Tag: 20th Century

A photo of ethnic Germans awaiting trains to take them to Germany - Strossmayerovo Namesti, Prague, Czechia

The German expulsion

I've written lots about how Germany and German influences affected Bohemia and Czechia. This is what led to a backlash after World War II. This article explores the little-known story of how Czechoslovakia expelled Germans after the war.
A photo of HMS Marlborough, location unknown

Russian exiles in Malta

Mentioning exiled Russians these days suggests pro-Ukrainian protesters or anti-Putin demonstrators. Malta's reputation as a haven for Russians goes back more than 100 years before Putin's antics.
A photo of the old labour camp

The Red Tower of Death

In western Czechia, there is a grim reminder of how the Communists treated prisoners. This article explains what the Red Tower of Death is, and why it exists.
A photo of the fake ruins - Dejvice, Prague

The fake ruins of Baba

Europe is full of ruins that paint a delightful picture of its turbulent past. It's not every day you can see ruins that are as artificial as a fast food joint. Prague's ruins of Baba are one such fake ruin.
A photo of a street in Hranice

The Czech-German tri-point

Accidents of geography have determined as much of world history and culture as anything else. Rivers and mountains became natural, then political, borders. The Czech town of Hranice used to be a meeting point between 3 countries.
A photo of Jan Kefer and his wife

The occult plot to kill Hitler

Before World War II, Czechoslovak occultists tried to use black magic to kill Hitler. It sounds like the plot to a Hollywood B-movie, and in some ways it is. But it also is 100% true.
A photo of the Nibbia Chapel of Bones - Valletta, Malta

The Maltese chapel of bones

I’ve written about Czech ossuaries before, and I’ve visited the one in Paris, but few know there is a Maltese chapel of bones. Well, there used to be one anyway.
A photo of Ladislav Bittman

Operation NEPTUNE

You may think 'fake news' is a modern invention, but you'd be wrong. One of Czechoslovakia's most famous disinformation campaigns was Operation NEPTUNE. This article explains why Czechoslovak spies carried out such a nefarious plot.