Prague Under Nazism and Communism, New Town & Josefov District

A journey through the recent history of the 20th century and the present day, through the streets of the New Town and Prague’s famous Jewish Quarter. We’ll explore the life of the Jewish community in the city and trace the origins of anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages, before delving into the history of the persecution they endured during the Nazi era. We’ll visit the church where the perpetrators of Operation Anthropoid—the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich—hid, and learn the details of their final battle and the courage of their sacrifice.

Through the Dancing House, we’ll explore Frank Gehry’s deconstructivism and its deeper significance related to the bombing of Dresden and its effects on Prague.

We’ll explore communism from its democratic rise to power through to its tools of espionage and repression during the totalitarian era. We’ll also examine the bittersweet dream of the Prague Spring and how it all culminated in a peaceful revolution known as the Velvet Revolution.