On October 28, 1939 (anniversary of the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic) there were anti-Nazi demonstrations and riots in Prague, which were suppressed by Nazi forces. Jan Opletal was seriously wounded, and died later on November 11. His funeral on November 15, attended by several thousands of students, turned into another anti-Nazi demonstration; as a result, Reichsprotektor Konstantin von Neurath closed all Czech universities and colleges, over 1000 students were sent into concentration camps, and nine students were executed on November 17. To commemorate these events, November 17 was declared the International Students' Day by the International Union of Students.
JanOpletal (January 1, 1915–November 11, 1939) was a student of the Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague, who was killed in an anti-Nazi demonstration during the German occupation.
JanOpletal was seriously wounded, and died later on November 11.
His funeral on November 15, attended by several thousands of students, turned into another anti-Nazi demonstration; as a result, the Reichsprotektor (nazi-representative in the puppet-state Böhmen und Mähren) Konstantin von Neurath closed all Czech universities and colleges, over 1200 students were sent to concentration camps, and nine students were executed on November 17.
Josef Jira, who knew JanOpletal personally and was chosen to carry a wreath to his grave, spoke to Radio Prague at a ceremony that was held on Wednesday morning to remember the events 65 years ago.
Jan was close to the National museum and drifted with the crowd.
It was to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of JanOpletal, the Czech student killed by the Nazis in 1939.
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