The first modification of the Memorial to the Life of Tragedy in Havířov will be completed by August

Havířov – The first phase of the reconstruction of the Memorial of the Life of Tragedy in Havířov, Karviná, is expected to be completed by August this year. The repair, costing over five million crowns, is funded by the Moravian-Silesian Region. The first part of the renovations includes, for example, the replacement of broken pavement around the memorial with granite cubes, as well as the restoration of the statue of a woman with a child and the adjustment of the memorial itself with the names of the victims. This was announced to journalists today by the spokesperson of the municipality, Rosalie Seidl Pokorná.

"The Museum of Těšín, established by the Moravian-Silesian Region, has decided to proceed with a complete reconstruction of the entire area of the Memorial of the Life of Tragedy in Havířov-Životice. In cooperation with the city of Havířov, it was decided to divide the reconstruction into two phases. The first is the memorial itself and its surroundings, which will be completed by August 3rd, when a memorial gathering will take place to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Life of Tragedy," said the spokesperson.

The next phase includes adjustments to the building at the memorial and the permanent exhibition housed in it. Its author is historian Mečislav Borák. "The construction work on the building and the creation of a new modern exhibition require not only careful preparation and expert, time-consuming verification of historical data but also additional financial costs. The new exhibition could be accessible within three to five years," the spokesperson added.

The Životice Memorial commemorates the events of 1944. The cause of the tragedy was a shootout between resistance fighters from the Polish sabotage group Armia Krajowa and the Gestapo in the Životice inn, during which three members of the Gestapo, one partisan, and the innkeeper were killed. In retaliation for this action, the Nazis surrounded the village on the morning of August 6th and shot all men who did not prove German nationality. A total of 36 people were shot, including eight Czechs and 28 Poles. Another 31 people ended up in concentration camps, from which only four survivors returned after the war.

"I am very glad that the reconstruction has been undertaken, as the Memorial of the Life of Tragedy and the permanent exhibition in the building definitely deserve complete reconstruction. This memorial and the annual memorial acts organized by the city are a constant reminder of the inhumane killings that took place 80 years ago right here in Životice. We will never forget this event and take it as a warning message to ensure that something like this never happens again," stated Deputy Mayor Ondřej Baránek (ANO).