Airwaves against tanks
28 August 2024
In turbulent times, staying true to the core values of journalism comes with immense challenges. Back in 1968, the reporters from Czechoslovak Radio risked their lives to maintain freedom of speech and information. They continued airing even when the tanks of the Warsaw Pact crossed the borders of the country, marking the beginning of the occupation and strict totalitarianism under communist rule. A new movie, Vlny (The Waves), a Czech and Slovak production, tells their story. Critics call it the local movie of the year.
It was not only journalists who showed bravery on 21 August 1968. Czech and Slovak people resisted the Soviet communist regime in various ways. Czechoslovakia was never a part of the USSR but was a satellite state during the Cold War, along with Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Albania.
The second half of August in Slovakia is in the spirit of another highly impactful anniversary, shaping how Slovak people integrated into Europe. During the Slovak National Uprising on 29 August 1944, they refused to be a satellite state of Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
 | Tamara Kanuchova and Eli Volencová Even though I see pictures of Soviet tanks in Prague every year, I'm still amazed by the strength and witty resistance ingrained in the nature of Slovak and Czech people throughout our shared history. That makes it even more difficult to digest the current pro-Russian sentiment in the current Slovak government. In 1944, Slovaks chose to be on the side of a democratic future; in 1968, they stood before the incoming tanks. Maybe we should retake a history class to remind ourselves where we stand. |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.