Czech Radio commemorates the anniversary of August 21, 1968 with a memorial service, the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Prague will participate | iRADIO
Czech Radio will honor the memory of those who fell during the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops with a memorial service with the laying of wreaths on Vinohradská Street on Sunday, August 21 at 11 a.m. in the presence of representatives of political and cultural life and witnesses of these events.
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Print
Copy the url address
Abbreviated address
Close
The commemorative event will be attended by leading representatives of the state, representatives of Czech Radio and witnesses of the August events. The CEO of Czech Radio René Zavoral will open the ceremonial speeches, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Jiří Růžička, the Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Věra Kovářová and the Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib will also give speeches.
After the event, Galerie Vinohradská 12 will be open, where you can see an exhibition about the activities of the humanitarian organization Bílý kruh.
August 1968
He served ten months for protesting against the Soviet occupation. He also liked singing Go home, Ivan
Read the article
54 years ago, on the night of August 20 to 21, the troops of the Warsaw Pact countries invaded what was then Czechoslovakia. In the morning, a familiar voice came over the radio:
“Yesterday, on August 20, 1968, around 11 p.m., the troops of the Soviet Union, the Polish People’s Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Hungarian People’s Republic, and the Bulgarian People’s Republic crossed the state border of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. This happened without the knowledge of the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Czech Republic and these bodies.”
That day, the Czechoslovaks also defended against the occupation of the broadcast. The fight for radio on Vinohradská street became a symbol of resistance against the invasion.
Top politicians were taken to the Soviet Union, where they subsequently signed the so-called Moscow Protocol. In doing so, they effectively solidified the occupation and submitted to the Soviet Union. It was signed by 19 leading representatives of the state and the ruling Communist Party. Not the only one who did not sign – the chairman of the National Front, František Kriegel.
A year later, on the first anniversary of the occupation, there were civil protests. However, the Czechoslovak security forces were dispersed.
The intervention resulted in seven dead and many injured. The mass protests at that time began already on August 19, when people expressed dissatisfaction with the policies of the new communist leadership. They culminated on August 21.
HOW ABOUT THE INVASION OF INFORMATION RADIO?
Roughly two hours after midnight on August 21, 1968, the first news, which no one wanted to believe at first, was heard from the radio receivers – namely that the troops of the Warsaw Pact crossed the country’s borders at night and began the occupation of Czechoslovakia. A few hours later, tanks arrived at the radio station and gunfire rang out. But the radio continued to broadcast the news, urging people to be careful and playing the Czechoslovak national anthem. Historians specified four years ago that, according to their findings, 137 Czechs and Slovaks had died as a result of the occupation by the end of 1968. During the entire stay of the occupying troops on the territory of Czechoslovakia, more than 400 people died.
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Print
Copy the url address
Abbreviated address
Close