Czechoslovak resistance memorial to be built in old farm of General Mašín

A memorial honouring the three phases of resistance in Czechoslovakia and one of its most famous leaders, Major General Josef Mašín, is being built at Mašín former farm in the village of Lošany in the district of Kolín. The memorial is set to open next year. A special mulberry tree was planted in the remnants of the house on Wednesday to mark 124 years since Mašín’s birth.

A part of the old building will house a letter penned by Mašín which contains the testament to his children on how they should fight for freedom if it ever comes under threat. The letter was found after Mašín died in his cell. Special lights will display a moving tricolour in another part of the house, historian Petr Blažek, who is the deputy-chairman of the Mašínův statek - památník tří odbojů society, told the Czech News Agency.

The society is currently in the process of raising funds for the reconstruction of the farm as a memorial. It was acquired again by Mašín’s descendants in 2017. Some CZK 2.5 million have been raised thus far. The farm previously belonged to the Mašíns for centuries.

Josef Mašín was one of the leaders of the anti-Nazi resistance in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He was captured by the Nazis, tortured and executed after the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. His children were active in the anti-Communist resistance and managed to escape to the West. Their mother and sister were jailed by the Communists.