Památník padlým partyzánům výsadku Jana Koziny Memorial

Welcome here, on the top of Mělka near Louns. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look in front of you. Right now you're standing in front of a place that carries the heavy weight of history and reminds us of the courage of people who risked everything for freedom. The first thing you're probably interested in in this space is a distinctive red five-pointed star. It is located high on a stone pedestal and its colour contrasts sharply with the surrounding landscape and grey shade of stone. If you look a little to the left now, you'll see three iron black crosses protruding from a stone block. This composition is simple, but it is also very strong and it talks to us after many decades.

Let us now take a look together at why this monument is here and what exactly it reminds us of. This building is not only an architectural element in the landscape, but a profound expression of gratitude and memory of the tragic event of the Second World War. The memorial is dedicated to three Soviet paratroopers who, in this area, fell in the fight on the 17th October of the year a thousand nine hundred forty-four. Imagine the tension and danger that accompanied their last hours. They fought in a foreign country, far from home, hoping to help free Europe from Nazi oppression.

When we think about the view of this place, notice that the monument is not decorated with unnecessary decorations. It's brought out in a so-called constructive spirit. This means that architects were betting on clean lines, geometric shapes and functionality to create a sense of stability and urgency. Pavel Bareš and Vladislav Mirvald were responsible for this proposal. Look again at the base of the red star. It's made out of an opal wall. Opuka is a specific type of limestone that gives the whole building some roughness and nature, which in contrast to smooth areas of crosses creates interesting visual tension. The entire building was inaugurated on the 15th of September in the year one thousand nine hundred forty-six, shortly after the war was over, when it was necessary to build a place to remember with the pain of the beams.

Now, I'd like to take you deeper into the story of the people who are connected to this place. The main character of the entire away team was Jan Kozina. His name is today a symbol of courage, but the way to this hill was full of dramatic twists. We remember specifically three heroes who lost their lives here. It was Věra Morhunovová, Arkadyj Jastremskyj and Nikita Kosinkov. It is fascinating and at the same time sad to think that there was a woman among them, Vera, which at that time was not quite common as a paratrooper. These people have suffered the tragedy of a war that knows neither gender nor age, only duty and sacrifice.

And here we come to the part that may surprise you. The entire Jan Kozina away team was not supposed to reach the Louns. The plan was for the paratroopers to land in Shumava, in dense woods in the south. So what happened? During the flight, the plane was shot, causing chaos and panic. The navigator lost course and the plane was flying in the clouds and smoke from the shots away from the target. Paratroopers have landed approximately 150 kilometers north of the planned location. Imagine their shock when they discovered, after the impact, that they were not in the woods of Šumava, but in a completely different part of the country where they were much more exposed to revelations and enemies. This error in navigation changed the fate of many people and brought these three fighters here on the surface of Mělka.

When you go around the monument, look at the details that were changing over time. Originally, a bronze plate was placed on the monument, which carried inscriptions and information. Later, however, this plate was replaced with a stone, which is more weather resistant and fits better into the overall appearance of the building. It's a little detail, but it shows us how memory care has evolved over the years.

If you look around, you'll notice there's not just one object. In the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-six a second, smaller monument was created. It was placed exactly where the bodies of the fallen were first stored. This second monument was created up to thirty years later than the main one, which reminds us that the process of processing pain and recognising heroism sometimes takes a very long time. In order to preserve these two places for future generations, in the year two thousand and fourteen total reconstruction of the two monuments. It was the 70th anniversary of the events that took place here.

So you're standing in front of a place that's been protected as a cultural monument since the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three. It is a recognition not only of the architectural value of the work of Pavel Bareš and Vladislav Mirvald, but above all of the historical significance. The Red Star, the Black Cross, and the Oppository Stone together tell the story of the navigator's mistake, the fight in a foreign land and the immortal name of Vera, Arkady and Nikita.

Now, all I'm recommending is that in silence, you go around the entire space, you perceive the atmosphere of this hill, and maybe you imagined the fateful moments of October of the year a thousand nine hundred forty-four. Let yourself be guided by silence and respect to those who remain here. When you are ready, you can continue to explore the Louns and discover the other traces of history that this city and its surroundings conceal. Thank you for your attention and I wish you the peaceful and inspiring rest of your journey.