Gothic, after a fire in 1249, and this reconstruction lasted until 1429.&nbsp;After 1369, the fourth stage of High Gothic began and was initiated by Prague’s famous Charles IV, resuming the building plans that his mother, Queen Eliška Premyslovna had begun. In this stage, a new three-nave church was built by Matthias of Arras – the only other building of this kind in the Czech lands at this time was St. Vitus Cathedral. The original five-nave form of the cathedral has been preserved until today. According to archaeological studies, this building complex was 110 meters long; as a result, it became the largest sacred building in pre-Hussite Prague. Looted and damaged during the Hussite revolution, the Chapter church underwent another reconstruction after 1420 in the Renaissance style; however, the original plans for this reconstruction were never completed due to lack of finances and a changing mentality of the community the church served. In 1495, the church was partially repaired and consecrated again. However, by the 16thcentury the church was dilapidated and in need of major repairs; the church underwent a larger reconstruction from 1575-76. From 1607-1610, the choir was adapted and a new sacristy was built.&nbsp;The final two stages include the Baroque style from 1723-1729 and the Neo-Gothic style from 1885-1903. The Neo-Gothic style is what has been preserved up to the present day. The interior decoration of the church was created by several Czech artists, including Frantisek Urban and his wife, Marie Urbanova-Zahradnicka, who painted portraits of saints on buttresses, and painted the walls with florid ornamental and figurative themes, inspired by the Art Nouveau style of Alfons Mucha.From 1988-1994, the church underwent costly restoration repairs, most likely due to neglect during the communist era. In 1989, the Catholic church was a strong supporter of the anti-Communist movement. Only recently have all the lands owned by the Catholic church throughout all of Prague and the Czech Republic been restituted. Unfortunately, many churches today are more tourist attractions than places of worship and the Czech Republic is considered the least religious country in Europe with about 85% atheists.Today, visitors can hear the ringing of two bells that have been preserved from the original Renaissance section of the building. One is called “St. Peter and St. Paul” and was made im the workshop of Prague’s best 16thcentury bell founder, Brixi of Cymperk in 1584. Baltazar Hoffman’s workshop created the second bell named, “Marie,” in 1621. There are 17 bells in the carillon and four big bells that can ring separately or with the carillon.&nbsp;Melodies are selected differently for regular days and holidays and there are 50 songs altogether stored in the memory.Mass services are held on Sundays at 9:00 and Thursdays at 18:00.

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. 

Church of Sts. Peter and Paul at Vysehrad

The&nbsp;Žižkov Television Tower is a giant, looming tower that was originally built during the 1980s for the purpose of both broadcasting communist television to Czechoslovakia and blocking Western broadcasts from the people of Czechoslovakia, according to locals. Rising over 216 meters, or 708 feet, tall, the tower is an unsightly reminder&nbsp;of the communist era and was referred to by locals as "Jakes' Finger," after Milos Jakes who was the final communist leader of Czechoslovakia.3 Although the tower was not finished until after the Velvet Revolution and the fall of communism, the building still elicits negative feelings from some Prague citizens&nbsp;because it stands as reminder of the country's tumultuous past and the oppression faced during communism. When discussing his distaste for the tower and if there was resistance against the tower being built in the first place, Prague architect Vaclav Aulicky says that "there wasn't such a big debate about it because it was in a time when no debates were taking place."1 The tower was built at the location of an old Jewish cemetery. Established in 1680, the cemetery held the remains of Jewish people who died during that era, mostly due to the plague. Around 40,000 people were buried at the cemetery, many of which were prominent rabbis and businessmen. During and after WWII, the cemetery was unkempt and deteriorated. In the 1960s, the decision was made to preserve only the oldest part of the cemetery and to turn the other areas into a park. This small section of the cemetery is now managed by the Prague Jewish Museum and is a protected historical monument.&nbsp;It wasn't until 1985 that construction on the Žižkov Tower began.2&nbsp;It is a common misconception that the Jewish cemetery was ruined specifically to build the tower; however, the land was already empty because a park had been created twenty years earlier.1 Today, some negative attitudes toward the Tower have shifted slightly. Many people now view the structure as weird and unique versus ugly and depressing. In 2000, Czech sculptor David&nbsp;Černý attached ten statues of six-foot babies crawling up and down the tower. These disturbing babies have bar codes instead of faces. Some believe that the statues represent that modern children are being raised by television and computers instead of being raised by their parents. Others believe the statues are more of a political statement about a country whose democracy is still in infancy. Whatever their meaning, the sculptures&nbsp;have been embraced&nbsp;by the public are now on permanent display at the towers.4 To add to the positive feelings associated&nbsp;with&nbsp;Žižkov TV Tower, the tower now has a viewing area that boasts one of the best views in the city, a bar and restaurant, and a one bedroom luxury hotel. Surrounded by a complicated past, Žižkov Tower has become a tourist attraction for out of town visitors.

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.

Žižkov Television Tower

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. 

Nazi - Communist Oppression in Prague

Jan Palach Memorial

Introduction

Images

Sources