Palach Week

15. 1. 1989-21. 1. 1989

On Sunday, 15 January 1989, representatives of independent initiatives attempted to honour the memory of Jan Palach on Wenceslas Square. The then security forces brutally intervened against them and all those present. Further demonstrations followed, again brutally repressed.

Vladimír Adamíra with band Heparoid, Vsetín 1986

Vladimír Adamíra

* 1963

Relative of a political prisoner, Witness of local events from the Communist era, The underground

9. 5. 1960 - Amnesty of political prisoners, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 29. 6. 1989 – Zveřejnění manifestu Několik vět

Ivan Bačina, 80s

Ivan Bačina

* 1964

The underground, Witness of local events from the Communist era

17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, Palach Week, 1976 – The Plastic People of the Universe trial

Witness Helena Bartíková

Helena Bartíková

* 1955

Witness of local events from the Communist era, The underground

5. 1. - 21. 8. 1968 - The Prague Spring, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

Richard Borovský circa 1963

Richard Borovský

* 1958

Victim of persecution due the forced agricultural collectivisation, Relative of a political prisoner, Witness of local events from the Communist era

1948 - 1955 - Politic lawsuit in the Stalin age, 23. 2. 1949 – Beginning the forced agricultural collectivisation, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Palach Week

Ivo Brůžek in 2024

Ing. Ivo Brůžek

* 1957

Witness of local events from the Communist era

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

Jan Burian, filming for the Memory of Nations, Prague, 2022

Jan Burian

* 1952

A cultural celebrity, Relatives of important personalities, Witness of local events from the Communist era, Art and censorship

5. 1. - 21. 8. 1968 - The Prague Spring, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, 28. 1. 1977 - The “Anti-Charter” and 3 more anniversaries

Hubert Bystřičan in the military service, 1963

Hubert Bystřičan

* 1942

Witness of local events from the Communist era

9. 12. 1944 attack on the guerrilla bunker in Morávka village, 5. 1. - 21. 8. 1968 - The Prague Spring, 19. – 21. 11. 1968 – The three-day student strike and other displays of civil r, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 16. 1. 1969 – Jan Palach´s self-immolation and 2 more anniversaries

Ondrej Cerny - period photography

Ondřej Černý

* 1966 †︎ 2023

Dissident, Charter 77 signatory, Witness of local events from the Communist era

17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 1. 1. 1977 - Declaration of Chart 77, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, 29. 6. 1989 – Zveřejnění manifestu Několik vět, Palach Week

Zoltán Czvengrosch in the 6th grade of elementary school, 1970s

Architect Zoltán Czvengrosch

* 1960

Hungarians in Slovakia after 1945, Witness of local events from the Communist era, Artists

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Vznik nezávislého odborové hnutí Solidarita, Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

Stanislav Devátý

* 1952

Dissident, Political prisoner after 1968 in Czechoslovakia, Charter 77 signatory, Hidden people, Examinee of the State Secret Police – enemy person

19. – 21. 11. 1968 – The three-day student strike and other displays of civil r, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 1. 1. 1977 - Declaration of Chart 77, 24. 4. 1978 – Formation of Committee for the Defence of the Unjustly Prosecuted, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime and 1 more anniversaries

Statistics: 19705 Witnesses the Database; 11024 Witness Stories; 20526 Registered Researchers; 164606 Photos; 65941 Clips