A Somber Memorial - Jan Palach

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Just in front of the big National Museum at the upper end of Wenceslas Square there is a small memorial placed in the sidewalk. I am sure it is not noticed by many tourists, as it is not on the side where most tourists walk.


However, the Czechs know it is there and each time I have viewed the memorial there have been two fresh flowers resting on the memorial in memory of two young men who died in protest of the Communist government and Soviet occupation of the Czech Republic. At the time of his death one was a student at Charles University and the university placed a memorial to him on one of their buildings that is near the Charles Bridge. Note in the photo the flowers behind his head.


Here is the story as I understand it:


Jan Palach and a group of other students signed a suicide pact as a means of protesting the occupation of the Czech Republic by Russia. Palach was the first to set himself on fire. He did this on January 16th, 1969 on the ramp that leads to the National Museum. He ran toward a

grocery store, but fell in the street where a transport worker threw a coat over him. Still conscious Palach was taken to a hospital. He was burned over 85% of his body and lived three days, dying on January 19th, 1969. He remained conscious and told his fellow students how much pain he was in and that they should not commit suicide. Most of the students honored his request.


Palach's funeral turned into a huge protest against the occupation of the Czech Republic. A month later another student, Jan Zajíc, burned himself to death and this was followed in April of 1969 by Even Plocek in Jihlava, a mining town east and south of Prague. I do not know if there is a memorial to Ploeck in his hometown or not.


Jan Zajic committed suicide as a protest of the government on the 25th of February 1969. He was one of the students who had signed the suicide pact with Jan Palach. On the 25th Zajic soaked his cloths in flammable fluids and walked into the passageway of the building at No. 39 on Wenceslas Square and set himself on fire. He was unable to run out of the door, and collapsed and died in the hallway.


Fearing large demonstrations, like the ones at Palach's funeral, the state police forbade Zajic's body to be buried in Prague. Instead he was buried in his hometown of Vitkov.

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Photos

Jan Palach Memorial
The memorial at Charles University

Jan Palach Memorial
At the National Museum near the Muzeum subway stop and at the head of Wenceslas Square directly below the museum.

Wenceslas Square
From the site of the memorial.

Comments

[Debara Hafemann]

So fun to read!
Hello Bill and Nancy, Thanks for keeping us posted on your "Posts" :) What a reminder that people are what matters most - and you both are so good at loving others! Your blog reminded me of what a special time we had last year in CZ republic. Happy New Year! Debara

[Jan]

my name is a memory of Jan Palach
I'm proud of Jan Palach as a freedom fighter..My finnish name is given same for a memory of this man..Jan..xxxx lastname.. It means to me a human of freedom like my nation whom was courage and resist criminals like russians.

[André de Hooge]

I was in 2004 at these place!!!
In 2004 I made a bustrip to Prague, Budapest and Vienna!! In Prague I was at the place where Jan Palach put himself on fire in 1969!! It was at Wenceslassquare!! How tragic???

[Jan]

We Jan's are still here
Name Jan was given to me because of this freedom fighter as a respect.I'm a Finnish man.I'm carrying his name with honour.