How America saved (lost?) the Czechs
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- Опубликовано: 27 май 2023
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Every year the Czechs celebrate the liberation of Pilsen by the U.S. army. But did America miss it's biggest opportunity to save Czechoslovakia from 40 years of communism?
Check out the behind-the-scenes of this video: dreamprague.com/videos/how-th... 
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Neosvobodila... Dovolila Sovětskému svazu, aby Československo obsadil a 40 let okupoval. Ale dá se to pochopit, každý chtěl, aby už válka skončila.... A také je dobré podotknout, že na většině území se Němci vzdaly do rukou české samosprávy....
@@petrbelohoubek6759 vážený pane doufám že asi víte že jsme patřili do sovětské sféry vlivu kde to bylo již na jaltské konferenci dohodnuto.Budte rád jak válka dopadla protože kdyby sověti nevyhráli u Stalingradu tak dnes se zde mluví německy a vy byste se ani nenarodil a jako národ bychom neexistovali
@@tomp5415 Táhni do Ruska fašistickej vlastizrádče.
tomu říkám kozlí můstek
German 53 yo here: War is messier than history books often show. My father had been forcefully enlisted into the German army at the age of 16 in early 1945 and subsequently stationed in Prague. He was wounded by a Czech sniper on May 9th, 1945, one day after the offical capitulation of the German army. He got into Soviet Russian custody and was sent to a Siberian prison camp, narrowly surviving a Typhus infection. Several years later he was released and allowed to go home - the exact route, duration and logistics I never learned. Probably to the American or British sector by train and then to Oldenburg in the Northern part of Germany on foot. He later went on to live in Neuss, Northrhine Westphalia, where he met my mother.
I am happy to live in a free democracy and plan my fifth visit to Prague coming September. The last time I went there with my mother in 2012, 5 years after my father had passed away. He never went back to Prague.
At the same time, I am worried about the rising threats to peace in Europe and across the world. Let's all fight to keep freedom and peace!
Thank you for sharing your story.
Interesting story!
Yes, war is not a computer game or the story generals wtite. Father of a friend fought on Eastern front, with red army. Never talked much about it. Once he mentioned:"we used to crawl into piles of corpses to keep warm". Think about it for a minute
My dad was an infantryman in Patton's 3rd Army and his last battle of the war was in Pilsn. I've been to Prague twice and going back in October, one day I need to get to the Patton Museum in Pilsn. Thank you for the video.
Also, Patton's grave in the Luxembourg American Cemetery is worth a visit.
Prague was actualy liberated by Russians on German tanks, ROA army. They all got killed by the Russians afterwards. Without these guys Prague would nowadays probably look like Rotterdam... I recommend to read about gen. Vlasov.
Yep, and they technically was ukrainian fascists, who started to fight Stalin, not because they loved Hitler, but because they hated Stalin more. The history is not as simple as to say "Hey, they were Russians, because they drunk vodka."
General Vlasov was interesting character.
Vlasov’s army should be mentioned when it comes to the liberation of Prague.
On May 6, 1945, Vlasov received a request from the commander of the First Division, General Sergei Bunyachenko, for permission to turn his weapons against the Nazi SS forces and aid Czech resistance fighters in the Prague uprising. Vlasov at first disapproved, then reluctantly allowed Bunyachenko to proceed. Some historians maintain it was the bitterness of the ROA against the Germans which caused them to switch sides once again, while other historians believe the sole purpose of this action was to win favor from the western Allies and possibly even the Soviet side, in the light of the nearly completed military annihilation of the German Reich.
Two days later, the First Division was forced to leave Prague as Communist Czech partisans began arresting ROA soldiers in order to hand them over to the Soviets for execution. Vlasov and the rest of his forces, trying to evade the Red Army, attempted to head west to surrender to the Allies in the closing days of the war in Europe.[13]
Actually Prague was liberated by themselves. After was Prague liberated then arrived Red army. This is just comunist propaganda.
Slava Vlasovcum
I'm an American who lives in Germany. I do speak a little Czech, and found Dream Prague about a month ago. I had many of the same experiences that you have had. I really enjoy your work. Please be encouraged to continue.
OMG, Jen, what a precious video again. You must have put in countless hours of research to present the history so concisely. Together with your 17th November video, these are the best pieces of history education I would gladly screen in schools. You have my deepest admiration. Well done. - And, I'm so glad you clearly managed to also have fun with the reenactors, too! :-)
I am from Czech Republic and I can tell you this: Russia has lost well over 20 milion people to be able to liberate Europe. If Germany would not have attacked them, than my parents would most likely die in gas chamber and I would live now. I do not like this video. USA and Britain would have no chance to liberate whole of Europe, 95% of Hitlers´s huge army died in Russia, without that, history would be very sad and 100% different. That is why I hate rusophobia and NATO too. BTW , NATO leader(USA) bombed Germany last year..Nord Stream. What a disgusting NATO leader. NATO is stinking to me, not Russia. Ukraine war is due to USA´s greed to stick it´s nose right on Russia´s borders !!!
In my opinion, it was like:
UK: "OK, we made a mistake at the very beginnig, but no one is stupid enough to sell totally strategic point to the bloody psycho dictator for the second time!"
USA: "Hold my beer..."
Oh that hurts because it’s true
The truth is different. GB wanted not only to keep its colonies, of course, but Churchill had the idea to spread them even over the conquered parts of Europe - specifically in Northern Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia, regarding the British dominion. It's not a joke, he proposed it 1944 to Roosevelt, with the explanation that it would stop the Soviet expansion. The answer of Roosevelt wasn't pleasant to him nor to the British Empire - Roosevelt told him that US wouldn't support the "atavistic" colonial system which prevented the immediate war of the western Allies against the Soviets after the defeat of Germany. And it led to the "end of the colonial system" which became a system of proxy wars of the Western and Eastern regimes and to a new colonialism, without this label. In other words: Roosevelt said to GB that it won't be a global power after the WW2 anymore.
@@Aktivist1000 So the USA didn't say "Hold my beer,", they said "Hold my beer, and dont't you dare to drink it, I'll need it when I'm partying with Stalin." I does not seem to be any less disastrous decision to me.
Americans don't have beer to hold 😂
@@Mimrix You're right. Therefore the Czech beer tastes like křen and the American like horseradish. 😀
Honestly, every time I cast my mind back to that moment when the decision was whether the Americans or Soviets will liberate Prague, my eyes get all watery and my fists clench. It's been 34 years since the revolution, but to this day I feel like the nation is still somehow... broken by those 40 years of communism.
And the biggest sting is when my western friends talk about the war, they always talk about poor Poland how it was attacked first. Not even realizing that Czechoslovakia had it so bad that we became completely forgettable.
Anyway, thank you for this video! Very well made :)
Úžasné poučné video nejen pro mladší generaci o naší historii, ale i pracovitosti a profesionalitě, se kterou tvoříte celý váš youtube kanál. Máte můj obdiv již dlouhou dobu. Děkuji 👍
To jako vazne? Co tento produkt americke spolecnosti kdy stvoril, tak to byla sama hloupost a dezinformace. Snad nikdo neni tak mimo, aby tohle myslel vazne. Vzdyt tihle lide jsou placeni a propagovani, aby podsunovali svetu americke lzi. To je take jedine, co take USA daly svetu. Znicene zeme, ukradene uzemi, miliony zavrazdenych lidi, znicene staty, co neslo ukrast, tak to alespon znicili, velka snaha o prepisovani historie a zaplaceny lidsky odpad, ktery siri lzi. Opravdu se stydim za cloveka, ktery se nestydi napsat to co vy.
I love history, and I am so happy that you are getting the history of our country to a larger audience.
Děkuji!
Jsem hrdá na Plzeň a na její každoroční Slavnosti svobody. Jako novinář jsem v minulých letech dělala mnoho rozhovorů s americkým a belgickými veterány, kteří Plzeň 6. května 1945 osvobodili. Letos poprvé od roku 1990 (a kromě dvou covidových let) tady s námi nebyli. Většina z nich už zemřela, nebo už v téměř 100 letech nemohou tak daleko cestovat. Jejich slova si ale pamatuju velmi dobře. Vždycky mě dojalo, jak ti šediví, sehnutí, víc než devadesátiletí muži při hymnách vypnuli hruď a šli položit věnce k pomníku Díky, Ameriko! A vždycky mi to nahnalo slzy do očí, když neustále každému opakovali: "Svoboda není zadarmo. Za svobodu se musí bojovat a třeba i umírat. Svoboda je pro statečné"
Ano , díky Američanům a HLAVNĚ díky sovětské armádě ( přes 20 milionu mrtvých ) za osvobození naší země .Válečné veterány znam , ziju v Kanadě , jsou to i mojí přátelé. Kanada je k nim velmi dobrá , mají úplně veškeré výhody , bezplatné zdravotnictví a ve všech ohledech je o ně skvěle postaráno . Ovšem přeju hranice do Bellingham USA a tam vidím mnoho válečných veteránů , hlavně z Vietnamu a dalších Amerikou vedených válek , žebrat u silnic . Není vše zlato co se třpytí . Zdravím z Vancouveru .
I am astonished that NOT ONE of the videos about this topic on the whole internet manages to report on the most important aspect of the whole liberation operation: THE YALTA CONFERENCE. Because the Yalta Conference, which happened roughly three months before the end of the WW2, effectively decided the post-war state of Europe, and even the liberation of Czechoslovakia, and how it´s going to go. It wasn´t a spontaneous thing, it was well-planned and it was only SUPPOSED to look like it was decided basically on the spur of the moment. Basically, it went like this: Stalin said he wanted the whole Eastern Europe and was eying the Western Europe as well. He basically openly stated he wanted to install communism there. If he didn´t get what he wanted, there would be WW3, he treatened. Winston Churchill was there too. He felt very bad about his predecessor Neville Chamberlain, and how Chamberlain and the French let us succumb to Hitler in exchange for the Nazis not attacking the West (and specifically Britain) in the Blitzkrieg. Hitler took Czechoslovakia from Chamberlain and attacked Britain anyway. Because he was, well, Hitler. And Churchill felt that Chamberlain´s cowardly actions needed to be rectified, especially when there were lots of Czechs, Slovaks and Poles helping the UK in its air protection during the Blitzkrieg. So he disagreed with Stalin. However, the third man in the room, the dying American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, said it was important to prevent the onset of WW3 in any way possible. And if it meant to give Central and Eastern Europe over to Stalin, they should do it, and let the Western Europeans and the Americans breathe in peace... and whatever happens in Stalin´s part of Europe, that´s very unfortunate, but it´s essentially not his business. Stalin was just politely asked whether he let the nations in Eastern Europe vote peacefully on whether tehy wnated communism or not. Stalin said SUUUURE. And FDR basically stated that IT WAS DONE, took a ballpoint pen, drew a line across Europe, and said that the Ameruicans will free Western Europe up to Pilsen, and Stalin everything in the East. And also stated that after the war, Stalin can keep all the nations he "freed". Churchill felt very bad about it, but there wasn´t much he could do. FDR felt in peace that he made a decision that prevented the WW3, and of course KNEW what was about to happen in eastern Europe, but he decided to close his eyes and wash his hands over it. He wanted to have his hands clean before he died. He died maybe a MONTH later. THAT is the whole truth. It was ONE BIG THEATRE.
Americans and Russians should both burn in hell (along with the Germans)
@@michellemaine2719 I agree on Germans
I've read some academic articles that contradict this point, that Prague was not mentioned at Yalta, that the military decision not to take Prague had nothing to do with Yalta and that it was a purely military decision. www.jstor.org/stable/2009127 for one. Not an expert, but there was a reason I did not mention Yalta.
I was also surprised the Yalta conference was not mentioned. It might not have discussed specifically Czechoslovakia, but the country was definitely a part of the Soviet "sphere of influence" area, so it was expected to be liberated by Soviets.
We thank the USA for landing (June 6, 1944) and joining the war in Europe and helping to liberate it from Germany. And even if they only got involved at the moment when Germany was economically and militarily (production-wise) already defeated by the Soviets, it shortened the war by at least several months, maybe even year! Thank you once again.
Notes:
From year 1943 the Red Army was already advancing westward. At that moment, almost all Germany forces were fighting at Eastern front.
From begining of 1944, Red Army was advancing westards with little resistance, Germany was defeated.
USA is joining war 6.6.1944, and Germany is sending 10-20% of remaining army to Western front.
Withouth USA involment, Soviets would be liberating Western Europe the same year (or next year at least).
This is the reason why Stalin behaved the way he did towards the West, who planned/expected that Germany would exhaust itself but defeat Russia, and then the USA would enter the war and liberate all of Europe, and occupy Russia as well. Therefore, Stalin did not have a friendly understanding of how the West wanted to "portion" Europe and act as a liberator, when the West did not stand up to Germany at the very beginning, when the West refused to sign defense treaties against Germany with Russia even before the war (because Russia was supposed to be the victim Germany).
Excellent video, Jen. I'm embarrassed by how little Eastern/Central European WW1 and WW2 history I learned as an American (and I was a history major at college). We're so England/France/Germany oriented (if even those perspectives) and what was happening elsewhere is rarely mentioned. So thanks for a bit of enlightenment - well done!
try looking up Czech legions during WW1 ... apsolute badasses, they fought their way first on the eastern fron with russians and after the revolution there they fought everyone on their way through entire rusia east to pacific, where they sailed to the US.
Did you know, that U.S. and U.K. army heavily bombed Czech factories and other civil infrastructure last weeks of war. To do maximum damage to our economy and industry. And to create unstable conditions in our country, because it was clear that we will belong to Eastern block with USSR. (after Yalta conference with Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt)
Pokud studujete fakta, nedělejte si závěry dle tohoto videa, je hezké, ale podléhající dnešní propagandě...pravda a fakta jsou jinde, v tomto videu ne...
My great grandma was 15 when the Americans liberated Pilsen. She told strories about that to my grandpa when he was little, he ran his mouth in school and got in trouble frequently. My mom was the same as child, blasting Karel Kryl on vinyl so loud and the got in trouble. I am so greatful we live in free society now, it is not granted!
And they lost the Slovak people too. The election in 1946 had very different results in the Czech lands and Slovak lands. In Slovakia, the Democratic party won 62,50%, with the Communist party being second at 30,61%. However, Slovak voters were outvoted by Czechs, so the Communist party had a majority 31,19%, while the Democratic party was 4th with only 14,14%. There are many explanations for why this happened, but that shall not be the topic of this comment. The Communists centralized power in Prague and started to do what Communists do, culminating in 1948 with Czechoslovak coup d'état. The Democratic party was disbanded. And what is ever more crazy, Slovak Communists were then being punished by Czech Communists for trying to cooperate with the Democrats. We all know the story of Gustáv Husák.
Koalice Slovenských a Českých komunistů byla známá už před volbami. Navíc i tak bylo známo, že rozhoduje počet lidí co bude volit. Tehdy volilo jen cca. 1,6mil Slováků a 5,5mil. Čechů. Hlavní problém však byl, že demokratické strany neuzavřeli koalici. Pak by měli převahu nad komunisty a to dost slušnou.
Dear Jen, As a Czech, I have tears in my eyes. Thank you.
I too
Same here. Imagine what it would be like here if it wasn't for 40 years of Soviet rule. The only real liberators here were the Americans. They came, freed us and, unlike the Russians, left.
Thanks for this one Jen. Good little documentary.
My father was stationed in Exeter, England with U S Army during WW I I . The Czech pilots were in the 310 squadron and fought for west and station near by Dad. Some day you can do a report on Czech pilots during WW I I , I hope. Thanks you Edward Klecka
@Dream Prague-There is a lovely film called Dark Blue World about this, I highly recommend it.
@@michellemaine2719 Nice one, I do recomend "Nebezsti jezdci" (Riders in the Sky) also. B&W, old, but very intense. About Czech bombers in RAF, filmed by book of Filip Jansky (that is alias, actually it was Richard Husmann - shooter on Czech bomber).
Thanks for sharing Edward, I'd too love to see some videos on these. By the way I wouldn't be too surprised if your surname actually pointed to some Czech/Moravian origin. Klecka sounds super Czech. Most Americans can't tell whether their surname sounds more Czech or Polish, although they have a feel that it probably is German or Slavic or let's say Irish. However as Czech I think I can really differentiate these and would swear that your name really sounds of Czech origin.
@@OCDadal i would say that "klecka" is from "klícka" which mean small cage
There are so many topics in the Czech history which deserve a publicity and Jen has become very popular foreign journalist explaining them in a remarkable way. Last two movies, Anthropoid and Zizka finally in English too, revealed quite important events in the Central Europe. And yes, our pilots in England are another remarkable chapter in the history, which starts to fade with the time. I do scorn Utubers and influencers, but Jen deserves her own programme on TV or internet TV. Your videos are intelligent, not about you, but about valuable monuments and important events, which together with your Czech humour puts you really high in a scale of entertainers. Bravo
So sad it made me cry :( i was born in 93 in democratic nation but this history somehow lives in me.. almost feels like I was there. Thank you for such a quality video ❤ do you edit the videos yourself?
Same here, born in 94, very emotional about this, especially these days. This part of history is still very important and I would say essential to understanding the current geopolitical events.
Tohle není pravda, je mi líto...
This was Brilliant! Thank you for telling story of my homeland. Even though I live in USA, my homeland of Slovakia is as close to my heart as Czech Republic and our Czech Brothers and Sisters.
Tohle příteli v žádném případě není příběh vaší vlasti...tohle je nepravdivá propaganda...formálně hezký podána, ale námi, co tady žijeme a jsme tu doma v žádném případě nepřijata, jako pravda...je mi líto...
@@firmaproflazer2045 A co je pravda? Povidejte nam.
Nice work! A. Important topic for sure, and a well-made video.
Thank you! An important part of history I didn't know much about. Have to dive further into it.
Great video again, thanks !!!👍👍👍
U S ARMY došla do Plzně kde se jí němečtí vojáci vzdávali vlastně bez boje s vyjímkou vojáků ss.Zde padlo asi 350 vojáků USA.Ale největší podíl na osvobození měla rudá armáda kde jich zde padlo přes 140000 a to nepíši o tom že Němci prchali do amerického zajetí.
U Rudé armády bych velmi vážil slova ohledně osvobození. US army měla Sověty hnát zpátky odkud přitáhli...bohužel se nepoštěstilo a následky vidíme dodnes...
@@Runemonk vážený pane doufám že asi víte že jsme patřili do sovětské sféry vlivu kde to bylo již na jaltské konferenci dohodnuto.Budte rád jak válka dopadla protože kdyby sověti nevyhráli u Stalingradu tak dnes se zde mluví německy a vy byste se ani nenarodil a jako národ bychom neexistovali
@@Runemonk Proc to tedy USA nedostala? Ani stare rodice nevedi ze by byla nejaka dohoda a ze by USA je nechalo tu Rudou armadu?
@@Runemonk"velmi vážil slova o osvobození" to myslíte jak? Bavíme-li se o válce.
Bohužel ano, a pokud zde US vojáci byli, vypadá to dnes, že hlavně pomáhali uprchnout fašistům...
Here's a video I can like before even watching. Thanks, Jen!
My father was 8 when Americans liberated the town of Rokycany.
Top content as we are accustomed to from you :) We know we were the most important country ever, thank you for reminding the pain!
Great work handling long-form local history instead of your focus on local culture! It's a much more comprehensive coverage than I would ever get the chance to do as a guide on a local tour!
Hi @DreamPrague, your alternative history truly made me shed a tear. Thanks
One of the best videos, thank you Jen.
By the way, I am always reminded of this moment in history when I read some comment by an American who scornfully mocks Czechoslovakia for being from backward Eastern Communist Europe.
This video is dedicated to an important moment in history. That's why he doesn't mention other circumstances, we understand that.
But for the future orientation of the Czechoslovak to the East, this moment was not a turning point or a fundamental one, as we pretend, but it was certainly very important. There was a second moment that Jen mentioned briefly. It was continuous propaganda and fake news organized from Moscow to influence the public against the West.
The news introduced into society grossly falsely slandered the Western states out of bad intentions, reminded of real and imaginary grievances, suppressed economic aid, political intrigues prevented the acceptance of the Marshall Plan, etc. In addition, Czechoslovakia was weakened by the war, the Nazis liquidated the elites, other elites were liquidated by the NKVD after the war and organized communist militia. And the USA did not react to it, it had no idea that a violent coup was about to take place. In one recent document about 1948, they said that when the American ambassador was leaving here, he allegedly said that we (the USA) were blind, we did nothing, Czechoslovakia did not have to be lost.
There is a lot of confusion and myth surrounding the topic in the public eye regarding the role of Yalta and others. The media is not doing a good job of clarifying, many people are still living the lies they were told under socialism in school.
I don't really like the term "liberation" of Czechoslovakia, it's so passive. It's like people are waiting with their hands in their laps for someone to save them. Internal resistance was extraordinary here, as well as great casualties among the civilian population. In addition, thousands of Czechoslovak soldiers fighting on all fronts, including the Pacific. They don't talk about our girls at all, hundreds of Czech girls went to fight, to the station for the wounded and to the trenches with weapons.
If it was about "liberation" by the Red Army (thanks to all the guys who fought and/or died, from all participating nations, even if they mostly did it out of compulsion with the murderous NKVD behind their backs and under crazy commanders who didn't consider the loss of life), it was rather a politically planned "occupation". Where there were Russians, there was theft, rape, deportation, machines were taken away from factories, etc.
By the way, the Red Army managed to defeat the Nazis only and only thanks to very massive support from the West, they received a huge amount of weapons, ammunition, trucks, tanks, planes, fuels, raw materials and metals, shoes, food, etc. This fact was also forbidden to know.
I could go on...
Freakin very very Well said Sir! Kdyby se dalo dát deset tisíc(alespoň) palců tak to tam naklikám.
As u said, u could go on...Just allways wondered if Daladiere and Chamberlain ever thought about those concequences, that those maybe about 1500 CS t35-38s can and will hugely help smash trough allied phony forces from Poland invasion to Paris, even later bits in Barbarosa...just twitch in mind
Ye, anyways BIG UP to your reminding comment, about other nieches in our shared history, as well to original content, cause it was propper work! Seems to me like FreeCollIn (without that demeaning sense) promotion of roots of intermingling cultures even interrupted by commies for so long.
Thanks for knowledge of history, we can have a future...ye yo kno :)
Thank u both, in case you around Stará Ořechovka pub, let me know, beers on me. cheers!
Do not equate the Russians with the Red Army, many Russians fought against the Reds. Even though it was a long time ago, there are still many supporters of white Russia. In addition, the Czechs betrayed the Russians, who did not allow Prague to turn into Dresden, handing them over to the communists.
Great job, Jen. Thanks a lot.
Ach jo to je tak smutné..ale jinak opět skvělé video. Díky.
We need more videos like this. To educate not only people from other nations but especially to educate ourselves about our own history. Thank you! (And yes, I am currently binge watching your videos 😀)
Proboha, vzdyt to hloupe stvoreni nedokaze napsat pravdive informace ani o fronte na poste. Tady jsou snad nekteri po lobotomii.
Potřebujeme znát pravdu, ne propagandu ..
Hi Jen! ☀️ I just discovered your channel and I really appreciate the diverse content about living an expat life in Prague. Sooo intriguing to learn about the Czech culture and lifestyle 🙃 I do have a question regarding accommodation, as I’ll be spending my Erasmus semester in Prague in winter, so perhaps you have any recommendations or clues on how to best find a shared flat (one that is rather affordable too 😅), as I would like to live with locals to gain a thorough insight when staying there. Keep up the great content 😊
Wonderful video, thank you!
The Communist takeover was also significantly helped by the way the Nazis targeted Czechoslovak resistance. They mostly targeted the West-connected resistance, especially after the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. By the end of the world, almost only the Communist resistance remained and (with the help of the Soviet army) formed the emerging power structures on the freed territories. This helped the Communists tremendously in executing their putsch.
Thank you!
Amazing work! Thank you for that!
Prague was only a minimal part of Czechoslovakia. Most of Czechoslovakia was liberated by Russians, Ukrainians and also soldiers from Romania. In particular, the Dukla and Ostrava operations were huge battles with the Germans, where many Czechoslovak soldiers from the general Svoboda's Army also fought against the Germans, cooperating with Russians. The Americans had a fairly simple task as most Germans wanted to surrender to them rather than the Russians. The Russians would not treat them well. They remembered what happened to Paulus' army at Stallingrad.
Thank you for sharing this piece of history
Hi, thx for topic. For most Czechs moving video. I'm only missing one thing ... use somewhere in video song "Škoda lásky" (look for more details, it could even have its own topic). It certainly became an anthem for liberation at the end of WWII.
Thank you so much for a very nice video. I am grateful that you covered this topic in English language.
Beautifully done. Thank you
Výborné - děkuji! ❤
Hi Jen, thanks for the video :) I think it must have made you feel very proud, having your nation celebrated with such dignity and joy! Really has made me almost cry, to realize what a tragedy for our state could have been spared, just one decision and a distance of few dozen miles....Prague liberated by the U.S. Army and Allies would have had a great symbolic meaning that could have turned the tides....
Actually that bad decision, NOT to liberate Czechoslovakia, by US forces, was already made earlier at Yalta Meeting with Churchill/Stalin/Rosevelt, where Rosevelt made gravely mistake by appeasing Stalin, by allowing his spread of Communism ! We paid a huge price for next 50 years to fight cold war, for that stupid decision !!!
Jen, tohle je nejlepší video, co jste udělala a moc díky za to. Měl jsem slzy v očích. Kdyby se to tehdy takhle neposralo, jak skvělý život mohli mít prarodiče a rodiče.
Ano je to velmi těžké se na to dívat takhle z perspektivy toho že stačilo málo a mohli jsme být jednou z nejrozvinutějších a nejbohatších zemí na světě (což jsme dokonce i pod komunistickou nadvládou v 60. Letech byli což ukazuje jak moc československo ve světě znělo)
@@jakubstiskalek7309 mno to spis dokazuje, ze CSR mela rozvinutou infrastrukturu, kterou komunisti nebyli schopni rozvijet (protoze se odklonili od trzni ekonomiky, aplikovali centralni planovani, zglajchsaltovali spolecnost, zrusili soukrome podnikani) a postupem casu ji privedli cugrunt - infrastruktura zacala chatrat a vyvoj se zpomalil tak, ze treba v IT jsme zaostavali o dekadu. osobne jsem presvedcen, ze pad komunismu byl prave proto neodvratny - hospodarstvi udrzovalo jen rozpousteni zdroju z velkych povalecnych zlodejin (zabor nemeckeho majetku, znarodnovani prumyslovych podniku, kolektivizace, menova reforma).
Ano, moje rodice by neutekli kdyz my bylo 11, and byla bych porad Ceska, a ne nejaka blba Americanka.
@@michellemaine2719 já to nemyslel že je komunismus skvělý právě naopak jen vyžíral zbytky našeho skvělého průmyslu a jména ve světě od 45 až do 60 let a tak dlouho s tím vydrželi, než nás všichni ostatní ve všem předběhli a my zůstali na naší úrovni z roku 1950 kde jsme byli tehdy špička ale o deset let později kdy jsme neinovovali jsme byli podprůměr
@@michellemaine2719 Love you
Dear,dear,dear. Very nice heartfelt but didn't paint the true picture despite the dramatization. FDR is the culprit who agreed to Stalin demands that Allies clearly establish postwar spheres of influence. That ment who will liberate Berlin and Prague and stay there afterwards. I am sure that what you describe happened but the Czech were again betrayed unfortunetly by probably best president you have had. To get unbias academic opinion I would suggest asking the Wiki Bear.
I love how Pilsen and other western cities have grandiose celebrations, while the rest of the country "liberated" by the soviets... Just nothing.
Well done! Cheers from East LA!
this is so far your best video... great job
Thank you very much!
Absolutely brilliant
Neosvobodila... Dovolila Sovětskému svazu, aby Československo obsadil a 40 let okupoval. Ale dá se to pochopit, každý chtěl, aby už válka skončila....
Děkuji za skvělé video, Vaše videa jsou dokonalá ❤
Thank you, for this researched, and creative historical thesis. I knew most of the history - and, thought “What? Really?” When the American Army liberated Prague. 🤔😮 Fake-out, as the Soviets waited, to get the glory, and locals died (not as much as Warsaw!)
I was studying in Europe, through my college in Ohio, in the G.D. Luxembourg when the 1989-90 Revolutions took place. Got to travel into the East, and see the crumble of Communist society. Arrived in Prague, stayed for 5 days, met local people, photographed- moved onto Poland. I had other friends who went to Pilzen, to really worship Beer.
I read novels and history, looked into Art (I’m an Artist) of each country I visited, and learned to appreciate where I traveled.
Someday,…I’ll return. Thank you, again, for this historical video. I’ll czech’ out your channel. 🖖
Thank you, @jonathanmurphy3141! I really appreciate your input! 😍 Prague hopes to see you again soon.
Jen, you did not mention the effect of Vlasov troops (russians oposing to soviet union, cooperating with germans). They supported the Prague uprising, and saved numerus lives in process, for a promiss, they will not be given to soviet forces. They hold their part, but czech uprizing has too weak position against incoming soviets, to hold their promiss against Stalins orders. All of Vlasov troops, including general Vlasov himself were executed by soviet forces. At least their contribution will live through the ages.
At the moment and in Prague area, they were mere tens or low hunderets of troops, but armed, experienced and fighting for their lives.
Proč řešit vlasovce, když nás tady v poměru asi 400 mrtvých amerických vojáků proti třiceti či čtyřiceti tisícům padlých slovanu osvobodili ti Američani...sorry jako, oni jako před koncem války ještě zabili při tom bombardovani víc civilistů v Praze, Plzni...než umřelo těch osvobozujících se měřických vojáků...ale teď jsme pár desítek let po válce, fakta stranou...vytváříme videa o tom, co si máte myslet...ne, co bylo...
Ahoj Major Jeneral,
Thanks for this brilliant piece. Once again done with great care taken on all fronts. Research, facts and presentation align so well. Keep up the great work and also thanks to your squad Brigadier "Moneyshots" Honza & Specialist Tobik
Thank you for continuing the memory of forgotten history that affected central and eastern Europe so much, even to this day. in addition to the over 40 years of communist depression, The other downstream offshoot was the number of freethinking Czehs and other eastern bloc citizens who bravely escaped to the west any chance they could. Those generations continue in foreign countries but look fondly at their heritage in Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary etc. etc.
This video is masterpiece!
Good job by You and Honza. Cool with the uniforms You and Radka Čejková were perfect like taken from an old movie. Greetings from Sweden Ulf Brodin.
Great video. A perfect understanding of the historical reality of the liberation of Czechoslovakia as well as the consequences that certain decisions had. It is instructive not only for foreigners, but also for many Czechs, because even today there are those who believe Soviet propaganda that Czechoslovakia was liberated only by the Red Army.
Yes, that was some of stupidity done by communist....
Jen, you are great, and I love your explanations. I emigrated to US from Czechoslovakia a long time ago. It didn't have to happen if the ignorant Eisenhower listened to Patton.
Dream Prague is always so pleasant and fresh, thanks. Kateřina
My grandfather, John Donohue, fought in D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and the crossing of the Rhine. Sadly, he passed away in 2010, and I know almost nothing about his troop movements in the closing days of the war. I wish I had known about the festival in Pilsen this year, but maybe next time. Thank you for informing us about it.
That said, this video is way too harsh on Eisenhower and way to forgiving on Churchill. Why? Because in October 1944, Churchill and Stalin mediated the "Percentages Agreement," which essentially conceded control of all Slavic nations to the USSR and western Europe to the United Kingdom and the United States.
true churchil deserves the blame as well, but in the end the choice was on Eisenhower.
@@Gartos_CZ Even if Patton had liberated Prague, like he liberated Pilsen - that doesn’t mean that Czechoslovakia would not have become Communist behind the Iron Curtain and a satellite of the USSR. Vienna was liberated by the Soviets (as was West Berlin- as well as the rest of Berlin) and they did not become Communist. The allies had had conferences (including at Yalta) before the end of the war to determine the fate of postwar Europe.
@@chrisk5651 true, still would be prety strong political point and if nothink they would have saved a lot of lifes
The Yalta conference was between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin. The three of them acted together to divide Europe. If such a decision was not made we would have had Soviet troops in Greece and Soviet influence in the whole of Germany, France etc.
Thank you so much for this video. I really appreciate it.
My grandma was from Prague, they wish so much too that USA would help them.
Till this day, my grandma hates communist, soviets and mainly russians, because they were hiding in railway tunnel during bombing, and her mother was raped by russians there.
I just wish alternate history where US soldiers would be in Prague.
Atleast i am happy that 24 years we are with our allies, and for me brothers and sisters.
🇨🇿❤️🇺🇲
A nicely - dramatically - made video. Thank you.
It is usually said Prague was liberated by the Red Army, but I have read somewhere (I think it was in a Solzenicyn's book) that it was actually general Vlasov and his army who arrived in Prague earlier and helped the Czech uprising defeat the remaining German troops. When the Red army finally arrived, the fighting was already over.
Anyway, speaking of fatal decisions that could have changed the course of history, it transpired not long ago that World War II as a whole could have probably been avoided if one of two decisions had been made differently. Back in 1938 a sizable secret opposition group among German generals were ready to stage a coup against Hitler and possibly even to assassinate him because they were opposed to starting a war.
But, unfortunately, in the end, they were unable to proceed with their plans, which were at one point quite far advanced, because of two fatal decisions that were wrongly made. First one was when France and Britain nodded to the Munich Agreement and the second, even more tragic one, was when the then Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš decided to not fight back against German troops invading Sudetenland, even though Czech men were ready and even keen to fight. 😪
I am from Czech Republic and I can tell you this: Russia has lost well over 20 milion people to be able to liberate Europe. If Germany would not have attacked them, than my parents would most likely die in gas chamber and I would live now. I do not like this video. USA and Britain would have no chance to liberate whole of Europe, 95% of Hitlers´s huge army died in Russia, without that, history would be very sad and 100% different. That is why I hate rusophobia and NATO too. BTW , NATO leader(USA) bombed Germany last year..Nord Stream. What a disgusting NATO leader. NATO is stinking to me, not Russia. Ukraine war is due to USA´s greed to stick it´s nose right on Russia´s borders !!!
Here's the thing: this was literally forbidden to teach here before the velvet revolution. And it's not the only help we got from the US: certain two (of the most important) documents we consider a foundation of out modern statehood, are called "The Pittsburgh agreement" and "The Washington declaration". The normal people here don't forget that - thank you for educating the rest.
Great job!!! Very interesting, I had always thought that American troops stayed more east. I'd love you to do a mini doc on Lidice. Another interesting and mysterious story is Princess Libuse....
Good video!
I'm so happy that czechs and americans are allies. NATO FOREVER!!!
🤮🤢
Why? For getting sold out by them?
Poor you .
@@pumelo1 troll...
@@michellemaine2719 What?
You are a great storyteller. You really got be before the rewind, I thought this is some 1984 moment until than.
Úžasnééé!!! Tedy ne ta historická chyba, ta ne, ta je tragická, ale to video je skvělé!
A very nice video. You must love to live in Prague.
Another SUPER video. My Uncle, Jim Fojtik, served under General Patton (who hated the Russians). A note: The liberation of Plzen is also celebrated every year in Moravia, not just Bohemia.
Very sad moments in our history. Everything could be different. Sadly, we were betrayed multiple times by the allies. First, when Hitler attacked us and forced the split of Czechia and Slovakia.
Second, during Prague uprising. And at the Yalta conference.
Czechoslovakia was basically given to dictators. Many, many people would live - more than 100 thousands of Czechs and Slovaks were taken to gulags after the war as a forced labor (as slaves to work for fucking russians).
One member of my family disappeared in 50ties. He was a regular guy, worker. One morning, while waiting for a train to get to factory, NKVD took him. They needed to fill numbers…
He showed up many, many years later, scarried to talk what happened. He told my old old aunt the truth in his last minutes in the bed.
Whole families suffered during comunism, properties were taken, former RAF pilots and war heros (like famous paratroopers) were tortured.
Sad times indeed.
K tomu bych dodal, že mnoho Čechů (krajánci, volyňáci apod.) bylo v rusku popraveno a nebo odesláno do gulagů ještě před válkou ve 30. letech (učitelé, členové Sokola, lékaři, hasiči, sedláci aj.), další po roce 1939 z nově dobytých území Polska (mj. zatýkání a otrocká práce v sovětských lágrech s minimem jídla) a další zbylí Češi byli plánováni odstranit v létě 1941.
Whats important is that US Soldiers had almost no problem in advance as they met no resistance. All german troops in the Czechoslovakia were fighting Red army at the north east or surrendering to the west... And while US had casualities in lower hundreds, Red army suffered up to 200 000 casualities fighing for Czechoslovakia (Dukla, Prague offensive and others). Yes part of it was a plan but our borders are actually PRETTY hard to defeat because of the mountains. Also Munich was really a HUGE factor there. Even if Americans would be allowed to liberate us, the anti-western sentiment was really big. We as Czechoslovakia had no bad experience with wars with east so far. In WWI we were on the bad side and created one of the strongest Legion forces both in east and west to fight Central powers. Thats what gave us the right to form a country of our own, our generals and soldiers that put all the others into shame. And the allies betrayed us. Sold us for the false feeling of safety. Aaand they did the same to Poland. In 1939 they declared war to Germany as they invaded Poland and did... Nothing, not a single move.
But Poles had their experience with Russia and Soviets from recent wars of 1919 AND Invasion of 1939, for them it was REALLY hard to accept whatever side because one betrayed them and the other invaded... We had it simple. At that time, east was the ally that didnt betray us yet.
Yes, it was very crucial and sad moments in our czech history. I can't watch movies about the period 1938-1989 any more. I am so glad, that in 1989 I was a 13 year old and I don't have o clue I lived in a totality state. I thought I lived in the best country in the world.
Touching video. In short, the Yalta conference then determined our future 😞
But that's the past. At least I hope...
Amazing video
The video is nice, but we would like to remind you of the American bombing of industry, especially in Prague and Pilsen towards the end of the war. And every war is politics and has all interests. The end of ww2 was the beginning of the cold war between west and east
You know the difference between God and a Politician. God will not change history, but politicians will.
The Soviet Union used to be celebrated and now the USA is celebrated. And after the fall of communism, Czech politicians apologized for the expulsion of Germans and Austrians from the borderlands of Czechoslovakia.
Jen, what a great video!!! And it was also supplemented with exact historical facts. Two of my Texan relatives liberated Western Bohemia in 1945. They told me a lot about it when I visited them in Texas thirty years ago. What a pity that they could not also liberate the eastern part of the Czech Republic from where their ancestors came. I mean Wallachia region where I live too.....By the way, do you know that General G.Patton was born in California ???
Yes I just learned he was a Californian! Proud we are 🤓
Nice job!😉
Děkuji
Skvělé video! 🥰
Moc děkuji @renatatresohlava4517! Ráda slyším, že se Vám video líbí. ☺️
@@DreamPrague vzdycky me prekvapi, jak umite jit do hloubky tematu. Malo se zminuje, proc vlastne Nemci tak chteli Cechy a ze to bylo hlavne kvuli prumyslu a tovarnam. Takze za tohle video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
nemáte tak úplně pravdu. Jsem z (tehdejšího) Československa a ročník 1960. A tenkrát se ve školách učilo, že Plzeň osvobodili Američané a že nepostupovali dál kvůli dohodám mocností. To tehdejší režim nijak nezpochybňoval. Bránil ale k oslavám používat Americkou vojenskou techniku a bránil oslavovat Americkou armádu, což je po vybombardování několika klíčových továren po osvobození a následném vzniku "železné opony" vcelku pochopitelné.
Děda byl v Plzni při příjezdu Američanů ( a později i Československé samostatné obrněné brigády ) v rámci formovaného Pohotovostního pluku 1 NB. Jejich přítomnost v záp. Čechách rozhodně nebyla nic tajného. Ten pohled na ně se myslím absolutně změnil, až během války ve Vietnamu ( především po masakru v My Lai ) ....
Bohužel má. Já se na ZŠ hádala se svou kantorkou historie, že jde demarkační linie přes západní Čechy a že já to vidím i na té slepé mapě. A bylo mi řečeno, že se nakonec nedodržela a Amíci u nás nebyli. Rok cca 1986-7. Za nás už se to popíralo. Myslím, že kantorka tehdy musela být zpocená až na zadnici. Když to chtěli tajit, neměli tu mapu do té učebnice vůbec dávat. řeky zůstaly a já byla v zeměpisu dobrá.
@@drakulkacz6489 tak všude se najdou ideologičtí fanatici, ale sama potvrzujete, že v učebnici to bylo správně.
@@mirasmirascz Na obrázku, ne v texu.
Tohle by mohlo jít rovnou do ČT. A to jak pro výuku dějepisu, tak angličtiny. ❤👍
Těžko
Pro podporu propagandy a falšování našich dějin?
Ahoj, Jennifer,
Sir_Mac je tu jako vždy!
Skvělé video! A desátnice Jennifer Prestonová, v uniformě vypadáte úžasně!
Thank you Sir Mac! Glad you enjoyed 🤓
The soldier uniform fits you so well 😂 You should play some hero in a movie...
Also SO GREAT VID... Thanks
"Immediate and continuous loyalty to the concept of unity and to allied commanders is basic to victory." ( D.D. Eisenhower, 1943)
Jen, You don't have to defend Ike, those Czechs, who know the history of WW2, understand why he decided as he decided. No surprise here.
The problem with the book of Igor Lukeš is, that it was written from the perspective of Prague. But - Czechoslovakia was not liberated in the course of few days in May 1945. By the time the US Army liberated Pilsen, the Red Army and other allies already liberated more than 60% of Czechoslovakia. Even if Patton's army has arrived to Prague on May 7th (the US 23rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron actually did so), it would not change the course of history. After liberation, the US Army would withdraw back behind the demarcation line (as it was in the case of Karlovy Vary). Even if not, if they stayed in Prague and Vltava , more than 75% of the country was already under control of the Red Army. Not mentioning that communist parties nearly won the elections even in countries where the Red Army was not at all (France).
Koho zajímá pravda? Dnes frčí mainstreamová propaganda. :-/
Škoda že Patton nešel až do Prahy. Nebyla by tady 41 let totalita
To dost těžko. Češi si zvolili sovětský svaz protože je západ zradil v Mnichově. A jediný důvod proč byli Američani tak úspěšní na konci války bylo to že Němci doufali že je ochrání před oprávněnou pomstou sovětského svazu. Do východního bloku jsem se přidali většími demonstracemi než kterými jsem z něj odešli. Historie by se neměla přepisovat jen protože že se nám to teď nehodí
Vždyť to Ken vysvětlovala, že nás západ v Mnichově zradil. Žádné dějiny nepřepisuje. Ale to, že nás 'osvobodila' Rudá armáda byla tragédie. Stačí se podívat na bývalé Západní a Východní Německo a nebo nynější Jižní a Severní Koreu.
I remember I got an argument about how the Americans saved Czech and not the Russians. Thanks for validating my argument. I love your videos. They are truly amazing. Your hard work is appreciated. We may agree politically but that doesn’t deter me from watching your channel. Most of all thank you for honoring our American troops!
We may “not agree “ politically. 🤦♂️
Aww, thank you so much, @mr.e-manm5062! I really appreciate it! 😍 We worked so hard on this video.
Jen, the Czechs should be grateful to the Americans not only for their current and future freedom and liberty, but also for their sheer existence.
Without the Americans’ support in 1918, the Czechoslovak State would not come about. They also should be grateful for liberating portion of CSR and for liberating the whole Europe, including the CCCP. In WW2. Without the billions of $s in material and military help to the ruskis, they would lose to the Nazis.
And lastly, the czechies should thank Americans for winning the Cold War, for without the American military presence on the border, the ruskis would have marched to the Atlantic a long time ago. The toothless Germans snd the cowards in France would have capitulated without fight.
It’s sad for me to see hoe much anti-Americanism is even today among the cowardly czechies - remember 1938 and 1968, and compare it to Ukraine.
I hope that you understand my points, and help in promoting the United states of America.
The imperial Russia is an evil empire, together with the Chinese commies, and a menace to world peace and democracy.
Wow, another great video, thank you for it. And one little fun fact about gen. Patton, he have old custom made revolver that wasnt by US army allowed (cos Colt1911 was norm in time), but he was that cool he caried it all wwii (that revolver is possible to see on photos of him even in your video). Děkuji a ahoj.
My Dad always told the story “the Americans liberated Plžen and then got stuck there drinking good beer… “ Left out all the details about the agreement with Stalin, definitely a decision with grave consequences.
Happy happy birthday to you! 🎂
Thank you Uncle Billy!
It wasn't just those moods about West you describe. A decisive part was a fact, that behind fighting Russian armies in the liberated European countries were moving NKVD, a predecessor or KGB. They were looking for democratic elements and made those politicians and public figures disappeared or falsely accused of crimes or cooperation with Nazis, etc. When Russian secret files opened in early 90's, they put that into a History book for 9th class; I've read it from cover to cover, even though it was a pain for me and my relatively poor Russian language skills. Later, when Putin came to power, those things again disappeared from Russian history book.
Jen, this is such a sensitive topic for me even today. Patton is my hero. You could start teaching Czech history at a school immediately. "Se Sovětským svazem, přišla bída na zem". Soviet union, respective Russia is like a tumour.
Dokonalé.
It was 2 days berofe end of WW2 in Europe. The WW2 ends in September after surrender of Japan. East Europe were not liberated, just brown terror was replaced by red one.
Thank you for the video
yes, the word liberation doesn't quite cut it for all the countries 'liberated' by the soviets. This must really suck for Czechs who were so close to be actually liberated but the decisions were already made.
i am living just few kilometers from that line
The liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Red Army meant tragedy for Russian emigres who had found refuge here from the Bolshevik terror after World War I. Immediately after arriving to Prague in May 1945, the members of the counter-intelligence Organisation SMERSH ("Death to Spies") and of the NKVD began to persecute and liquidate them. Hundreds of Czech citizens were hauled off to the Soviet Union without so much as a peep from the Czech government. Many perished as prisoners in GULAGs.