Fighting Words

Czechoslovaks have been fighting against oppression and censorship for over a century by distributing blacklisted literature. During WWII, anti-Nazi publications, known as Tarnschriften, were produced in Czechoslovakia. They were then smuggled into Germany disguised as everyday items from popular brands, seed packets, dime novels, and cheap editions of literary classics.

This hidden resistance grew more prevalent with the takeover of Communism in Czechoslovakia. The extensive Communist censorship restrictions began with the 1950 Press Law which prohibited private enterprise press. This law managed to disrupt the free press without actually imposing any censorship legislation.

In April of 1953, the “Unpublished” Government Decree No 17 of 22 established the Office of State Press Supervision as a “non-public” government body. Preliminary censorship was applied to periodicals and all publications and printed material. This office also monitored all publications arriving in Czechoslovakia from abroad. The Press Law of 1966 replaced this entity with the Central Publication Authority. Created as a permanent fixture of the Czech government, this office was given more comprehensive censorship powers with clear definitions. The establishment of this office was a declaration of the state’s official legalization and approval of censorship.  Many artists and writers soon fled Czechoslovakia, publishing their work from exile. This included anti-Communist media such as books, movies, art, and news periodicals. 

In 1968, Alexander Dubček became the First Secretary of the Communist Party and began the Action Program. One of the primary priorities of this program was the reestablishment of civil rights, and the Central Publication Authority soon lost its censorship authority. As a result, a dramatic increase in anti-communist publications sprung up across Czechoslovakia, some even including interviews with former political prisoners.

When the Soviets invaded in 1968, many of the anti-communist newspapers were forced to close. This led to an increase in Tamizdat, anti-communist periodicals published by refugees abroad. Those who remained took to printing samizdats, back alley literature. In August, the Moscow Protocol announced the continued occupation of the Soviet army. Thus began the Golden Era of Czech Samizdat. "Padlocked Editions" was one of many clandestine publishing rings that started as an outlet for creators who were blacklisted from publication by the tightened restrictions. Many of the documents and ideas circulated in this system became fundamental to the resistance. Many other distribution networks were created during this time by leaders such as Vaclav Havel, a leader of the Czechoslovak resistance and future president of Czechoslovakia. A vast majority popped up in the 70s, producing works such as anti-communist political cartoons, artistic works, and translations of important texts. Flyers for underground performances were also circulated in this way. These covert concerts were held in homes and offices by bands banned from performing in Communist Czechoslovakia.

One central document to come out of this time was the Declaration of Charter 77. Ending with thousands of signatures from all walks of life, this document is often referred to as the beginning of the Velvet Revolution. Many signers were punished for their support of Charter 77, including being dismissed from jobs and deprived of passports and driver's licenses. The leaders of this movement faced imprisonment for crimes such as inciting rebellion and criminal activities aimed against the foundations of the republic. Under constant surveillance by the secret police, fear of exposure was substantial.

Amid a supply shortage, most citizens lacked access to materials necessary for publishing. Ever resourceful, they used any materials available, often writing on items like carbon and photo paper. They are then bound by binding books with sandpaper, pipe insulation, and even wallpaper. To keep their work disguised, it was camouflaged as school books, photo boxes, etc.

Blacklisted Newspapers and Publications: 

Literarni Listy

Reporter

 Trnka – “Hand”

 Milan Kundera – “The Joke”

 Jindra Tichy – “Death and Forgiveness”

Written by Kelsey McDade

The Wiener Holocaust Library, ‘Tarnschriften: Tomato Seed Envelope’, The Wiener Holocaust Library, https://wienerholocaustlibrary.org/object/57747/, (Accessed July 11, 2023).

Havliĉek, D. (1982). Czech interlude: The rise and fall of censorship 1953-68. Index on Censorship, 11(5), 19–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/03064228208533433

Hofmann, Paul, ‘Czech Underground Literature Circulating From Hand to Hand’, The New York Times, New York, (1977), https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/15/archives/czech-underground-literature-circulating-from-hand-to-hand.html, (Accessed July 11, 2023).

Gowans, Alison, ‘Exhibit explores underground work in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia’, The Gazette, Iowa, (2015), https://www.thegazette.com/life/exhibit-explores-underground-work-in-soviet-occupied-czechoslovakia/, (Accessed July 13, 2023).

Machovec, Martin, ‘On Czech Samizdat and Tamizdat: Banned Books of 1970s and 1980s’, Fair Observer, (2014), https://www.fairobserver.com/region/europe/czech-samizdat-tamizdat-banned-books-1970s-1980s/, (Accessed July 18, 2023).

http://artofresistance.ca/?page_id=46#!prettyPhoto[pp_gal]/8/