May charm of Prague. Celebrating Victory Day in Prague All plans go to hell
Who doesn't know the history of the liberation of Prague? On May 5, 1945, Prague residents rebelled, Soviet troops came to the aid of the rebels, and on May 9, Prague was liberated.
But everything was a little wrong, or more precisely, not at all like that. In May, in Prague, parts of the German garrison actually fought bloody battles. Only their main opponents were not the rebel Czechs, but the fighters of the 1st Division of the ROA (Vlasovites).
Czech Republic - reliable industrial rearIII Reich
Czechoslovakia as an independent state disappeared from the political map of Europe even before the outbreak of World War II. First, in April 1938, under pressure from Great Britain, France and Italy, Czechoslovakia abandoned the Sudetenland in favor of Germany (the so-called Munich Agreement).
Then, less than a year later (March 14, 1939), Hitler summoned President Hacha to Berlin and offered to sign a document on Czechoslovakia’s voluntary acceptance of German “patronage.” Gakha signed. The country did not resist for a day.
Only in the city of Mistek, Captain Pavlik’s company met foreign soldiers with rifle fire. This single fight lasted 30 minutes. The loss of independence cost Czechoslovakia 6 wounded soldiers. The Czech Republic became a protectorate, Slovakia - an independent state, a loyal ally of Hitler.
For 6 years, the Czech Republic was a reliable industrial rear of Nazi Germany. Wehrmacht soldiers fired from carbines made in Czech factories, Czech tanks damaged the fields of Poland, France and Ukraine with their tracks. Individual actions of underground fighters and partisans (like the assassination of Heydrich) did not change the overall picture: neither a strong underground as in Poland, nor a broad partisan movement as in Yugoslavia, existed in the Czech Republic.
May 1945 - it's time to start resistance
In April 1945, when the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt, Czech politicians began to think about the future of the country and their own. They did not at all want to be listed as German collaborators at the end of World War II. The decision was made to start the fight.
In Prague there were several resistance centers that operated completely independently. The "Commandant's Office Bartos" was oriented towards Britain and the USA, the Czech National Council - towards the USSR.
By the end of April 1945, both groups decided that the time for resistance had finally come. Both the “Commandant’s Office Bartosz” and the ChNS planned in this way to rehabilitate themselves in the eyes (some of the West, others of the USSR) and end the war in the ranks of the fighters against fascism. There was only one catch: the German garrison stationed in Prague.
Balance of power before the uprising
The garrison was not that large. The commandant (General Rudolf Toussaint) had at his disposal about 10 thousand soldiers stationed directly in the city and about 5 thousand in the surrounding area. But these were military units that had experience in combat.
The Czechs could only oppose them with civilian rebels armed with revolvers and hunting rifles. In this situation, the uprising was doomed to failure unless someone came to the rescue.
But the Americans (General Patton’s units) were 80 km from Prague in the Pilsen area, and the nearest Russian units (troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front) were even further away - 150 km, in the Dresden area.
Help came from where no one expected it. On April 29, 50 km northwest of Prague, the 1st ROA Infantry Division appeared under the command of Major General Bunyachenko (Vlasovites).
Deserted division
Division formed in November 1944, April 15, 1945. voluntarily withdrew from the front and marched on foot to the southwest to surrender to the Americans. The division consisted of about 18 thousand soldiers; in addition to light small arms, the Vlasovites were armed with machine guns, light and heavy artillery, anti-aircraft guns, mortars, anti-tank guns, anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled guns and even 10 tanks.
The commander of Army Group Center, Field Marshal Scherner, issued an order to stop and return the division to the front (at least disarm), but for some reason there were no people willing to stop and disarm this horde of Russians armed to the teeth.
On April 30, representatives of the “Commandant’s Office Bartosz” came to Bunyachenko and asked him to support the armed uprising in Prague. The auction began and lasted until May 4. In exchange for support, the future rebels promised the Vlasovites the status of allies and political protection after the victory.
Prague in exchange for political asylum
On the evening of May 4, Bunyachenko summoned the commanders of regiments and individual battalions to discuss the proposal. Bunyachenko expressed the idea of not only entering into an alliance with the Czechs, but also playing his part: capturing the city, presenting it to the Americans on a silver platter and at the same time surrendering. It was assumed that the Americans, in gratitude, would provide political asylum to all those who surrendered. Only the commander of the first regiment, Arkhipov, was against it, everyone else was in favor.
On the morning of May 5, representatives of the command of the 1st Division of the ROA and representatives of the “Commandant’s Office Bartosh” signed a document “On the joint struggle against fascism and Bolshevism.” Having bet on both the Czechs and the Americans at the same time, the Vlasovites hoped that at least one bet would be winning.
We are starting an uprising, the Russians will help us!
Having received guarantees of support, the leaders of the “Commandant’s Office Bartosz” began an uprising on May 5 at about 11 a.m. Other Resistance groups had no choice but to join. By 2 p.m., about 1,600 barricades had been built in the city, and calls for help were broadcast.
The Soviet command planned the liberation of Prague for May 11. Due to the uprising, plans had to be urgently adjusted. On May 6, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front began moving towards Prague. But it was almost 150 km away, while Bunyachenko’s division entered the village on May 4. Suchomasty, from where it was less than 20 km to Prague.
On the morning of May 6, the advanced units of Bunyachenko's division entered the city. With the arrival of the Russian division, the actions of the rebels went uphill sharply. If on the 5th their situation was regarded as catastrophic, then during May 6-7 the Vlasovites occupied the entire western part of Prague and cut the city into 2 parts. The surrender of the German garrison was simply a matter of time.
All plans go to hell
And at this time, significant changes took place among the rebels and the situation for the Vlasovites became not just bad, but very bad. The uprising was led by the Czech National Council, oriented towards the USSR.
The leaders of the ChNS did not want to “dirty” themselves by collaborating with the Vlasovites and stated that they did not recognize the agreements concluded with the “Komedatura Bartosh”, were not going to fulfill them, and advised the division’s soldiers to surrender to the Red Army.
Following the Czechs, the Americans also “planted the pig.” On the evening of May 7, reconnaissance from the 16th American Armored Division arrived in the city. To the proposal to take almost liberated Prague, the American officer replied: “No!”
By May 1945, the victorious countries had already divided Europe into zones of “responsibility.” Prague was supposed to become Soviet. General Patton might not have minded remaining in history as the liberator of Prague, but the commander-in-chief of the combined Anglo-American armed forces in Europe, Eisenhower was already thinking not only as a military man, but also as a politician. He categorically forbade movement east of the line Karlovy Vary - Pilsen - Ceske Budejovice. Patton could only watch from the sidelines as events unfolded.
For the Vlasovites this was a blow. Participation in the uprising lost all meaning for them. On the evening of May 7, Bunyachenko gave the order to stop hostilities and leave Prague. The next morning, the 1st ROA Division left the city.
The pendulum swung in the opposite direction. The Nazis went on the offensive, the territory controlled by the rebels began to rapidly shrink, and it was time for the Czechs, not the Germans, to think about the terms of surrender.
The so-called "surrender"
The commandant of Prague, General Toussaint, was neither a fanatic nor a fool. Germany was defeated, Berlin fell. The Americans or the Russians (and most likely the Russians) will still take the city. In this situation, the general decided not to bother himself with a pointless defense, but to save the lives of the last soldiers remaining under his command.
A parliamentarian was sent to the rebel-controlled island, and the leaders of the ChNS were surprised to learn that they had won and the Germans were ready to surrender Prague to them. On May 8 at 16:00 General Toussaint signed the act of surrender. The surrender was more reminiscent of a peace agreement: leaving heavy weapons in the city, German troops went west to surrender to the Americans, the Czechs undertook not to interfere with them.
Early in the morning of May 9, troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front entered Prague abandoned by the Germans, losing 30 soldiers killed and wounded in skirmishes with SS fanatics who had settled in the city.
So who liberated Prague?
437 Soviet soldiers and officers are buried at the Olsany Cemetery in Prague. Dates of death are May 9, May 10, 12th, through July and August. These are Red Army soldiers who died after the Victory from wounds in a Prague military hospital. They are the true liberators of Prague. If there had been no Stalingrad and Kursk, Leningrad would not have stood and Berlin would not have fallen, if in May 1945 the victorious Red Army had not stood 150 km away. from Prague, the Czechs would not even think of raising an uprising, and the Germans would not “capitulate” to them. Isn't that right?
On the occasion of Victory Day celebrations on Tuesday, May 8, an Open Day event will traditionally be held in the buildings of both chambers of the Czech Parliament. Visitors can enjoy free excursions and accompanying events.
The Senate proposes to inspect his main building, Valdstein Palace (Valdštejnská Palác - Valdštejnské náměstí 17/4, Malá Strana) and the Kolovratský Palác - Nerudova 193/III, Malá Strana), in which the Government of the Checol of the Czeiwood In 1938, they reported the signing of the Munich Agreement. Both sites will be open from 09:00 to 16:00.
The Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament (Poslanecká sněmovna - Malostranské náměstí č.19) will also open its doors to visitors. During the hour-long tour, guests will be able to see the main meeting room, conference rooms of various committees and other rooms. The facility's opening hours are from 09:00 to 16:00.
In turn, the Czech government invites visitors to view the interiors of the Grzansky Palace (Hrzánský palác, Loretánská 177/9, Prague 1). In 1894–1896, the future first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, lived here. Today the building serves for presentation purposes - the Czech Prime Minister meets important guests here. The promotion will last from 10:00 to 18:00. The duration of the tour will be about 40 minutes. The last one will start at 17:00.
On May 8, in honor of the 71st anniversary of the victory over fascism and the end of World War II, a memorial procession “Immortal Regiment” and a joint concert of Russian and Czech children’s choirs will be held in Prague.
For the 71st time, the world will celebrate the anniversary of the victory over fascism and the end of World War II. In honor of this event, the “Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots in the Czech Republic”, in cooperation with other public organizations, prepared festive events in which everyone can participate.
The main event, called “Immortal Regiment,” will take the form of a memorial procession. Chairman of the “KSRS in the Chechen Republic” Yulia Gutsul said that this event was first held in Russia several years ago. Thanks to its sincerity and simplicity, the event attracts more and more participants every year. The goal of the project is to preserve in every family the memory of the generation that saved the world from fascism.
“Over the years, unfortunately, some traditions are lost, people who saw for themselves what that victory cost our people leave. The dry facts about victory leave behind the main thing - human destinies. And therefore it is important that we, the descendants of the victors, never forget about the heroes who went through this merciless war,” says Yulia.
Most often, people have very small photographs of veterans. They can be attached to an A4 sheet of paper, indicating on it the name of the hero, his date of birth, awards and titles. Organizers recommend protecting the photo from rain. If you don’t have any photographs, you can simply write your relative’s details on the sign. You can ask any questions about organizing the procession by email [email protected] or phone +420 602 283 237.
In addition to the solemn procession, on May 8, 2016, there will be a performance by children's choirs of Russia and the Czech Republic. Concert “May there always be peace!” will start at 14:00 at Hradcany Square in Prague, where it was held for the first time last year. The children's concert is supported by Czech government agencies, patronage was provided by the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman and the Heitman of the South Bohemian Region Jiri Zimola. The children's performance is also supported by the Rossotrudnichestvo organization in the Czech Republic. Children will sing folk and modern songs, and at the end of the concert they will sing “May there always be sunshine!” in two languages.
Events dedicated to the 71st anniversary of the Victory over fascism in World War II are anti-war in nature and show that all children equally want peace, and adults need to save this world for them. The organizers hope that the joint performance of Czech and Russian children's choirs will contribute to strengthening friendly ties between the countries and will help draw attention to the need to fight fascism in all its manifestations.
Have you already decided where to go for the May holidays? Of course... You are going to Prague! Amazing sights and blooming spring nature will surprise and delight you. May in Prague is wonderful!
Nice and comfortable - neither hot nor cold.
Everything is in bloom, and in any weather there is no escape from the beauty here.
Weather in Prague in May
Perhaps, best time to travel to the Czech Republic comes exactly in May. The weather is warm, but not hot. The days are sunny and not rainy. The gentle sun carefully warms everything around, including tourists enthusiastically wandering the streets of Prague.
The average air temperature in May does not drop below +8°C even late in the evening, and in the middle of the day you can easily count on +20 or even +25 degrees.
In this weather it is very comfortable to go on excursions.
Weather forecast in Prague for May 2019.
However, the weather in the Czech Republic is capricious, and therefore there may be days when it rains or a strong gusty wind blows. But this is rather an exception. Usually, May in Prague is gentle and welcoming, and this year, it seems, will be like that too.
How to dress in Prague in May
When packing your suitcase, remember the purpose of your trip. Prague, and the Czech Republic in general, is a tourist city. So that you You will have to move around a lot, on foot or by car. Therefore, you should dress in such a way that it is comfortable to travel. A windbreaker, a warm jacket, a sweater, a couple of T-shirts and trousers - that's all you need. And most importantly, comfortable shoes. After all, Prague is paved with paving stones, and there is no place for heels!
The right shoe option.
And don't forget sunglasses and an umbrella. Happens, no, no, and it will rain in Prague, and behind it the sun will look rosy. And therefore both of them will definitely be useful to you.
Sometimes, instead of yesterday’s T-shirt, you have to wear a jacket and a windbreaker. This is normal for Prague in May. And you must be prepared for this.
Don’t panic if, upon arrival in the Czech Republic, you suddenly discover that you took completely the wrong things with you - you can always find everything you need in.
Excursions
The trip experience will be incomplete without excursions. Tourists are increasingly booking excursions via the Internet. This is more convenient for several reasons. Can:
- take your time to read the description and reviews and choose what you like;
- do not fuss and do not waste precious time in Prague searching and purchasing excursions;
- buy in advance from home and pay by card;
- there is more choice online than at any agency or travel kiosk, and prices are 15-20% lower, because... no agency fee.
There are many options - from the simplest for €15 (ideal for a first acquaintance with the city) to the most fashionable excursions in the quest genre:
- - €60 for a group of 1-9 people;
- - €23 per person.
The choice is wide - from a trip to the springs (€30) to a trip to neighboring Germany: (€55), (€35) or even (for 2 days and with a stop at Neuschwanstein Castle - €130).
How do you like the opportunity to see the sights of the Czech Republic from above? costs €209 - you choose the direction and program yourself.
The most popular excursions in 2019:
- - see and learn;
- - eat delicious food and drink beer;
- - to be surprised;
- - to see not only Prague;
- - to have something to remember.
The usual view from an airplane window - as always. But this flight is one and a half times more expensive than in any other month - high season.
However, if you are the lucky holder of a Schengen visa, you can try to buy plane tickets at the last minute and save on your trip by taking advantage of the “hot offers” of travel agencies.
If you have a Schengen visa, you can save money by purchasing a ticket the day before departure.
If you don’t have a visa, but also don’t have extra money, go to the Czech Republic in the second half of the month. After the May holidays, the tourist wave is expected to subside, and the cost of your trip may be slightly lower.
May 2019 - what's interesting?
Getting to know Prague The best place to start is with a city tour. Such an excursion will help you quickly find your bearings and decide which sights you would like to see in more detail. You can buy it yourself at any travel agency (they are everywhere in Prague), or perhaps it is included in the tour package offered by your tour operator.
Sightseeing tour “Old City and Jewish Quarter”. The guide Alexey completely captured the attention of tourists, telling the story of the Orloy clock on Old Town Square.
If you have already visited Prague before, take this opportunity and get to know the history and culture of the Czech Republic better by visiting the most beautiful Czech cities. You can read about them in our next article.
From tourist reviews - Natasha, Volgograd:
The Hluboká nad Vltavou castle and the town of Český Krumlov can be visited in one day - there is a standard excursion.
The organization of excursions deserves the highest praise! The guides here are real professionals. On walking tours, each participant was given an earphone, so they could calmly and still listen to the guide's comments. I really liked the spring Prague Zoo, we walked around it for more than four hours.”
In any case, May is the most fertile month to visit Prague. Your May holiday in the Czech Republic will be unforgettable, no matter where you find yourself in the city or country!
Irina Sidorova
On May 8, Czechs celebrate Victory Day. On this occasion, the doors of important government institutions in Prague will open to everyone. This is the building of the Lower House of the Czech Parliament on Lesser Town Square (Malostranského náměstí, 19), which can be visited from 9.00 to 16.00; The Prime Minister's Villa Kramar (Gogolova 212/1) welcomes guests from 9.00 to 16.00; Wallenstein Palace, where the Czech […]
May 8 Czechs celebrate Victory Day. On this occasion in Prague The doors of important government institutions will open to everyone.
This building Lower house of the Czech parliament on Lesser Town Square (Malostranského náměstí, 19), which can be visited from 9.00 to 16.00; (Gogolova 212/1) is waiting for guests from 9.00 to 16.00; , where the Czech Senate sits (Valdštejnské nám. 4) will take place from 9.00 to 17.00.
On May 8 you can even visit (Loretánské nám.5), which is in the Chernin Palace from 10.00 to 16.00. Those who wish will also be allowed into the apartment of Jan Masaryk, the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was found dead under his windows in 1948. The garden at the Cherninsky Palace is open from 17.00, there will be a free concert.
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