Palach Week | Memory of Nations

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.

Jan Pospíšil in 1971

Ing. Jan Pospíšil

* 1944 †︎ 2025

Clergymen, Relative of a political prisoner, Re-emigration of Czechs after 1945, Volhynian Czechs, A secret police agent

1948 - 1955 - Politic lawsuit in the Stalin age, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 16. 1. 1969 – Jan Palach´s self-immolation , 17. 4. 1969 – A. Dubček’s resignation, start of the “normalisation” period, Palach Week and 1 more anniversaries

Petra Procházková in the editorial office of Květy, 1989

Petra Procházková

* 1964

Journalist, Witness of local events from the Communist era

Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

Vladimír Roskovec in 2021

RNDr., CSc. Vladimír Roskovec

* 1937

Legio Angelica (scouts), Relative of a political prisoner, Scientist, University professor

25. 2. 1948 - Communist coup d‘état in ČSR, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Palach Week

Eliška Rothová, c. 1984/85

Eliška Rothová

* 1963

Witness of local events from the Communist era, Dissident, Charter 77 signatory, Art and censorship, The underground

17. 11. 1989 - Demonstration at Národní třída, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Palach Week

Milan Rotter on motorcycle in 1982

Milan Rotter

* 1967

Witness of local events from the Communist era

Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

Petr Růžička, February 2023, Ústí nad Labem

Petr Růžička

* 1956

Boy Scouts, A secret police collaborator, Witness of local events from the Communist era, The underground, A secret police agent

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, Palach Week, 16. 1. 1969 – Jan Palach´s self-immolation

As a teenager

Zora Rysová

* 1947

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

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 1. 1. 1977 - Declaration of Chart 77, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Palach Week

Tomas Schilla during filming, 2025

Mgr. Tomáš Schilla

* 1958

The Plastic People of the Universe, Dissident, Witness of local events from the Communist era, Art and censorship, The underground and 3 more categories

17. 11. 1989 - Demonstration at Národní třída, 1968 - 1970 - Second renewal of Junák, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime and 2 more anniversaries

Gabriela Sharma in the 1980s

Gabriela Kumar Sharma

* 1967

United States of America, Dissident, Emigrant, Relatives of important personalities

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

Jan Šibík in 2021

Jan Šibík

* 1963

Witness of local events from the Communist era

21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 17. 11. 1989 - Demonstration at Národní třída, 9.11.1989 - The fall of the Berlin Wall, Palach Week

Statistics: 20767 Witnesses the Database; 11669 Witness Stories; 21367 Registered Researchers; 173540 Photos; 68994 Clips