Today is a national holiday, the Day of the Fight for Freedom and Democracy. November 17, 1939, had been the day of student protests in Prague against the Nazi occupation of what was then Czechoslovakia. Those rallies resulted in the execution of nine of the student organizers, the transport of over 1000 student protestors to concentration camps, and the establishment two years later of International Students Day. Protests to mark the fiftieth anniversary in 1989 are recognized as the final events leading to the fall of Communism.
I wondered if this might be celebrated as something like the Fourth of July independence day celebrations in the U.S., with parades, concerts, and rallies, but my students had warned me not to expect much. Here is a shot today of a deserted Námestie SNP (Slovak National Uprising), site of the rallies in 1989 to celebrate the fall of Communism. Apparently there were more visible celebrations today in Prague. I could not find anything in Bratislava.One of my students remembers being carried on his father's shoulders to the 1989 celebrations in this square. All my students know of the historical significance of the day. One of my University colleagues told me of attending the peaceful celebrations in this square in 1989, with everyone wondering when the Soviet tanks would roll in and crush the protest, as they had in 1968, but the tanks never appeared. I don't know how to confirm this, but the Slovaks are under the impression that the order to the Soviet troops occupying Bratislava to stand down during those demonstrations came directly from Mikhail Gorbachev.
One more surprise today: I wondered if this national holiday had been turned into a shopping event, like Presidents' Day or Veterans' Day in the U.S. Nope! Many stores, including many that cater to tourists, were actually closed for business in honor of the holiday. I guess they didn't get the memo on how to exploit national holidays to improve sales.
NOTE: Click on any image in this blog to see it full-size.
2 comments:
A German friend of mine tells the story of being on *her* father's shoulders when the Berlin wall fell. American kids my generation don't have these memories... but then I also don't think we have the same appreciation for struggle or political freedom as do our European counterparts.
Thank you for the postcard, by the way - it's beautiful!
Hi, Julie. I realized there was attempt to celebrate 17th November evening before, on the 16th, organized by leading opposition party (Dzurinda´s party)- popular music concert and some speeches being held at SNP square. Another attempt had been proposed for the 17th in the evening - conservative party and youth were supposed to take part in march towards government building. I am not sure if the march even did take place. Unfortunately, most Slovaks do not consider the 17th November a day worth to celebrate too much. Erich
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