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Jan Palach was born in 1948, the son of parents who owned a sweet business which was siezed the same year by the Communist regime. His mother then worked in a shop and his father a factory until his death when Jan was 13 years old

He joined the Prague School of economics during the 'Prague Spring' in 1968. On August 21st, Soviet led Warsaw Pact forces, crossed the Czech border and forcibly evicted the liberal and reforming Czech Government.

In the autumn Jan Palach transfered to Charles University to combine history with his economic studies. There he and his peers actively protested against the Soviet Invasion in the summer. In the new year he continued his studies until Jan 16th when at dusk he went to Wenceslas Square.

Recent Czech History

At the end of WW1 The Czechoslovak Republic was established. Part of the republic's territory (The Sudeten Lands) was given to Nazis Germany in 1938 who occupied the country shortly afterwards. At the end of WW2 it was occupied by the Soviet Army who installed a pro - Soviet government.

In January 1968 a new liberal leader Alexander Dubcek was elected Primeminster. He and the President, Ludvik Svoboda implemented reforms to the contstitution of the country which became known as 'The Prague Spring'.

These reforms were not approved of in Moscow who along with armies from other Warsaw Pact countries invaded the country in August that year, deposed Dubeck and Svoboda and installed a pro-soviet administration who anulled earlier reforms. See also Jan Palach (below)

The communists remained in control for two decades until the changing political climate in Moscow in 1989 enabled a new democratic government to be installed. On November 24th Czechoslavakia declared its independence in what is known as 'The Velvet Revolution'.

Fundemental differences between the Czechs and the Slovaks which came to a head in the following three years resulted in the nation experiencing a peaceful 'velvet Divorce' with each party establishing its own republic. The subsequent Czech government succesfully negotiated terms for the country's accession to the European Union and it joined the EU on May 1st 2004.

Laws For Pedestrians In The Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic it is an offence to cross the road or tram rails within 50 metres of a designated crossing point normally identified traffic lights or a 'zebra' style crossing.   You can also be fined for crossing at a pedestrian crossing when the green crossing light is not illuminated.

Link To Czech Passport & Visa Information

These pages contain details of the Passport & Visa requirements of the Czech Republic and other European countries.'.

He stood on the incline leading up to the National Museum, poured petrol over himself and set himself on fire. He collasped in the road and was taken to hospital with 85% burns where he lived for three days.

Before this happened he left letters stating that he was doing this as a protest against the recent Soviet unvasion.He died on January 19th and was buried on 25th. 750,000 people attended the funeral.