Remembering and rebuilding: Expats in London honor Czech and Slovak wartime stories
Eighty years after the end of World War II, Czech and Slovak communities in London continue to reflect on its legacy. Jana Nahodilová from OKÉNKO and the British Czech and Slovak Association speaks about upcoming events, including a discussion on the Runciman Mission and a film screening of The Auschwitz Report. She also shares plans for a literature festival and summer gathering that celebrate Czech and Slovak life abroad today.
While the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II has already been commemorated in official ceremonies, the Czech and Slovak community in the United Kingdom isn’t finished remembering. OKÉNKO, a Czech and Slovak educational and cultural organization based in London, is at the heart of this ongoing reflection.
Jana Nahodilová, the head of OKÉNKO and also the chair of the British Czech and Slovak Association (BCSA), spoke to Radio Prague International about the events still to come. “We have two events coming up that we’re really excited about,” she said. “One of them is focused on the Runciman Mission—a crucial and often overlooked moment just before the Munich Agreement in 1938.”
The event will feature Ann Shukman, historian and granddaughter of Lord Runciman himself, in a live Zoom conversation. "It promises to be a fascinating discussion, and we’re really looking forward to it," Nahodilová added.
The second event will be a screening of the 2021 Slovak film "The Auschwitz Report", which tells the harrowing true story of Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler—two Slovak Jews who escaped Auschwitz and attempted to alert the world to the atrocities being committed there. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring actor Noel Czucor (who played Vrba), Dr. Lőwkovics from the Association of Jewish Refugees, and Caroline Hilton, daughter of Vrba’s wife.
Importantly, both events are accessible to anyone, anywhere: “Even if you’re not in London, you can join us via Zoom,” Jana reminded listeners. Full details and registration can be found on the BCSA’s website: bcsa.co.uk.
Looking beyond the anniversary, OKÉNKO has a busy calendar. A literature festival is planned for late June, with authors Lucie Hlavinková, Tereza Říčanová, and Vendula Jirová already confirmed. “There will be workshops for children and panel discussions for adults,” Jana explained. A summer sports day and a garden party at the Czech and Slovak embassies are also on the horizon, along with a community event on healthy living led by Czech nutritionists.
Whether through education, memory, or celebration, OKÉNKO and BCSA continue to build bridges between the Czech and Slovak community and the broader British public—reminding us that history lives not only in books, but in shared stories and collective experience.
