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17 November 1989 - 31 years of freedom

This year we commemorate 31 years since the fall of communism, when Czechoslovakia again became a democratic country. On November 17, 1989, at first a peaceful commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Nazi repression grew into a series of demonstrations against the communist regime. 

What were the people in the streets actually commemorating at first?

In November 1939, the leadership of Nazi Germany decided to close Czech universities for three years in response to demonstrations of the republic's anniversary on October 28, 1939 and for the riots associated with the funeral of student Jan Opletal, who was mortally wounded during the anti-Nazi demonstration. On the night of November 16-17, Nazi security forces raided the leaders of student organizations and interned other students. A total of 1,200 arrested students were then transferred to the Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg concentration camp in Germany. Of course not everyone came back…

Since 1941 this day is internationally celebrated at International Students' Day.