Interview: A behind-the-scenes look at the former Eastern bloc’s secret police
With the fall of the Iron Curtain at the end of 1989 came the collapse of the communist regimes ofContinue Reading
Tag: History
Interview: “Slovakia is still searching for its identity and purpose in the world”
This week, Kafkadesk spoke with Zuzana Palovic and Gabriela Bereghazyova, respectively the founder and co-director of ‘Global Slovakia’, a Bratislava-basedContinue Reading
Henryk Sienkiewicz, the literary soul of an embattled Polish nation
Olga Tokarczuk’s recognition in October put the spotlight on Polish literature— and especially its former Nobel Prize laureates. If PolandContinue Reading
Insight: The politicization of appointments in Poland’s academic sphere
Michał Bilewicz has now been waiting for more than a year for Polish President Andrzej Duda to officially approve hisContinue Reading
Oldest Czech citizen dies at 108
Prague, Czech Republic – Magdalena Kytnerová, the oldest Czech citizen, has died at the age of 108. Ms. Kytnerová passedContinue Reading
Charles IV voted most influential figure in Czech history
Prague, Czech Republic – Charles IV, the 14th-century king of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, is the most significant figureContinue Reading
New bridge between Czech Republic and Slovakia highlights common history
Bratislava, Slovakia – The newest bridge connecting the Czech Republic and Slovakia has been inaugurated, local media reported, with theContinue Reading
Czech Communist MP sparks outrage after downplaying 1968 Soviet-led invasion
Prague, Czech Republic – Czech lawmaker and deputy chair of the Communist party (KSCM) Stanislav Grospič sparked outrage earlier thisContinue Reading
Interactive map sheds light on victims of 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia
Prague, Czech Republic – The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes (ÚSTR) has released an interactive map to shed someContinue Reading
Poland: Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair HQ feared of being turned into ‘Nazi theme park’
Warsaw, Poland – Turning sensitive historical sites into appealing and popular tourist attractions is a delicate and tricky endeavor. PolishContinue Reading
The North American ‘Wild West’ roots of Czech tramping culture
Brno, Czech Republic – Foreigners who come to visit or live in the Czech Republic will notice that spending timeContinue Reading
Lviv: A Slice of Poland in Ukraine
As one looks at a map of Europe from before the dawn of the Great War, one notices comfortably familiarContinue Reading
The Good Soldier Švejk, jolly symbol of Czech panache and resistance
If you wander through the numerous gift shops scattered around Prague’s Old Town you’ll find, alongside the traditional ‘I LoveContinue Reading
‘Poland: The Royal Tour’ featuring Polish Prime Minister premieres in the United States
Warsaw, Poland – The much anticipated edition dedicated to Poland of “The Royal Tour” documentary series premiered earlier this week inContinue Reading
Czech Republic vs. Czechia: A linguistic riddle
It has already been three years since the Czech Republic adopted “Czechia” as its official and shortened geographical name inContinue Reading
