Tag: 20th Century

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.
A picture of Josef Toufar - Credit: Denik.cz

Father Toufar – tortured by communists

Czechoslovak communists tortured Czech priest Josef Toufar in 1949 for a miracle which may or may not have happened. This article describes the story and the tragic ending of Father Toufar's life.
A photo of the Invalidovna building

Prague’s Invalidovna

If you ask many people in Prague about 'Invalidovna' they'd be more likely to direct you to the metro stop of that name. Few know of the magnificent Baroque building which is the real Invalidovna.
A photo of Vaclav Havel and Mikhail Gorbachev signing the withdrawal treaty.

The Soviets wanted to ‘protect’ Czechoslovakia

Following the fall of the Iron Curtain Soviet troops started to leave Europe. Czechoslovakia, as it then still was, was happy that the ‘temporary deployment’ of Soviet troops was coming to an end. This article looks at the intent behind the occupation, and the events leading up to the Soviet's departure.
A photo of the Jaslovske Bohunice Power Plant - Slovakia

The results of a nuclear incident in Czechoslovakia

I don't think there's anyone who hasn't heard of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe. The recent Sky drama reanimated people's memories of those days. Few are aware there almost was a similar disaster in Bohunice, in what was then Czechoslovakia.
A photo of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - Most, Czechia

The church that moved

We often hear of buildings being “in the way” of new developments. It’s a constant argument between conservationists and modernisers. Sometimes, ancient treasures are even lost in our quest to build our modern times. And then there are cases where people move mountains to preserve things, literally.