Archaeologists search for bodies of Communist political prisoners

After almost 80 years, the families of three former Czechoslovak soldiers who fought against Nazism and Communism may finally be able to bury their relatives. Archaeologists are searching for Vilém Sok, Miloslav Jebavý, and Karel Sabela, political prisoners who were executed by the Communists on July 18, 1949.

Cemetery in Prague-Ďáblice|Photo: Michal Růžička, MFDNES + LN / Profimedia

Sok, Jebavý, and Sabela were important figures in the fight against the Nazis during the Second World War. After 1948, they were once again united by their involvement in the anti-Communist resistance. For this, the Communist regime regarded them as enemies and executed them. Today, their remains are being excavated to ensure a dignified burial for them and others like them.

Archaeologist at the Prague City Museum and head of archaeological research, Martin Čechura, spoke to Czech Radio about the excavation:

"On the left, we can see pelvic bones and thigh bones. We have uncovered part of one shaft. There are four, almost five coffins visible, so half of the graves. Well, we know we have to get to the third layer."

Jiří Línek, chairman of the Association of Former Political Prisoners, explains what clues led archaeologists to this particular site:

"One thing is the investigation from 1990, 1991. The second thing is the photographs from 1968, when the first investigation took place. It's hard to say that the Communists wanted to investigate their own crimes, but there was pressure from relatives to launch an investigation. And the third thing is the identification of Father Toufar's grave, because we knew the number of the grave where he rests."

If the remains of the three former soldiers are found and confirmed through DNA testing, their families will be able to give them a proper burial. The Commission for Resolving Issues Related to Mass Graves at the Ďáblice Cemetery, led by Jana Kotalíková, Head of the Office of the Government, is among those working to make this possible.

Jana Kotalíková|Photo: Office of Czech Government

"In the case of Mr. Sabela, for example, we are in contact with his son, who was very young when his father was murdered, and who has hoped his whole life that this moment would come," explains Kotalíková.

The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes estimates that both the Nazi and Communist regimes buried several thousand people at Ďáblice Cemetery. So far, researchers have uncovered detailed information on nearly 120 of them. The goal, however, is to map all the shaft graves and exhume as many of these victims and heroes as possible.