Memorial to the Victims of Communism

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For other memorials, see Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington D.C.; and Memorial to the Victims of Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge in Ottawa.
Memorial to the Victims of Communism
Pomník obětem komunismu
Ujezd Pomnik obetem komunismu front all.jpg
Memorial to the victims of Communism
Memorial to the Victims of Communism is located in Czech Republic
Memorial to the Victims of Communism
Location in Czech Republic
Coordinates50°04′52″N 14°24′15″E / 50.08111°N 14.40417°E / 50.08111; 14.40417Coordinates: 50°04′52″N 14°24′15″E / 50.08111°N 14.40417°E / 50.08111; 14.40417
LocationPrague
DesignerOlbram Zoubek
TypeMemorial
Opening date22 May, 2002
Dedicated toVictims of the communist era
Prag10c.JPG

The Memorial to the victims of Communism (Czech: Pomník obětem komunismu) is a series of statues in Prague commemorating the victims of the communist era between 1948 and 1989. It is located at the base of Petřín hill, Újezd street in the Malá Strana or the Lesser Town area.

It was unveiled on the 22 May 2002, twelve years after the fall of communism in the Eastern Bloc, and is the work of Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek and architects Jan Kerel and Zdeněk Holzel. It was supported by the local council and Confederation of Political Prisoners (KPV).

Description[]

It shows six bronze figures descending a flight of stairs. The statues appear more "decayed" the further away they are from you - losing limbs and their bodies breaking open. It symbolises how political prisoners were affected by Communism.

There is also a bronze strip that runs along the centre of the memorial, showing estimated numbers of those impacted by communism:

  • 205,486 arrested
  • 170,938 forced into exile
  • 4,500 died in prison
  • 327 shot trying to escape
  • 248 executed

The bronze plaque nearby reads:

"The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism"

On February 24, 2018, the adjacent pedestrian way to the memorial was named "Alej obětí totality" as suggested to the Prague City Council by Ivan Margolius.[1]

Controversy[]

Prior to the memorial being unveiled, there were reports in the local media about an apparent political row over who should attend the ceremony.[2] President Václav Havel, a leading dissident in the communist era was not invited until the last minute, and then declined to attend.[3]

The memorial has not been universally welcomed, with some artists saying the memorial is kitsch and others critical that female figures were not included. One of the statues was damaged during two bomb blasts in 2003. No one has admitted carrying out the attacks.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Památník na pražském Újezdě se nově jmenuje Alej obětí totality". menetekel.cz/cz/. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. ^ "Memorial to the victims of Communism unveiled in Prague". Radio Prague. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  3. ^ "Újezd zdobí památník obětem komunismu". Radio Prague. 2002-05-23. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  4. ^ "Prague monument to Communist victims damaged in explosion". Radio Prague. 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-09-18.

External links[]

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