Czech and Slovak exiles of the 20th century
This week we travel to Brno to take a look at a new exhibit which looks at Czech and Slovak exiles from the past century. Later in the program we will talk to the one of the owners of a famous Prague cafe, the Globe, who is an American with Czech roots.
An exhibit entitled 'Czech and Slovak exile of the 20th century' is taking place in the Moravian city of Brno. The topic of Czech and Slovak exile's has formed an inseparable part of modern history for both republics. From the beginning of the last century, towards the Nazi occupation, the Prague Spring of 1968, and the communist period in general which ended in 1989, many people left the former Czechoslovakia for largely political reasons to find a new home elsewhere in the world. Notably, many of these people travelled to France, Switzerland, Great Britain, the United States, Russia, and Canada.
The exhibit was organised by the association for culture and dialogue K2001. The aim of the association is to answer a number of important questions such as: Who were and are the Czechs and Slovaks in exile? What political circumstances provoked their exodus from the country? And, what were the differences between particular groups of exile during the 20th century? Here is Pavel Dostal, the minister of culture for the Czech Republic:
"This is the first time since the revolution in November that we officially commemorate both republics that were in exile - Czechs, Slovaks, or Czechoslovaks - who all contributed to the country becoming a democracy after 1989. So, the exhibit in its own way partially pays back the debt that has remained after the twelve or thirteen years since the fall of Communism. I am glad to be a part of it and to have been one of the initiators of this repayment."
Radio Prague caught up with general Milos Knorr from New York who attended the exibit. He explains his interesting story on why he left the former Czechoslovakia, for the second time.
"I went to the army, I was in the 6th division in Brno. And then when the Germans came I escaped through Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Turkey and I made it to France. When France fell I made it to England, in England we had a lot of officers and I registered for the English army. The Czechoslovak government lent dozens of Czechoslovak troops to the English army. My first title was interesting, his majesties temporary lieutenant for the duration of the war without pay, but I got paid by both army's. And then I participated in the invasion with the English boys. The boat we were on was hit and only 50 people survived out of 600 - I was one of them. After the war, in 1948, I came back to Czechoslovakia. On the second day of my return, in February, my office received a letter from the ministry stating that I had to leave Prague within 48 hours and go to some small town near the Polish Border. I was never to have a post in the army and I couldn't ever go back to Prague without special permission. Do you need any more of an invitation to escape?"
The association would also like to address any exiles, institutions, archives, or museums who would like to contribute to the exhibit to contact them - it will last for at least another five years. You can find information on the internet at www.k2001.cz
