A legacy of political trials in Czechoslovakia in 50's

The Communist Party seized political power after the putsch in February 1948 in Czechoslovakia. Communists divested their political opponents also with an assistance of political trials. Number of victims of this reign of terror is more than 260 thousands. One from the greatest trials was a trial with "Rudolf Slansky and company", which took place in November 1952. After this trial II communists with high status was executed. During the period in the year 1968 in Czechoslovakia, which is usually called "The Prague Spring", when a censorship was suspended (in March 1968), arose a public discussion about this political trials, their victims and instigators and law rehabilitations. Media contributed to this discussion very much. In three printed media which I probed ("Reporter", "Student" and "Nova mysl") went through the trial with "Slansky a company" at most. Not only the victims, but also through the widows of executed and politically responsible men. A method of creation this trial, his historical context and role of soviet advisors was examined in details too. After a military occupation by The Soviet Union and "friendly armies" on 21 SI August and a restoration of censorship in September 1968, the discussion was practically closed. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org