A brief history of Jewish identity and belonging in Czechoslovakia

Historian Ivan Puš traces the complex evolution of Jewish identity in Czechoslovakia throughout the 20th century. Before WWII, many Jews were assimilated, bilingual, and integrated into society—but official nationality classifications, especially around 1921, complicated their identity. During and after the war, lingering suspicions and nationalist antisemitism painted Jews as outsiders or collaborators. Discussion of Jewish experiences remained suppressed during Communist rule, with real reckoning only beginning after 1968 and accelerating post-1989. Only in recent decades have museums, schools, and research institutions begun reconstructing Jewish history within the broader national narrative. Still, public discourse remains vulnerable to political influence, and historians stress the importance of preserving academic independence in shaping memory.

Read Original Article: Radio Prague International

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