Prague Uprising: Barricades as a Symbol of Resistance
In 1945, the call to resist rang out from the Czechoslovak Radio building in Vinohrady.
Prague citizens built barricades, and the fighting ended only with Germany’s surrender. Two
decades later, the Prague Spring brought hope for change, but on August 21, 1968 it was
crushed by the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops. Once again, the radio became the last
stronghold of resistance.
1945 – Uprising for Freedom
In May 1945, Czechoslovak Radio’s call for armed resistance echoed through the city. Vinohradská Street and its surroundings became the epicentre of the uprising. Brave Prague citizens, women and men of all ages, joined in setting up the barricades, showing their military and moral resistance. The barricades protected the city until the fight was over, when the German troops surrendered upon the arrival of the Red Army.
Become part of the story!
Buy a ticket and witness the courage of the local people during the darkest days of our history.
What’s in store for you?
Interactive technology:
Plunge into the atmosphere of the rebellion and feel the tension of those key historical moments.
Reconstruction of barricades:
Walk through the barricades that protected the city and understand their symbolic and military role.
Sounds of history:
Listen to the authentic calls for resistance broadcast by Czechoslovak Radio.
Two key moments:
Experience the differences and similarities between the 1945 and 1968 uprisings.
Prague Spring and the Invasion
Two decades later, Prague once again became a place of resistance. After the political thawing known as the Prague Spring, Warsaw Pact troops brutally invaded Czechoslovakia on 21 August 1968. The people of Prague again resorted to barricades and fought against the occupation, with the Czechoslovak Radio building again playing a key role.
