Czechoslovak Political Prisoners - über das Projekt Political ...
Czechoslovak Political Prisoners - über das Projekt Political ... Czechoslovak Political Prisoners - über das Projekt Political ...
was one of the biggest experiences of their lives. The majority of them admit that if they would not have spent a part of their life in prison they would have missed a special experience and reality in their lives. If they should decide again, whether they would be politically active against the state or whether they would sit home in peace they would want to fight again against the communist regime. They would say that it was a good decision even for the high price they had to pay for it. Some of them reconciled to their destinies, “I left the prison completely reconciled. I don’t think I was even mad. I wasn’t even mad, furthermore, to accuse the regime and the Communists and god knows what else, not at all. I accepted these nine years right after the trial,“ remembers Mr. Fučík. This demanded a huge inner energy and power of the person. The most beautiful answer to my question, “What did the prison take from you and give to you?” was answered by Mr. Macek. I was not able to describe these feelings better and so here I’m giving word to the witness. “Prison influenced my life 100 % and it gave me a base for my values for the rest of my life, thanks to being in prison I was able to meet an amazing value of friendship that was born during such terrible conditions. It didn’t matter who was who, but what was the person like and how can you trust and rely on him and how much did he fight for his friends. For example, Lada Majer was able to climb over the barbed wire of the solitary confinement in camp Nikolaj. It was freezingly difficult and he was risking his own life in front of the machine guns just to throw me a piece of bread, tobacco, and newspaper to wrap a couple cigarettes through my window. These we called “balenky,” that were appeasing hunger and I also got a thing called “cunder” to light it up. Why did he do that? Explain it to someone who didn’t go through that? These are values and memories for your whole life and for the rest of your life you really have to recall all of these things. Then you can understand that if you meet these people as a free man, there is no wonder that you will have tears in your eyes and that you will be standing as a weakling, without words and a hug. If there wasn’t prison I would have never lived this and it wouldn’t have shaken me. The prison gave me a chance to meet the most beautiful and intelligent of our nation and the chats with our people allowed me to learn what wasn’t learned before. During that time I still had to realize that I had a lot to catch and make up for. I’m really telling you the truth when I don’t regret the time spent in the prisons and the working camps, because even the terrible moments gave us a chance to wake up. …I’m not a writer or poet and I can not describe what I feel in my heart when my thoughts stray into that time. All I know is that I’m not the only one that feels it like this. This is proven by our meetings that are really unique. I would be happy if our nation would find out that these are the people that are the most pressing gemstones. What to tell to the Bolsheviks? We don’t feel hate towards you, but more disdain! You are aware of the crimes you did, but only to gain power you are willing to commit them again. I feel sorry for you because you do not know what you are missing! What did the prison take from me, well that’s twelve years of life, nothing else. Although it’s not a lot, the positive side is so high above the loss, that these seem to be just trifles.” The previous words are proof that not even long-term imprisonment can break the human spirit. If one can elevate above the hardships and humiliation that means the over throw of the regime. From our point of view, these are the words that are most worth writing down. We should always bare them in mind when speaking about political prisoners in the 1950’s in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovak Political Prisoners 25
Jindřiška Havrlantová was from a farming family. She was arrested with her father on March 8, 1954 and sentenced to 18 years of prison. She was released on February 20, 1963. We didn’t want freedom for ourselves, but for everyone. 26
- Page 1 and 2: This book introduces ten victims of
- Page 3 and 4: Co-financed by the European Union w
- Page 6 and 7: Preface This book is part of a larg
- Page 8 and 9: Historical Overview Postwar Develop
- Page 10 and 11: political parties and especially to
- Page 12 and 13: ple’s Militia was established: th
- Page 14 and 15: The whole trial was effected by com
- Page 16 and 17: The incarcerated were beaten in var
- Page 18 and 19: escapee could be seen well. In the
- Page 20 and 21: For women there was a prison in Par
- Page 22 and 23: were people who worshiped moral sta
- Page 24 and 25: Never ending desire for freedom-esc
- Page 28 and 29: Interview with Mrs. Jindřiška Hav
- Page 30 and 31: Murzin 5 , a new commander, was sup
- Page 32 and 33: adio what was happening. Then we we
- Page 34 and 35: to get. She was supposed to give a
- Page 36 and 37: Were you sharing the room with crim
- Page 38 and 39: What things could you get in the ca
- Page 40 and 41: there is joy and peace everywhere a
- Page 42 and 43: her. When one laughed, we all laugh
- Page 44 and 45: Interview with Julie Hrušková Whe
- Page 46 and 47: the Communist Party? Are you a memb
- Page 48 and 49: were looking for me and they had my
- Page 50 and 51: Where did they take you after the t
- Page 52 and 53: some warm water we were happy to be
- Page 54 and 55: ter and we were also allowed to rec
- Page 56 and 57: luntly about this or that in a way
- Page 58 and 59: The children of a relative of mine,
- Page 60 and 61: Interview with Mrs. Květoslava Mor
- Page 62 and 63: Did you have to pay taxes to the Ge
- Page 64 and 65: elatives live there.” That’s wh
- Page 66 and 67: a place called “járek,” where
- Page 68 and 69: a drying house. Then we picked toma
- Page 70 and 71: What was your release like? Well, I
- Page 72 and 73: Czechoslovak Political Prisoners 71
- Page 74 and 75: Interview with Mrs. Drahomíra Stuc
Jindřiška Havrlantová was from a farming family. She was arrested with her father on March 8,<br />
1954 and sentenced to 18 years of prison. She was released on February 20, 1963.<br />
We didn’t want freedom for ourselves, but for everyone.<br />
26
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