Figure 1.-- These Czech boys are leaving flowers to homor thise that rose up afainst the NAZIs on the 1st anniversary of the Prague Rising in 1946. We are not sure what this building was.

Czechslovakia was dismembered by the Germans and had endured over 6 yeaes of brutal occupation. Prague was still in NAZI hands when Hitler shot himself in his Berlin bunker. Hitler had inexplicably dispatched an SS armored division to hold the city, a division which could have helped defend Berlin. Resistance forces in Prague decided to rise up ro throw off German rule on their own. It would prove to be the final action of the War. They began attacking German units--the Prague Uprising (Pražské povstání) (May 5). The Czecha after being abandoned by the Allies had little ability to resist German occupation. Any attempt at resistance was brutally suppressed by the Germans with massive actions including the shooting of hostages. This was the final opportunity of the Czech resistance to strike at the Germans. Czech police officers attacked the German-controlled radio station at Vinohradská Street, fighting with SS soldiers guarding it. The Czech announcer, hearing the fighting, immediately switched sides and encouraged the Czechs to rise up against the Germans. Vicious street fighting began. Resistance fighters attacked and seized Gestapo and SiPo headquarters. Civilians tore down the German street signs. Those with guns attacked the Germans. Some surrendered. Other fought back. Barricades went up all over the city. Utilities ceased to function. German communication were disabled. The NAZI puppet mayor, Josef Pfitzner, switched sides and pledged allegiance to the Czech National Committee. The small German German garison in the city was hard pressed, but the SS-units on the outskirts of the city came to their aid. The major unit was the heavily armed Kampfgruppe (Combat Group) Wallenstein, composed of two understrength infantry regiments, an assault gun battalion, and other well-equipped detachments. The Germans retook the main radio station, but Czech partisans resumed broadcasting from another location (May 6). The German Luftwaffe still had a few planes. German planes bomved the city (May 7). They destroyed the centuries-old Old Town Hall. An estimated 2,000 Czechs were killed in the fighting. The Czechs succeed in liberating not only Prague, but large areas of central Bohemia. The Czechs of course could have waited for the Soviets, but the Czech Resistance wanted to liberate the city before the Red Arnmy arrived so a govrnment could be established. And they wanted to prevent the kind of detruction of Prague that the Germans had visited on Warsaw. Many acted out of hatred for the Germans as a result of the brutal pccupation. Moving south in an entirely unrelated development, the Russian Liberation Army's (ROA) First Division to the surprise of both the Germans and resitance, came to the support of the Prague Uprising. The ROA was formed by the Germans, but amblivelent toward them. They were, however, ardently anti-Sovieet. The well armed First Division and the lightly armed partisans fought the SS units and were a factor in preventing the destruction of the city. A ceasefire was arranged between the Czech resistabce fighters and the Germans who were anxious to move West before the Red Army arrived (May 8). The ROA First Division did not stay in Prague knowing their fate if captured by the Soviets. The Communists played a major part in the Uprising and the Red Army was approaching Prague and entered the city (May 9). The city had was saved. Its beautiful medievl buildings were mostly intact. The war was finally over. But for the Czechs the situation was bittersweet. They were exchanfing one brutal occupier for another.

Created: 5:15 AM 5/23/2017
Last updated: 5:15 AM 5/23/2017