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.

Portrait, 2018

JUDr. Martin Svoboda

* 1968

Witness of local events from the Communist era

Palach Week

Jindřich Tomášek in 2023

Jindřich Tomášek

* 1962

Charter 77 signatory, The underground, Witness of local events from the Communist era, Examinee of the State Secret Police – enemy person

17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, Palach Week

Jiří Trnka in 2021

Jiří Trnka

* 1971

Dissident, A 1948 – 1989 emigrant/refugee, The Student activist during the Velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia, Witness of local events from the Communist era, Art and censorship and 1 more categories

1. 1. 1977 - Declaration of Chart 77, 28. 1. 1977 - The “Anti-Charter”, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 17. 11. 1989 - Demonstration at Národní třída, 29. 6. 1989 – Zveřejnění manifestu Několik vět and 2 more anniversaries

Přemysl Vachalovský during the interview

Přemysl Vachalovský

* 1945

Witness of local events from the Communist era

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 18. - 21. 8. 1969 – mass demonstrations against Soviet occupation, Palach Week, 16. 1. 1969 – Jan Palach´s self-immolation

Tomas Vesely, circa 1958

Tomáš Veselý

* 1940

Witnesses of local events connected to WWII, Witness of local events from the Communist era, Hidden people

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week

Otakar Veverka in 2022

Otakar Veverka

* 1956

Dissident, Journalist, Political prisoner after 1968 in Czechoslovakia, Anti-communist rebel, Charter 77 signatory and 3 more categories

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, 25. 1. 1969 Jan Palach´s funeral, 1. 1. 1977 - Declaration of Chart 77, 21. 8. 1988 – 17. 11. 1989 – Street demonstrations against the communist regime, Palach Week and 2 more anniversaries

Radomir Vitek

Radomír Vítek

* 1961

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, 25.3.1988 Candle demonstration in Bratislava, Palach Week

Josef Žanta, 2019

Josef Žanta

* 1932

Charter 77 signatory, Sokol, Witnesses of local events connected to WWII, Witness of local events from the Communist era

15. 3. 1939 - The Nazi occupation of ČSR, 30. 5. 1945 – 29. 10. 1946 - Expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia, 8. 9. 1948 – Funeral of President Edvard Beneš, 14. 3. 1953 – Klement Gottwald’s death, March 5th, 1953 - Death of Josif V. Stalin and 6 more anniversaries

Michael Žantovský in 2022

Michael Žantovský

* 1949

Diplomat, Journalist, Writer, Students who were for political reasons expelled from school, A cultural celebrity and 1 more categories

21. 8. 1968 - Invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, Palach Week, 17. 11. - 29. 12. 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, 17. 11. 1989 - Demonstration at Národní třída, 18 December 2011 Václav Havel died

Miloslav Zapadlo in 2024

Miloslav Zapadlo

* 1952

Political prisoner, Relative of a political prisoner, Charter 77 signatory, The Sportsmen, Witness of local events from the Communist era

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

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