Museum of Communism in Prague, Czech Republic.

 “Human rights are universal and indivisible.”

Human freedom is also indivisible: if it is denied to anyone in the world, it is therefore denied, indirectly, to all people. This is why we cannot remain silent in the face of evil or violence; silence merely encourages them.”

——-VÁCLAV HAVEL, the first president of the newly liberated Czechoslovakia who has been previously imprisoned for his anti-Soviet activism. 1989

The people of Czechoslovakia were terrorized and demonized under the Nazis then the Soviets for more than 50 years.

While some other travelers in my group visited the Terezin concentration camp, I decided to learn more about Czechoslovakia’s tumultuous history during the 20th century. I arrived at 5:00 PM and the manager alerted me at 7:50 PM that the museum would close in 10 minutes. Of note, I also spent three hours at the museum of terror in Budapest where I learned about the impact of the brutal Nazi and Soviet regimes on Hungary.

Prior to World War II, Czechoslovakia’s population was roughly one-third Czech and Slovak, one-third German, and one-third Jewish. By the war’s end, the Jewish population had largely been deported and murdered in the Holocaust, while the German population faced expulsion as retribution for Nazi occupation and brutality. This left a population primarily composed of native Czechs and Slovaks.

I went to the Museum of communism in Prague, Czech Republic. Here is a description of the museum from its website:

View of the following aspects of life in Communist-era Czechoslovakia: daily life, politics, history, sports, economics, education, art (specifically Socialist Realism), propaganda in the media, the People's Militias, the army, the police (including the secret police, the StB), censorship, and courts and other institutes of repression, including show trials and political labor camps during the Stalinist era. It focuses in particular on the totalitarian regime that ruled the country from the February putsch in 1948 until the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

Housed in a space of nearly 1,500 m2, the museum provides visitors with an authentic feel of the era that is enhanced by the incorporation of short videos, posters, and artifacts. The exhibit includes interestingly designed spaces, where visitors can walk through mock-ups of a shock worker's workshop, a school classroom, a child's bedroom, and an interrogation room. We have also selected interesting items from our vast collection of materials that illustrate what daily life under Communism was like. Everything is described on 62 panels divided into thematic sections, which are enriched with a great amount of photographic material from the Archive of the Czech News Agency, the Security Services Archive, the Archive of the Association of Forced Military Camp Laborers, and the personal collections of leading Czech photographers.

Czechoslovakia’s experience during World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation was marked by trauma, occupation, and political upheaval. After the Munich Agreement of 1938 allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland (which was land on the border of Czechoslovakia with lots of German ) Hitler quickly escalated his ambitions. In March 1939, German forces invaded and occupied the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia, creating the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia under strict Nazi control. During this time, resistance was brutally suppressed, and many citizens were imprisoned, sent to concentration camps, or executed, including members of the Czechoslovak resistance and Jewish communities. The assassination of Nazi leader Reinhard Heydrich in 1942 led to horrific reprisals, including the complete destruction of the village of Lidice.

Following the Allied victory in 1945, Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia, which then fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. The communist coup of 1948 brought Czechoslovakia fully under Soviet-style rule, creating a tightly controlled, one-party state. Life under Soviet-backed communist rule was marked by censorship, restrictions on freedom, and widespread surveillance. The government operated secret police, silencing any form of dissent and promoting a culture of fear, in which even family members could be compelled to report one another. The suppression reached its peak during the Prague Spring of 1968, when Soviet tanks invaded to crush reform movements aimed at creating “socialism with a human face.” The years that followed, known as “Normalization,” saw further repression, purges, and hardship for those who had hoped for a more liberal society. For decades, Czechoslovakians lived under the constant watch of the Soviet-backed state, enduring restrictions on expression, movement, and individual freedoms until the Velvet Revolution of 1989 finally ended Soviet dominance.

Fragile Nature of Democracy

As I travel through Central Europe—a region scarred by the tragedies of Nxxx rule and the suffocating decades behind the Iron Curtain—I am struck by a common thread of concern from nearly everyone I meet. From shop owners and tour guides to hotel receptionists, people are asking about our upcoming election, their voices filled with both worry and hope. Here, in nations that have endured oppression, sacrificed for freedom, and fought tirelessly for basic human rights, they understand the fragile nature of democracy all too well. They know the darkness of authoritarian rule and the painful cost of regaining independence, and now, they look to America with anxiety.

The United States, once a global emblem of democracy, now stands at a crossroads, and people here sense the weight of that moment. Many tell me they’re holding their breath, fingers crossed, saying silent prayers, hoping for an outcome that keeps the beacon of democracy burning bright.

Czech Republic—nation #103 visited!

Today was my first full day exploring Prague, Czech Republic, my 103rd country, and I couldn’t have asked for a more immersive experience. We took a walking tour that covered the Castle District, Old Town, and New Town, bringing me face-to-face with places I’ve read about for years. Seeing these historic sites up close was deeply moving, and I couldn’t help but feel the weight of this nation’s complex history—a society still marked by the legacy of its years behind the Iron Curtain.

My solo, three-hour visit to the Museum of Communism was deeply moving, thought-provoking, and incredibly informative.

The weather added to the intensity of the day, with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, little sun, and a damp chill in the air. By evening, I had layered on two hats and picked up thicker gloves to keep warm. It was the kind of brisk day where stepping into a shop or café for a few minutes of warmth became as much a part of the experience as sightseeing itself.

Life Behind The Iron Curtain. Lessons Learned ????

Life behind the Iron Curtain, the political and ideological boundary dividing Eastern and Western Europe after World War II, was marked by repression, control, and deep-seated paranoia. This “curtain” was not a physical wall but rather a heavily guarded barrier of ideology and political influence imposed by the Soviet Union to secure its sphere of power. Countries behind the Iron Curtain included East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania, as well as the Soviet Union itself. In these states, governments followed Soviet-style communist rule, where freedoms were severely restricted, surveillance was extensive, and dissent was often met with harsh punishment.

Communist paranoia permeated nearly every aspect of daily life, as state propaganda instilled fear of Western “enemies” and of perceived “traitors” within. Authorities closely monitored citizens’ communications, behaviors, and social circles; even friends and family members could be forced to report one another. The government used secret police forces, like the Stasi in East Germany and the KGB in the Soviet Union, to maintain control and suppress dissent. Citizens lived under constant suspicion, with the knowledge that a stray comment or complaint could lead to imprisonment, forced labor, or worse. This culture of fear and surveillance turned many everyday activities into risks, fueling a society where trust was scarce, and obedience to the regime was essential for survival.

Shortages of essential goods, including food, were common behind the Iron Curtain due to several factors tied to the Soviet-style economic system. Communist governments prioritized heavy industry and military spending over consumer goods and agricultural production. Centralized planning and collectivized farms were intended to maximize productivity, but they often resulted in inefficiency, low-quality production, and waste. In agriculture, collectivization disrupted traditional farming methods and demotivated farmers, as they no longer owned their land or profited directly from their work.

These shortages were exacerbated by corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of incentives for workers and managers. Since the state dictated production goals without flexibility for market demand, factories and farms produced items in rigid quotas that often didn’t meet the population’s needs. Long lines at stores and empty shelves became a symbol of life behind the Iron Curtain, where citizens struggled to acquire basic goods and relied on state-controlled distribution for limited rations. The result was a daily grind of waiting, trading, and struggling to secure essentials, which eroded morale and contributed to the dissatisfaction many people felt with communist rule.

Goods were scarce and money was virtually worthless so people bartered for goods.

I still have not yet posted my summary of my visit to the “museum of terror” in Budapest that describes life under the Nazis, then the Soviets, including the deportation of its Jewish population.