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Czech LifeAn Englishwoman who has lived in Prague for over six decades – ‘war bride’ Ivy Kovandová
Ivy Kovandová is one of the few remaining so-called war brides in the
Czech Republic. ‘War brides’ are Englishwomen who married Czechoslovak
pilots or soldiers stationed in the UK during WWII – an estimated 10,000
soldiers and about 2,500 pilots from Czechoslovakia fought alongside the
allies, and many of them married local women. Some of those women
accompanied their husbands back to their native land after the war. But
most left Czechoslovakia due to the strain that the arrival of the
communist regime placed on their lives, or simply because they felt lost
and homesick. Ivy Kovandová, however, still lives in her cozy apartment in
Prague’s Vršovice neighborhood and says she has never even considered
leaving. Just a few weeks ago, she celebrated her 90th birthday. I recently
visited Ivy at her home, where she told me all about her adventurous life
over cake and coffee. More
From the ArchivesCzechs, Slovaks and Poles among “The Few”
When Nazi Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939, many Czech
and Slovak professional soldiers and airmen decided to escape from the
country, rather than hand over arms to the Germans. Six months later war
broke out and many of them joined the French armed forces. When France was
occupied, they escaped to Britain. This was how the Royal Air Force’s 310
and 312 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadrons came to be set up in July and August
1940, and they went on to play an important role in the Battle of Britain.
They were also joined by the 311 Bomber Squadron. Just before Christmas in
1942, the BBC’s Czech service broadcast a special programme featuring the
airmen and their British and Polish colleagues to help raise morale back
home. More
PanoramaGreat WWII pilot Karel Kuttelwascher remembered by his home town
On September 1, the world remembered the outbreak of the worst conflict in
history. For Czechs, however, the war started earlier than September 1939.
By the time Nazi troops stormed Poland and France and the UK declared war
on Germany, thousands of Czechs had already left their country, ready to
join the fight against the Nazis. One of them was Karel Kuttelwascher, who
became a famous night fighter with the RAF, and the most successful Czech
fighter pilot of the war. Recently his daughters came from England and
together with the people of his native town marked the 50th anniversary of
Karel Kuttlewascher’s death.
More
From the ArchivesCzechs, Slovaks and Poles among “The Few”
When Nazi Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939, many Czech
and Slovak professional soldiers and airmen decided to escape from the
country, rather than hand over arms to the Germans. Six months later war
broke out and many of them joined the French armed forces. When France was
occupied, they escaped to Britain. This was how the Royal Air Force’s 310
and 312 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadrons came to be set up in July and August
1940, and they went on to play an important role in the Battle of Britain.
They were also joined by the 311 Bomber Squadron. Just before Christmas in
1942, the BBC’s Czech service broadcast a special programme featuring the
airmen and their British and Polish colleagues to help raise morale back
home.
More
Current AffairsWWII war hero, RAF pilot Antonin Spacek dies at 89
One of the country's greatest Second World War heroes, RAF pilot Antonin
Spacek has died at the age of eighty-nine. We look at the life of a man
who spent his life serving his country and who remained true to his
principles in the face of great adversity.
More
Current AffairsRemembering Frantisek Fajtl, legendary fighter pilot
Many Czechs were saddened to learn on Wednesday that Frantisek Fajtl, one
of the country's most respected and famous WW II-era fighter pilots had
died in Prague at the age of 94. For many, Mr Fajtl was a hero and not
only for his feats in battle, but also for his work as a writer, his
memoirs often naming Czech airmen who might otherwise have been forgotten.
Jan Velinger has more on the pilot's life. More
Current AffairsWorld War II fighter ace Frantisek Perina honoured on occasion of 95th birthday
This week is a special one for the Czech military and Czechs remembering
the events of the Second World War: Frantisek Perina celebrates his 95th
birthday on April 8th. One of the most famous Czech fighter pilots,
Frantisek Perina fought for his country in both France and England. More
Current AffairsBattle of Britain: Remembering the Czech aces among 'The Few'
This week marks the 65th anniversary of the turning point in the
"Battle of Britain," when Royal Air Force pilots gunned down 185
German planes in a single day. Ahead of the battle, the Luftwaffe
outnumbered the RAF by more than three to one, and Adolf Hitler was
expecting a decisive victory that would allow him to mount a full-scale
invasion of the British Isles. Among the RAF fighting men who came to be
known as "The Few" were almost ninety Czechoslovaks -- including
the top scoring pilot of the entire battle. More
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