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From the ArchivesStalin and Gottwald: together in life and death
When Joseph Stalin died on March 5 1953, it sent shockwaves round the
world. In Czechoslovakia his personality cult had been almost as
overwhelming as in the Soviet Union itself. At the time of his death, work
was already well under way to build the biggest statue of the Soviet
dictator in the world – unveiled two years later in Letná Park. Stalin
had a close ally and kindred spirit in the Czechoslovak President, Klement
Gottwald, and Gottwald ignored warnings from his doctors in order to attend
his friend and protector’s funeral. Before leading the Czechoslovak
delegation to Moscow, he had a few words for his country’s citizens. More
From the ArchivesFebruary 1948: a new political order enters by the back door
In last week’s programme we heard about the Communist-led government that
emerged from Czechoslovakia’s elections in May 1946. Although the number
of parties allowed to take part had been limited, Czechoslovakia was still
a multi-party democracy. But the governing coalition was an uneasy one,
with the non-communist parties pushed into ever greater isolation, while
the communists, with the weight of the Soviet Union behind them, gained an
ever stronger foothold. More
Czechs in HistoryRudolf Slánský: architect of Communist takeover and purge victim
Czechoslovak top Communist Rudolf Slánský is a tragic figure of 20th
century history in the classical sense of the word. In the end the fate of
the once powerful and self made man was mapped out elsewhere as he became a
victim of the state security system he helped create.
More
Letter from PragueThings to think about on Vítkov Hill
Of all the good things to see in Prague that are on hills, I like to take
new guests to the monument on Vítkov instead of, say, Prague Castle. For
one thing there are fewer steps.For another, a friend who was here for
three days found a WWII coin on the ground and I’ve been hoping in vain
to find one too for 10 years now.
More
From the ArchivesStalin and Gottwald: together in life and death
When Joseph Stalin died on March 5 1953, it sent shockwaves round the
world. In Czechoslovakia his personality cult had been almost as
overwhelming as in the Soviet Union itself. At the time of his death, work
was already well under way to build the biggest statue of the Soviet
dictator in the world – unveiled two years later in Letná Park. Stalin
had a close ally and kindred spirit in the Czechoslovak President, Klement
Gottwald, and Gottwald ignored warnings from his doctors in order to attend
his friend and protector’s funeral. Before leading the Czechoslovak
delegation to Moscow, he had a few words for his country’s citizens.
More
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