The first commemorative events took place on April 15 at the memorial in the village of Sudice, Silesia, where the Red Army’s so-called Ostrava operation began. The commemoration took place as last year, ie without representatives of Russia, who were also not invited this time.

“Another change is that World War II veterans are no longer participating in the event. At the moment, we can count up to twenty of them, and most of them are already sick and their age does not allow them to participate,” Martin Ogořálek, spokesman for the Ostrava regional headquarters, told Práv.

While the beginning of the Ostrava operation is traditionally commemorated in Sudice, the end of the Ostrava operation associated with the liberation of Ostrava always culminates in the monument to the Red Army in the Comenius Ostrava Park. Traditional events weren’t held here for the first time last year, and will be similar this year.

“Due to the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, we will not hold the traditional ceremony ahead of time with military honors. However, an ecumenical service is being prepared, which will take place on April 28 at the St. Petersburg church. Václav in Ostrava,” said Gabriela Pokorná, spokesperson talk to Ostrava city hall, to Práva. People will be able to honor the memory of the victims of the battle throughout the day at the memorial in the Comenské sady. Representatives from city management will do the same.

Part of this year’s liberation celebrations in the Opava Region will also be a series of commemorative events organized by the Czechoslovak legionary community. It starts on Friday, April 28 in Sudice and will continue via Bolatice, Štítina, Dolní Lhota and Čavisov to Ostrava-Vítkovice. At war memorials, or at the graves of war heroes, a short devotional meeting is arranged with the participation of the mayor, sometimes with cultural performances by elementary school students.

Pilsen will commemorate the liberation by American soldiers on the traditional Freedom Celebration, from Friday 5 to Monday 8 May. But for the first time without the participation of war veterans from the USA and Belgium. “Some left us, some could not because of their health,” said Mayor Roman Zarzycký (ANO). Unfortunately, none of the official invitations to the last six addresses received a positive response. However, members of a war hero’s family will arrive in Pilsen, including George Patton Waters, grandson of the legendary general.

Because every year, a period army camp will be seen in the city, and the most anticipated point of the program, the journey of a convoy of about two hundred historical military vehicles, will take place on Sunday morning. The so-called liberation convoy will depart this Friday morning from the American Embassy in Prague. Due to the war in Ukraine, fighting demonstrations did not take place last year, and the organizers are not going to return there.

Kroměříž will also commemorate the liberation day in the first week of May. “The celebration will be an act of respect at the Romanian soldier’s memorial on May 3, which will be complemented by a meeting a day later at Ludvík Svoboda’s grave in the local cemetery,” explained mayor Tomáš Opatrný (ANO).

In Brno, on May 8 a memorial service will be held in the Kounice hostel area. The event will start at 10 am. “However, we don’t know who will arrive at this time. We don’t even need confirmation,” municipal government spokesman Filip Poňuchálek told Práv. The city hall did not invite representatives of the Russian party.

Last weekend, commemorative events for the end of the Second World War took place under the Veveří Castle near Brno. The organizers emphasized that this is a tribute to all soldiers who participated in the liberation of Czechoslovakia.

“Most of them were Ukrainians in the Red Army. Of course there were Czechoslovakians, Romanians, Hungarians and representatives of other nationalities. If we didn’t organize our event, we would forget about them, and they definitely don’t deserve to remember what they did.” for us,” said stage creator Ivan Vystrčil of the Acaballado association.

There have been no further events reported in Prague for the 78th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, city hall and state institutions have yet to announce. Until yesterday, the only encounter announced was the KSČM pieta at Kinských Square in Prague 5, where Soviet No. 23 stood on a high pedestal, which, however, did not arrive at this location in May 1945. The Communists held their meeting on May 9, which they continue to regard as “the day of liberation from fascism”.

Precisely the 9th of May was worshiped in Czechoslovakia because of the arrival of the Red Army in Prague as the end of the war until the Velvet Revolution. This is followed by a logical nod to May 8, European Victory Day. After all, on May 8, 1946 at 16.00, German General Rudolf Toussaint, who commanded the units that fought against the Prague Uprising, signed his capitulation before the Czech National Council. Russian tanks arrived later.

Politicians, hawks, scouts and witnesses in Prague traditionally commemorate the Prague Uprising at the Czech Radio building, which broke out on May 5, 1945.