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

Ladislava Braná as a child in a residential area

Ladislava Braná

* 1957

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

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week, 31. 12. 1992 Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

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

Jitka Chytráčková, then Náprstková, in theatre costume, Turnov, 1960

Jitka Chytráčková

* 1946

A 1948 – 1989 emigrant/refugee, Illegal border crossing, Failed attempt if illegal border crossing , Relatives of important personalities, Royal Air Force and 2 more categories

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 25. 2. 1948 - Communist coup d‘état in ČSR, 8. 5. 1945 - End of WWII, 13. 8. – 31. 10. 1940 - The Battle of Britain, 18. - 21. 8. 1969 – mass demonstrations against Soviet occupation and 8 more anniversaries

Statistics: 20559 Witnesses the Database; 11511 Witness Stories; 21146 Registered Researchers; 171035 Photos; 68148 Clips