Zdeněk Toman was relatively unknown to most Czechs until recently, but his remarkable tale has gained widespread recognition thanks to a film bearing his name, which was released in 2018. Zdenek Toman, often referred to as “the Czech Schindler,” led a life filled with controversy and paradoxes. He is known for his role as both...
His name was Vít Fučík and he was born on June 3, 1733, in Vitějovice, and died on November 29, 1804, in Klůs near Strpí. He is known as the First Czech Aviator. Vít Fučík engaged in aerial experiments by attaching wings he crafted himself. According to the existing literature, he conducted a total of four...
Crafting today’s blog post has been an immersive journey, requiring hours of devoted research and delving into so many of my favorite subjects. Get ready to unravel an enthralling array of historical revelations, ones that are likely to be new and enlightening to you, all centered around the captivating legacy of Josef Walter. From the...
Czech settlements in America have generally been associated with big cities, such as Milwaukee, St. Louis, New York, Chicago and Cleveland, as well as the rural Midwest. Nevertheless, individual immigrants from Czech lands have appeared in other areas of the United States, although relatively little is known about them and even less written about these...
Albrecht von Wallenstein (Albrecht z Valdštejna) hailed from an esteemed Czech noble family. Even in his youth, his passion for the military was evident. Toy soldiers held more allure for him than any other game, but only if he could assume the role of commander. As he matured, he enlisted in the army and pledged...
The path of the Czechs was not always smooth and prosperous. In approximately 558 AD, a formidable horde known as the Avars emerged from Asia and made their way into Europe. They settled in the land of Hungary and soon began launching devastating raids into neighboring territories, including the Czech lands in 563 AD. Our...
Zikmund and Hanzelka both had a strong interest in travel and discovery. The Czech travel enthusiasts made the decision to go off on a global expedition. In their plans, they intended to investigate many cultures and document the richness and beauty of the world. Through Asia, Africa, and South America, they completed their adventure that...
The name Bohemia, first recorded in history, originates in the Celtic word ‘Boiohaemum’, signifying the dwelling place of the Boii people. This Celtic community established itself in Central Europe long before the arrival of Slavic people. The Celtic Boii people were an ancient Celtic tribe that lived in the region of Bohemia, located in what...
The late Middle Ages and the Renaissance saw a flurry of intellectual and scientific endeavors in the medieval city of Prague. A vibrant group of individuals who were dedicated to studying and unlocking nature’s mysteries lived in the city and were known as the Prague alchemists. The goal of the scientific and metaphysical discipline of...
The Czechoslovak Legions occupy a revered place in Czech history as the armed forces that fought for independence during and after World War I on the side of the Allies. The largest and most famous group was the Russian force, caught up in the civil war, took three years to complete their journey, and traveled...
Today we are revisiting the Golem of Prague. We’ve written about this before in our post The Legend of The Golem but our friend Barbara S. Weitz shared the following information which we’ve decided to share here with you because it’s so interesting. We hope you enjoy it. Who is the Golem? The Golem is...
Today we are looking at the Slovak and Czech settlement at Slavia, Florida. It was mostly Slovak, but a few Czechs were there, too. In the early 1900s, the American Slovak slogan was Spat ku gazdovstvu, or “Back to the farm.” A number of immigrants from Slovakia felt uncomfortable in their occupations as workers in...
Like many others, early Czech California pioneers went West in search of gold and opportunities. During the mid-1800’s California was a land still steeped in romantic reminders of the first Spanish population and the prospect of sudden wealth. A life of adventure beckoned there, at least from an American point of view. What adventures would...
Věrni zůstaneme is the motto of the Czech Republic Army. It means “We Shall Remain Faithful”, “We Will Remain Faithful”, or “We Remain Faithful”. After the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, Germany demanded the “return” of the ethnic German population of Czechoslovakia—and the land on which it lived—to the German Reich. In the late...
Today I am sharing a few pages from a lovely book I received from Reverend Thomas J. Drobena. Thomas John was born on August 23, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Thomas and Suzanne (Durec) Drobena. His heart and soul are in Moravia. Ordained to ministry Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, 1962. Grantee...
Today’s post is about the Czech connection to September 11, 2001. There are several Czech connections to the tragic events that happened that day we all remember. The truth is that nobody who still has a memory can fail to forget where they were the first time they heard about the attack on the World...
