Prague communists pay homage to Klement Gottwald's "contribution"

When Czechoslovakia's first communist president Klement Gottwald seized power in 1948, it paved the way for over 40 years of totalitarian rule in this country. Gottwald's presidency is associated with one of the darkest periods of Czechoslovak history, and his rule was characterised by show trials, political executions and labour camps. Tuesday marked the 108th anniversary of Gottwald's birth, and the Prague branch of the Communist Party, still one of the major political forces in the Czech Republic, organised a memorial gathering at Gottwald's graveside in honour of the occasion.

Prague communists pay homage to Klement Gottwald's "contribution"

A memorial gathering of the communists at Gottwald's graveside, photo: CTK

The idea of an event to commemorate the life of such a controversial figure certainly raised many eyebrows here, especially as it was organised by the only communist party in the former Eastern Bloc not to reform itself since the collapse of communism.

Many of those attending the ceremony were visibly emotional as they honoured a man who is generally considered to have been a brutal Stalinist dictator, but who is still revered in some quarters.

One old communist was keen to emphaise the contribution he thinks Klement Gottwald made to this country:

"His contribution was huge. Not only was he a labourer who worked his way up into high office, but he also helped the entire worker's movement, not just in this country but also throughout Europe and around the world. In short, he was a good person and a good communist. And we all loved him. That's why we are here today and why we still love him even though he is no longer with us."

There are many who would be horrified by the idea that Gottwald was worthy of such reverence. His reign was the harshest period of the communist era. During his time at the helm, two hundred and thirty death sentences were handed out and nearly 200,000 so-called enemies of the state were sent to prison or labour camps, where they had to endure terrible conditions.

The man Radio Prague talked to at the graveside rejected the idea that Gottwald was a brutal leader. He claimed that the only people Gottwald treated harshly were criminals or those who were trying to sabotage the revolution.

"I lived through that entire era here, with him [as our leader]. I knew him personally. The idea of his being a brutal ruler is utterly ridiculous. Whom did he treat in a brutal manner? Well maybe he was hard on some people - not because they had different opinions, but - quite simply - because they behaved in an improper way."

A memorial gathering of the communists at Gottwald's graveside, photo: CTK

But there are many, even in the Communist Party, who balk at the excesses of the Gottwald era. Practically all of the party's leadership were absent from Tuesday's ceremony, and Communist Party Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek took care to distance himself from the event.

Despite the obvious enthusiasm of those who turned up for the memorial gathering, they were few in number. There were only about 60 people at Gottwald's graveside and many of them were journalists covering the event.

It must also be said that most of those in attendance were quite advanced in years, although there were some young men carrying flags with pictures of Lenin and other major communist figures.

One of them explained why they felt the need to honour the memory of Klement Gottwald:

"We think that Klement Gottwald was a very important historical figure. We can learn a lot from his work."

And do you think the kind of communism that prevailed during that era can ever return?

"I think so. I hope it does, because I think that that [this system] is the only way forward for young people and working people. An anti-capitalist revolution is the only way forward."