Between May 7 and 8 in 1945, the Nazis surrendered to the Allied forces in Plzeň, České Budějovice, and Karlovy Vary. It took weeks of fighting and many casualties to effectively force a surrender from the German High Command. It was through the collaboration of the Soviet and US forces that the liberation was able to take place. Much celebration, the day of and after, was abound.
Jiří Trnka: The Father of Czech Cinema
The so-called “Walt Disney of Eastern Europe,” Jiří Trnka began his career as an illustrator, his life soon culminating into sophisticated puppetry on film. His usual subject matter involved his puppeted takes on classic fairy tales and tales he crafted which feature profound narratives, some of which satirized his own government. His career culminated in his film The Hand, where the importance of the hand is placed above all else.
The Life of Zuzana Růžičková
Zuzana Růžičková was a prominent pianist and musician. Although her life began with sickness, learning the piano and the harpsichord provided Růžičková with a passion to pursue throughout her life. The occupation of the Nazis in Czechoslovakia interrupted her life, like the lives of others, but her passion for music remained indefinitely throughout. Throughout her adult life, Zuzana Růžičková would proceed to win accolades and perform around the world, remaining a part of the Czech musical community until her death in 2017.
