Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

36  INTRODUCING PR A GUE

Prague after Independence
1966 Jiří Menzel’s
Closely Observed Trains
Just 20 years after its foundation in 1918, the Czechoslovak Republic was wins Oscar for Best
helplessly caught up in the political manoeuvring that preceded Nazi Foreign Film, drawing
the world’s attention
domination of Europe. Prague emerged from World War II almost unscathed to Czech cinema
by bombings, no longer part of a Nazi protectorate but of a Socialist republic.
Any resistance was brutally suppressed. Ultimately, the intellectuals spoke 1967 First Secretary
out, demanding observance of civil rights. Denial of such rights led these and President,
Antonín Novotný,
dissidents to unite and prepare for the “Velvet Revolution”. In the end, it was a imprisons dissi-
playwright, Václav Havel, who was swept into power at Prague Castle to lead dent writers
the country at the start of a long and often difficult return to independence. 1968 Moderate
Alexander Dubček
adopts the pro-
1948 Communist Party gramme of liberal
1935 Edvard Beneš succeeds assumes power under Klement reforms known as
Masaryk as President. Nazi- Gottwald; announces 89 per “Prague Spring”. On
funded Sudeten German cent support in May elections 21 August, Warsaw
Party, led by Konrad Henlein, Pact occupies
makes election gains Czechoslovakia and
1962 Statue of Stalin in
Letná Park demolished over 100 protesters
1945 The Soviet (replaced, in 1991, by a are killed as troops
Red Army enters giant metronome) enter Prague
1920 Avant-garde Prague on 9 May to
left-wing artists rapturous welcome,
form Devětsil following four days 1958 Premiere of 1977 Human rights
movement of uprisings. In innovative animated manifesto Charter
in Prague’s October, provisional film, The Invention of 77 drawn up after
Union Café Destruction directed arrest of band,
National Assembly by Karel Zeman
set up under Beneš Plastic People
Edvard Beneš
1920 1935 1950 1965 1980
1920 1935 1950 1965 1980
1942 Tyrannical
1924 Death Nazi “Protector” for
of Franz only eight months,
Kafka, author Reinhard Heydrich
of The Trial assassinated by
Czech resistance
1932 Traditional gymnastic
rally or slet takes place at 1952 Most famous of many
Strahov stadium
show trials under Gottwald,
Slánský Trial sends 11 senior
politicians to gallows as 1969 Jan Palach
Trotskyites and traitors burns to death in
1918 Foundation of 1938 Munich
Czechoslovak Agreement hands protest at Soviet
Republic. Tomáš over parts of 1955 Largest statue of Stalin in occupation
Masaryk first Republic to the world unveiled in Letná
democratically Hitler. Beneš Park, overlooking city
elected President flees country
1979 Playwright
1960 Czechoslovak Václav Havel founds
Socialist Republic Committee for the
(ČSSR) proclaimed Defence of the
Unjustly Persecuted
and is sent to prison
Tomáš Masaryk in c.1920,
shortly after becoming the
country’s first President
1939 German troops march into Prague; city declared 1968 Alexander
capital of Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Dubček elected to
Emil Hácha is President under the German protectorate post of First Secretary

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