A photo of a street in Hranice

The Czech-German tri-point

Accidents of geography have determined as much of world history and culture as anything else. Rivers and mountains became natural, then political, borders. The Czech town of Hranice used to be a meeting point between 3 countries.

A photo of Jan Kefer and his wife

The occult plot to kill Hitler

Before World War II, Czechoslovak occultists tried to use black magic to kill Hitler. It sounds like the plot to a Hollywood B-movie, and in some ways it is. But it also is 100% true.

A photo of Ladislav Bittman

Operation NEPTUNE

You may think ‘fake news’ is a modern invention, but you’d be wrong. One of Czechoslovakia’s most famous disinformation campaigns was Operation NEPTUNE.
This article explains why Czechoslovak spies carried out such a nefarious plot.

A photo of the Invalidovna building

Prague’s Invalidovna

If you ask many people in Prague about ‘Invalidovna’ they’d be more likely to direct you to the metro stop of that name. Few know of the magnificent Baroque building which is the real Invalidovna.

A photo of Vaclav Havel and Mikhail Gorbachev signing the withdrawal treaty.

The Soviets wanted to ‘protect’ Czechoslovakia

Following the fall of the Iron Curtain Soviet troops started to leave Europe. Czechoslovakia, as it then still was, was happy that the ‘temporary deployment’ of Soviet troops was coming to an end.
This article looks at the intent behind the occupation, and the events leading up to the Soviet’s departure.

A photo of the Drahotuše forest

The Great Moravian Empire

I grew up with a Mediterranean-centric view of history, so I’m fascinated by stories of Central and Eastern Europe. Learning them for the first time is part of the fun. Weaving the thread of history through the ages is incredible. This article describes the beginning of the region now called Moravia, in eastern Czechia.