The Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century organizes debates, conferences, seminars, publications and exhibition openings for the public. They are often designed as multidisciplinary meetings of personalities who look at selected historical topics from different perspectives. Among them are renowned scholars and witnesses of historical events. Most of the events are filmed and the recordings are available on the museum's YouTube channel for those interested. Links are also available on this page.
December 4, 2024
BOOK LAUNCH: ZBYNĚK FIŠER | EGON BONDY AND STATE SECURITY / Václav Havel Library / Invitation / Photo Gallery
Guests: Petr Blažek, Miroslav Vodrážka, Rostislav Tvrdík, Helena Zaoralová
Moderator: Michal Macháček
4. 12. 2024
DEBATE: GURU OF CZECH JEWRY PROF. ROBERT KVAČEK / Václav Havel Library / Invitation / Photogallery
Guests: Petr Koura, Josef Tomeš, Josef Nožička
Moderator: Michal Macháček
Museum of Memory XX. On 4 December 2024, the Museum of Memory of the XXth Century and the Václav Havel Library held a debate on the personality of the Czech historian and educator Robert Kvacek.
15. 11. 2024
DEBATE: PARALLELS OF DEVELOPMENT AFTER 1989 IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND UKRAINE / Invitation / Photogallery
Guest: Lenka Víchová
Moderator: David Svoboda
Museum of Memory XX. Century in cooperation with the Anti.quariat of the Dejvice Theatre and with Thanks that we can on November 15, 2024 organized a debate on the parallels of development after 1989 in Czechoslovakia and Ukraine.
November 12-14, 2024
CONFERENCE: (NOT) DEALING WITH THE COMMUNIST PAST / Liechtenstein Palace / ÚSTR, the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and the Twentieth Century Memorial Museum / programme / photo gallery
An international scientific conference on the 35th anniversary of the fall of the communist regime, attended by dozens of historians, lawyers, political scientists, artists and memoirists.
13. 11. 2024
DEBATE: JAZZ AND SWING AS A DANGER TO NAZISM AND COMMUNISM? / Libri Prohibiti Library / invitation / photogallery
Guests: Petr Koura, Vladimír Kouřil, Natalie Reinschová and Aureliusz Marek Pędziwol
Moderator.
On November 13, 2024, the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century and the Libri Prohibiti Library, with the support of the German foundation Erinnerung-Verantwortung-Zukunft, organized a debate on the topic "Jazz and Swing as a Danger for Nazism and Communism?
12. 11. 2024
SEMINAR: THE SACRIFICATION OF CZECH ANEGESE IN 1989 / Charles Bridge Museum / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Jan Royt, Petr Blažek and Jaroslav Šebek
Moderator: Vojtěch Pokorný
The seminar on the canonization of Agnes of Bohemia was prepared by the Charles Bridge Museum and the Museum of Memory of the XXth Century on the anniversary day of 12 November 2024. It was held in the former monastery of the Crusaders with the Red Star, which was founded by St. Agnes of Bohemia and which today houses the Charles Bridge Museum.
23 Oct 2024
DEBATE: DEALING WITH THE COMMUNIST JUSTICE / Atlas Cinema / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Kamil Nedvědický and Lubomír Müller
Moderator: Petr Blažek
On 23 October 2024, the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century and the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes held a debate on the systematic and unsystematic causes of the judicial failure to deal with the crimes of communism thirty-five years after November 1989. The debate took place as part of the accompanying programme of the 5th annual Unbroken and Sacrificed Film Festival.
16 Oct 2024
SEMINAR: FILM AS MUSEUM MEDIA / Atlas Cinema / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Gabriela Havlujů, Petr Blažek and Jana Chorouvá Plachá
Moderator: Jan Samohýl
On 16 October 2024, the Museum of the Memory of the Twentieth Century organised a seminar Film as a Museum Medium as a side event to the fifth annual Unbreakable and Sacrificed Film Festival. The documentary films "Czechoslovak Sergei Vojtsekhovsky" (Museum of the Memory of the XXth Century) and "Village of People" (Lidice Memorial) were screened.
24 Sep 2024
DEBATE: PAVEL TIGRID / Libri prohibiti / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Anna Šabatová, Pavel Kosatík and Jaromír Talíř
Moderator: Petr Blažek
On 24 September at 6 pm, a debate on the extraordinary personality of Pavel Tigrid took place in the Libri prohibiti library. It was prepared by the Museum of the Memory of the Twentieth Century as an accompanying programme to the exhibition Tigrid: Journalist, Exile and Politician (1917-2003).
18 Sep 2024
DEBATE: ORWELL AND SAMIZDAT'S LITERATURE / Werich Villa / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Miroslav Drozd, Jiří Gruntorád
Moderator: Petr Blažek
On 18 September 2024, after the opening of the exhibition dedicated to the relationship between George Orwell and Czechoslovakia, the Museum of 20th Century Memory organised a debate on samizdat and exile editions of Orwell's works.
5 Sep 2024
DEBATE: SLOVAK NATIONAL RESTORATION AS A PLACE OF MEMORY / Václav Havel Library / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Michal Macháček, Vilém Prečan, Jan Rychlík
Moderator: David Svoboda
On 5 September 2024, the Museum of Memory of the XXth Century and the Václav Havel Library held a debate on the changing evaluation and significance of the Slovak National Uprising and its actors in different historical stages.
26 May 2024
DEBATE: Twentieth Century Memorial Museum AT THE WORLD OF BOOKS 2024 / Festival Svět knihy Praha 2024 / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Michael Kocáb, Martin Mejstřík, Petr Blažek
Moderator: Hana Kordová Marvanová
At the Prague 2024 Book World, the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century presented published and forthcoming publications. The presentation also included a debate with Petr Blažek and Miroslav Vodrážka, authors of the forthcoming book Zbyněk Fišer | Egon Bondy and the State Security.
20. 5. 2024
DEBATE: THE ROUND TABLE AS A TOOL OF CHANGE: CENTRAL EUROPE IN 1989 / KVH / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Michael Kocáb, Martin Mejstřík, Petr Blažek
Moderator: Hana Kordová Marvanová
On Monday, May 20, 2024, we hosted another debate in our KVH series. This time the debate was about the phenomenon of the so-called round tables.
5. 4. 2024
MARSHAL JOSEF VÁCLAV RADECKÝ AND HIS PRAGUE MONUMENT / Residence of the Mayor of the Capital City Prague Mayor's Residence / invitation / photo gallery
guests: Jiří Pospíšil, Jiří Rak, Zdeněk Hojda, Zdeněk Munzar, Jan Royt,Tomáš Czernin, Jan Machata, Kateřina Bečková, Jan E. Bárta, Jan Holeček, Petr Přibyl
moderators: Petr Blažek, David Svoboda
On Friday, 5 April 2024, the Museum of the Memory of the XXth Century held an event at the Residence of the Mayor of the Capital City of Prague. Prague under the auspices of the Deputy Mayor of the Capital City of Prague. JUDr. Jiří Pospíšil, the Mayor of Prague, held a seminar dedicated to the personality of Marshal Josef Václav Radecký and his monument in Prague. The monument was created by sculptors Josef Max and Emanuel Max. In 1858-1919 it stood on the lower Lesser Town Square in Prague. At the beginning of November 1918 the monument was covered with canvas, in May 1919 the sculpture was dismantled and in 1921 the stone base was also removed. The bronze sculptural part was dismantled and transferred to the Lapidarium of the National Museum, where it is still exhibited together with a model of the monument. The aim of the seminar was to contribute to a substantive discussion on the possibilities of returning this monument to its original place, which is the aim of the Radecký Prague Society.
27. 2. 2024
DEBATE: JAN ZAJÍC AND OTHER LIVING WOMEN IN 1969 / Libri prohibiti library/ invitation / photo gallery
guests: Branislav Dorko, Petr Blažek
moderator: Mgr. Kryštof Zeman
On Tuesday, 27 February 2024, the Libri Prohibition library of exile and samizdat literature hosted a debate on the fate of Jan Zajíc, who set himself on fire in 1969, following the example of Jan Palach, in protest against the occupation of Czechoslovakia and advancing normalization. Other lesser-known living torches were also presented. Historians Bronislav Dorko and Petr Blažek explained how these acts were reflected by society and the regime, as well as the tragic effects the protest had on the families of these individuals. The discussion was moderated by Kryštof Zeman.
The debate was organised by the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century, the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and Libri prohibiti.
26 Feb 2024
SEMINAR: THE CRIMES OF COMMUNISM / Senate of the Czech Republic / invitation / photo gallery
guests: Tomáš Czernin, David Svoboda, Jan Kalous, Petr Blažek, Jaroslav Šebek
moderator: Jiří Klindera
On Monday, 26 February 2024, we held a seminar entitled Crimes of Communism, which we co-organised with the Young Democrats. The seminar was held under the auspices of Tomáš Czernin, Vice-Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic. This event was intended for primary and secondary school students, who filled the entire hall. David Svoboda and Petr Blažek from the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century, Jan Kalous from the Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Jaroslav Šebek from the Institute of History of the CAS gave lectures and debated with the students. The topics included the portrait of V. I. Lenin, the February 1948 coup d'état and the self-immolation of Jan Zajic
JAN 29, 2024
DEBATE: AN IRON SPIKE IN THE BODY OF THE TIMES.
THE LIFE AND LONG STAND OF VLADIMIR ILJIČE LENIN / Václav Havel Library / invitation / photo gallery
Guests. What role did it play in the Russian historical narrative and in world history? How is Lenin's "work" perceived in contemporary Russia? Why has Lenin received criticism from Vladimir Putin? A discussion with historian Daniela Kolenovskaya, political geographer Mikhail Romantsov and journalist Libor Dvorak. The evening was hosted by David Svoboda.
17 Oct 2023
SEMINAR: FILM AS MUSEUM MEDIA/ Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague - Museum of Memory of the XXth Century / photogallery
The topic of the seminar, the recording of which you can watch here, is feature films, animated films, podcasts, filming of memoirs and other audiovisual elements in the museum exhibition. The seminar was held as a side event of the Unbroken and Sacrificed Festival on 17 October 2023 in cooperation with the Faculty of Education of the Charles University. Lecturers: Andrzej Jerie, Aleš Kapsa, Petr Koura and Petr Blažek. Jan Samohýl, moderator.
21. 6. 2023
DEBATE: OPEN APARTMENTS, OPEN HEARTS - WOMEN IN THE ERA OF NORMALIZATION / Václav Havel Library / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Kamila Bendová, Pavla Paloušová and Miroslav Vodrážka
Moderator: Veronika Bendová
21 Apr 2023
PODCAST: HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIPS: with journalist JOLYON NAEGEL on the Soviet bloc / invitation
Guests: Jolyon Naegele
Moderator: Petr Blazek
20. 4. 2023
DEBATE: THE OLD TOWN IN THE 20th CENTURY - A PLACE OF SYMBOLS, RITUALS AND MEMORY /Václav Havel Library / invitation /photogallery
Speakers: Petr Koura, Zdeněk Lukeš and Jan Royt
Moderator.
14. 12. 2022
DEBATE: HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE BREAKUP OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA/Václav Havel Library / invitation /photo gallery
Speakers: Michal Macháček and Ivana Janů
Moderator: Petr Blažek
22 November 2022
CONFERENCE: RUDOLF SLÁNSKÝ AND CO - JUSTICE AND POLITICAL PROCESSES / High Court / invitation / photogallery
Speakers: Petr Toman, Robert Němec, Viliam Karas, Pavel Blažek, Martin Puchalla, Luboš Dörfl, Lenka Bradáčová / Jan Kalous, Stanislav Balík, Petr Blažek / Aleš Kýr, Tomáš Sokol, Lukáš Trojan, Peter Kerecman, Eva Tomanová and JUDr. Václav Vlk
Moderator.
November 18, 2022
DEBATE: FILM REFLECTIONS OF THE ATTACK ON HEYDRICH/ Campus Hybernská within the festival Unbreakable and Sacrificed
Guest: Petr Koura
Moderator: Petr Blažek
19 October 2022
DEBATE: GENERAL SYRÉ'S REHABILITATION/ Václav Havel Library/ invitation/ photo gallery
Guests: Jaroslav Rokoský, Jaroslav Müller, Jana Černochová
Moderator: David Svoboda
August 21, 2022
DEBATE: THE AUGUST OCCUPATION AND ITS PARALLELS / House of Pážat / invitation / photo gallery
Guest: Miroslav Novák
Moderator: Petr Blažek
June 23, 2022
SEMINAR: DÁBLICE AND OTHER SECRET BURIAL SITES OF VICTIMS OF TOTALITARIAN REGIMES/ New Town Hall of the City of Prague / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Ladislav Kudrna, Martin Vadas, Aleš Kýr, Alena Šimánková, Jiří Línek, Petra Vinařová, Luděk Navara, Daniel Vaněk
Moderators: Petr Blažek and Jan Kalous
9. 6. 2022
DEBATE: WITH POLISH HISTORIAN PAWL UKIELSKI ON THE YEAR 1989/ Václav Havel Library / Photogallery
During one "year of miracles" communism fell throughout Central Europe. What triggered the domino effect in Poland, the GDR, Czechoslovakia or Hungary? The collapse of the communist system brought about a new European order for thirty years, which is now shaking again with the war in Ukraine. How do current events relate to those processes? With historian and co-author of the book 1989 - Autumn of Nations Pawel Ukielski, Petr Blazek and Maciej Ruczaj debate. The evening was organised by the Polish Institute in Prague, the Václav Havel Library, the Museum of Memory of the XXth Century, the Platform of European Memory and Conscience and Academia Publishing House.
May 9, 2022
DEBATE: THE EXPULSION AND PRAGUE RETURNS OF ALLEN GINSBERG / Werich Villa / invitation / photo gallery
Guests: František Stárek Čuňas, Josef Rauvolf
Moderator: Petr Blažek
April 20, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
DEBARA FORGOTTEN GENERAL SERGEY VOJCECHOVSKY / invitation / photo gallery
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests: Gabriela Havlůjová, Petr Hlaváček
Moderator: Jan Kalous
April 14, 2022
PRESENTATION OF LUBOMÍR VEJRAŽKA'S BOOK Pain Overcomes and the Journey Never Ends / Libri prohibiti/ invitation / photo gallery
Guests: Lubomír Vejražka
Book launch: Petr Blažek
Moderator: Veronika Bendová
March 29, 2022
HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIPS: WITH HISTORIAN PETR HLAVÁČEK ON OUR RELATIONSHIP TO RUSSIA
Guests: Petr Hlaváček
Moderator: Petr Blažek
March 14, 2022
HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIPS: WITH HISTORIAN DAVID SVOBODA ON THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE
Guests: David Svoboda
Moderator: Petr Blažek
February 23, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
/ invitation / photogallery
HRADČANSKÝ DOME
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests.
February 15, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
/ Radek Schovánek, František Stárek, Jiří Růžek
Moderator.
January 20, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
/ DEBATE ON CHART 77
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests.
December 15, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. / invitation / photogallery
EXCEPTIONAL STATE IN POLAND 1981
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library and the Polish Institute in Prague
Guests: Mirosław Jasiński, Kamil Dworaczek, Petr Blažek, Veronika Bendová
Moderator: Maciej Ruczaj
September 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
/ photogallery
FIRST STATE LAW
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests.
August 21, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
/ 21 August at the House of Pážat / photogallery
HOUSES OF COMMUNIST FUNCTIONALISTS AND STB MEMBERS
Guests.
July 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
/ Petr Blažek, Michal Macháček and David Svoboda
Moderator.
June 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
/ Hana Kordová Marvanová, Jan Kalous, Jiří Pospíšil, Pavel Žáček
Moderator.
June 17, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
BABICE 1951 - CIRCLE, COLLECTIVIZATION AND REPRESENTATION
In cooperation with the Charles Bridge Museum
Performers: Miroslav Kasáček, Luděk Navara, Petr Blažek, Jan Kalous, Jaroslav Šebek
Introduction: Zdeněk Bergman
May 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. / on-line debate / photogallery
70 YEARS OF RADIO FREE EUROPE
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests: Jolyon Naegele, Radek Schovánek and Petr Brod
Moderator.
April 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. / on-line debate / photogallery
HARD BOOKS IN A COLD WAR
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests: Jiřina Šiklová, Jan Ruml and Petr Pithart
Moderator: Radek Schovánek
March 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
/
MONUMENTS AND POLITICS
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests.
February 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. / online debate
Twentieth Century Memorial Museum . WHY DID IT ARISE?
WHAT ARE ITS ACTIVITIES AND PLANS?
In cooperation with the Václav Havel Library
Guests.
8 December 2020 at 20:00
/ Roman Laube and Filip Pospíšil
Moderator.
17 November 2020 from 17:00 /
COMMENTED EXHIBITION TOURS FOR NOVEMBER 17
Guests: Jaroslav Hutka, Jiří Šesták, Alexandr Vondra, Jiří Pospíšil, Hana Kordová Marvanová, Petr Blažek, Maciej Ruczaj
19 October 2020 at 20:00
/ Czechoslovakia and the Phenomenon of Borders.
12 October 2020 at 20:00 / online debate
CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND THE BORDER PHENOMENON: STATE BORDERS AND LAW
Guests: Jan Kuklík, Jan Kysela and Věra Honusková
Moderator.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND THE PHENOMENON OF BORDERS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Guests: Jan Kalous, Ľubomír Morbacher and Prokop Tomek
Moderator.
THE REVIVAL OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE PERIOD OF PRAGUE SPRING OR WHAT THE AUGUST OCUPATION DESTROYED
Guests: Jan Kalous, Vít Fojtek, Jaroslav Šebek
Moderator: Petr Blažek

16 June 2020 / Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
ROUND TABLE: INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF JAN MASARYK
Guests: Jan Kalous, Martin Čermák, Václava Jandečková, Lukáš Kopecký, Jindřich Grulich, Vít Fojtek, Jaroslav Šebek
Moderator.
25 June 2020 at 20:00
/ Ivana Janů, Hana Kordová Marvanová, Pavel Žáček
Moderator.
15 June 2020 at 20:00 / online debate
JUDICIAL REHABILITATION AS A PATH TO REPAIR?
Guests: Jaroslav Rokoský, Kamil Nedvědický, Jan Kalous
Moderator: Petr Blažek
8 June 2020 at 20:00 / online debate
DR.
MILADA HORÁKOVÁ AND THE GREATEST POLITICAL PROCESS
Guests.