Alice Masaryková’s Easter Truce: From Czechoslovakia to the world, thanks to the foreign radio service
Originally proposed by Alice Garrigue Masaryková in 1921, the Easter Truce encouraged public kindness, respectful dialogue, and civic reflection during the Easter period. Although the initiative is more than 100 years old, its legacy lives on.
Daughter of the first president of Czechoslovakia, Alice Masaryková, together with her siblings, was brought up according to humanist principles. The interest in civic life and helping others was simply part of the family atmosphere, which naturally reflected in the humanitarian activities she dedicated her life to.
She became a co-founder of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, which she also chaired from 1919 to 1938. Through an extensive network of specialized institutions, the organization provided healthcare and social assistance to those in need, trained future nurses and social workers, and promoted public health and social awareness among citizens.
In addition to these practical tasks, the Czechoslovak Red Cross also sought to fulfill a broader, more idealistic mission: to promote peace both within Czechoslovakia and on a global scale. At Masaryková’s initiative, this effort crystallized in the tradition of the three-day Easter Truce, first declared in 1921.
An important “media partner” of the entire initiative was the Czechoslovak broadcasting company Radiojournal. It provided a platform primarily for Masaryková, who each year patiently explained the purpose of the initiative over the airwaves, called for the easing of existing conflicts, and urged her fellow citizens to engage in concrete forms of cooperation.
"We greet you, dear compatriots, those of you beyond mountains and rivers, and those of you across the rolling, stormy ocean. With the return of spring, we proclaim peace for the 17th time. During these days of peace, the Czechoslovak Red Cross turns to the entire public, urging everyone to put an end to personal and political disputes and to focus on the human tasks that are common to all."
That was part of Alice Masaryková’s speech from March 24, 1937, in which she addressed overseas compatriots.
The entire Masaryk family was religious, and Easter carried strong symbolic meaning for them. For Alice Masaryková, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ held particular significance. It is therefore no surprise that she decided to link her peace initiative specifically with the Easter holidays, says Marek Jukl, president of the Czech Red Cross.
Jukl: "The European tradition, rooted in Christianity, recognizes the institution of the Easter Truce. This means that during the Easter period, wars should come to a halt. Alice Masaryková drew on this tradition, choosing this time to commemorate the victims of wars and, in a broader context, to reflect on human suffering. Thus, for the first time in 1921, the Red Cross peace was celebrated over three days. On Holy Saturday at noon, the celebrations culminated in towns with two minutes of silence, symbolizing respect for the victims."
Nevertheless, the aim of the Easter Truce was not only to commemorate the victims of war, but also to bring peace into everyday life—encouraging citizens, at least for a few days, to set aside their disputes and adopt a more conciliatory and constructive attitude toward one another and toward public affairs.
"The peace of the whole grows from the peace of individuals and vice versa; the peace of our own inner self we redeem every day. Through creation that requires real effort, conscious care for our health, and joyful rest in the realm of art and the beauty of nature. And all of this with the people we love. In the small world of family, workshops, workspaces, and fields, we see the reflection of the entire universe."
Essentially, the event functioned like a kind of “press truce,” meaning that the media of the time exercised restraint, staying out of political conflicts. Instead, they promoted broader ideas, such as public health, respect for those on the margins of society, and reflections on the victims of wars. Marek Jukl recalls
Jukl: "And then, at noon on that Saturday, two minutes of silence were observed. As a symbolic culmination of the Red Cross peace initiative, a gathering took place in Prague—initially at the National Theatre, and later in the Czechoslovak Parliament where President Masaryk was usually present. Speeches were delivered at these events, and by the 1930s, they were even broadcast by Czechoslovak Radio, including its foreign service."
Thanks to the foreign service of Czechoslovak Radio the headquarters of the Red Cross in Geneva also learned about these activities and were greatly impressed. The idea resonated because the connection between the Red Cross and peace dates back to the organization’s founding. Interestingly, in 1934, at the International Red Cross Conference, it was recommended that all national Red Cross organizations adopt this very initiative.
Jukl: "However, World War II intervened, so the official establishment of this idea on a global scale only took place 80 years ago, in 1946, when the then League of Red Cross Societies decided that a specific day would be commemorated throughout the Red Cross. The date ultimately chosen was May 8, the birthday of the Red Cross founder Henry Dunant, and the first World Red Cross Day was celebrated in 1948."
The Easter Truce was last celebrated in Czechoslovakia in 1950, and from the following year onward, the Czechoslovak Red Cross, too, adopted May 8 as World Red Cross Day.
Alice Masaryková often used the public influence she gained during her father’s presidency as an unofficial “first lady” to organize healthcare and charitable and social services in the newly established Czechoslovak state. The Easter Truce could be considered among her biggest successes whose legacy has survived to the present day.