Members of Sokol club in garbs, 1880s
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček

Members of Sokol club in sport costumes, approx. 1900
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček.

Live statue of poetry for Sokol festival, 1911
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček

The Sokol movement (from the Czech word for falcon) is a Czech and Slavic youth movement and gymnastics organization founded in Prague in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrš and Jindřich Fügner. Primarily a fitness training center, the Sokol, also through lectures, discussions, and group outings provided what Tyrš viewed as physical, moral, and intellectual training for the nation. This training extended to members of all classes, and eventually to women and to Slavs in Polish (Sokół), Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Ukrainian (Sokil), Macedonian and Russian lands. In many of these nations, the organization also served as an early precursor to the Scouting movements. Though officially an institution "above politics", the Sokol played an important part in the development of Czech nationalism, providing a forum for the spread of mass-based nationalist ideologies. The articles published in the Sokol journal, lectures held in the Sokol libraries, and theatrical performances at the massive gymnastic festivals called Slets (Czech plural: Slety) helped to craft and disseminate the Czech nationalist mythology and version of history. Sokol, a slavic word for falcon, may refer to: Locations Sokol, Vologda Oblast, a town in Vologda Oblast, Russia. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Photographic studio Å echtl and Voseček (earlier spelled as Schächtl and Voseček) was founded in Tábor (Bohemia) by Ignác Å echtl in 1888 who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Photographic studio Å echtl and Voseček (earlier spelled as Schächtl and Voseček) was founded in Tábor (Bohemia) by Ignác Å echtl in 1888 who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio. ... “Tiercel” redirects here. ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... A youth movement is any attempt to organize individual young people into a unified identity. ... Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, split leaps, aerials and cartwheels. ... Nickname: Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: , Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area  - City 496 km²  (191. ... Banner of the BÄ™dzin-based Sokół nest Sokół festival in Lwów, 1903 Sokół member in parade uniform Sokół (Polish: , Polish Gymnastic Society Falcon) is the oldest Polish youth movement organization, modelled after the Pan-Slavic Sokol. ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 812   -  Kingdom established 1217   -  Empire established 1346   -  Independence lost to... Sokil, a falcon in the mountainous regions of Western Ukraine known for inspiring an indomitable spirit and love of homeland, may also refer to: Sokil, a Ukrainian youth movement (1894–1939), modeled after Czech Sokol Sokil Kyiv, as ice hockey team, champions of Ukraine Sokil is name of: Maria Sokil... Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society. ... Czech National Revival was a cultural movement, which took part in the Czech lands during the 18th and 19th century. ...

Early history

The idea for physical training centers was not a new one. The Sokol movement consciously traced its roots in physical education to the athletes and warriors of Ancient Greece. More directly, the nature of the Sokol was influenced by the German Turnverein, mass-based, nation-minded gymnastics societies founded by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn in 1811. Ancient Greece is a period in Greek history that lasted for around nine hundred years. ... Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (Turnvater Jahn) (August 11th 1778, Lanz - October 15th 1852, Freyburg) was a German Prussian gymnastics educator and patriot. ... Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (Turnvater Jahn) (August 11th 1778, Lanz - October 15th 1852, Freyburg) was a German Prussian gymnastics educator and patriot. ...

Miroslav Tyrš, the founder of the first Sokol in Prague in 1862, continued as the most influential figure in the movement until his death in 1884. Born Friedrich Emanuel Tirsch into a German speaking family in 1834, Tyrš grew up under the influence of the Romantic nationalism that gave rise to the uprisings that swept across Europe in 1848. He received a thorough education at the University of Prague, where he majored in philosophy. It was not until the early 1860s that he become involved in the Czech nationalist cause, changed his name to the Slavic form, and left behind his earlier German culture. (Given that many German-born intellectuals played a role in the Czech nationalist cause, it could also be argued that Czech culture is in some ways an extension of German culture. So it wasn't necessarily much he left behind.) After he failed to find a position in academia, Tyrš combined his experience working as a therapeutic gymnastics trainer with the nationalist ideologies he had been exposed to in Prague: the first Sokol club was formed. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Charles University of Prague (also simply University of Prague; Czech: Univerzita Karlova; Latin: Universitas Carolina) is the oldest and most prestigious Czech university and among the oldest universities in Europe, being founded in 1340s (for the exact year, see below). ...

The first Sokol worked to develop new Czech terminology for the training exercises, which centered on marching drills, fencing, and weightlifting. They designed a uniform that was a mélange of Slavic and revolutionary influences: brown Russian pants, a Polish revolutionary jacket, a Montenegrin cap, and a red Garibaldi shirt. A Sokol flag, red with a white falcon, was designed by the writer Karolína Světlá. Marching Naval Construction Battalion NMCB-1 (Seabees) 370th Infantry Regiment walking toward the mountains at north of Prato - April 1945 (Gothic Line) Marching (drill) refers to the organised and uniformed rhythmic walk to march music, often associated with military troops and parades. ... Fencing advertisement for the 1900 Summer Olympic Games This article is about the sport, which is distinguished from stage fencing and academic fencing (mensur). ... A weightlifter about to jerk 180 kg[1] Weightlifting is a sport in which competitors attempt to lift heavy weights mounted on steel bars called barbells, the execution of which is a combination of power, flexibility, technique, mental and physical strength. ... Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, Bright Dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Demonym Montenegrin Government Republic  -  President Filip Vujanović  -  Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro   -  Declared June 3, 2006... Garibaldi may refer to: People Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian and French revolutionary, and Anita Garibaldi, his wife; Michael Garibaldi, a fictional character in the television series Babylon 5; Garibaldi, a pop music group; Places Garibaldi, Oregon; Garibaldi, British Columbia; Mount Garibaldi; Garibaldi (city), Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil; Garbaldis... Karolína SvÄ›tlá (1830–1899) was arguably the greatest Czech female author of the 19th century. ...

The Prague Sokol initially drew its leaders from the ranks of politicians and its members from the petite bourgeoisie and the working classes. The first president was Jindřich Fügner, an ethnic German who was a member of the Czech cause. Most founders were also members of the Young Czechs party, the most influential including Prince Rudolf von Thurn-Taxis, Josef Barák, and Julius and Eduard Grégr. The authorities of Austria-Hungary kept a continually close eye on the movement, but the reputation and prestige of the Sokol continued to grow; soon the Sokol members were known by most as the "Czech national army". The Young Czech Party (also National Liberal Party, Národní strana svobodomyslná) was formed in 1874. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ...

1860s and 1870s: Initial Growth, Militarization, and Internal Problems

Within the first year the Sokols expanded beyond Prague, first into the Moravian lands and the Slovenian regions of the Habsburg empire. Initially the majority of members were students and professionals, but over time there was a trend towards increasingly working class members. Flag of Moravia Moravia (Czech and Slovak: Morava; German: ; Hungarian: ; Polish: ) is a historical region in the east of the Czech RepublicCzechia. ...

The Sokol training went through periods of greater militarized training, during the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, when Sokol members were hired as guards for public events. This militaristic side of the Sokol movement continued to resurface throughout its history. Combatants Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Hanover and some minor German States (formerly as the German Confederation) Prussia, Italy, and some minor German States Strength 600,000 Austrians and German allies 500,000 Prussians and German allies 300,000 Italians Casualties 20,000 dead or wounded 37,000 dead...

The internal issues that were to plague the Sokol movement over the years emerged almost immediately. These internal arguments reached fruition during the 1870s with the power struggle in leadership between the members of Old Czechs and the Young Czechs parties. Theoretically, the Sokol was a society “above politics.” Always flamboyantly nationalistic, the more conservative members of the Sokol argued that the organization should maintain its distance from politics while the Young Czechs members advocated more direct political participation. Theoretically, the Sokol was also open equally to members of all classes. The informal “thou” (ty) was used by all members, but there were constant arguments over whether this was necessary or not. Different leaders believed that the Sokol was a mass-based institution defined by its working class members, while others viewed it more as a middle class apparatus by which to educate and raise the national consciousness of the working classes. The Young Czech Party (also National Liberal Party, Národní strana svobodomyslná) was formed in 1874. ...

1880s: Slets, Union, and the French

In 1882, the first Slet was held. Slet comes from the Czech word for "a flocking of birds" (Czech plural: Slety), and was a mass gymnastics (1572 Sokols) festival that became a grand tradition within the Sokol movement. This first one and the following Slets included an elaborate welcoming ceremony at the train station, mass demonstrations, gymnastics competitions, speeches, and theatrical events, open to members of all Sokols. A 1998 mass gymnastics display in Pyongyang. ...

In 1887 the Habsburg authorities finally allowed, after over twenty years worth of proposals, the formation of a union of Sokol clubs (Česká obec sokolská, ČOS). The union centralized all the Sokols in the Czech lands and sent missionary Sokol trainers to the rest of the Slavic world to found Sokol institutions in Kraków, Ljubljana, Zagreb, and even Russia. Bohemia, Moravia, Austrian Silesia - 1892, then part of Austria-Hungary Bohemia and Moravia-Silesia within Czechoslovakia in 1928 The Czech lands (Czech: ÄŒeské zemÄ›) is an auxiliary term used mainly to describe the combination of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. ... Motto: Ex navicula navis (From a boat, a ship) Coordinates: , Country Poland Voivodeship Lesser Poland Powiat city county Gmina Kraków City Rights June 5th, 1257 Government  - Mayor Jacek Majchrowski Area  - City 326. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Location of Zagreb within Croatia Coordinates: , Country Croatia RC diocese 1094 Free royal city 1242 Unified 1850 Government  - Mayor Milan Bandić Area [1]  - City 641. ...

In 1889, though forbidden officially by the authorities, members of the Prague Sokol went to the World's Fair in Paris. There they won several medals and established strong connections with the French gymnasts and French public. The Sokols have been credited with establishing the beginning of the strong French sympathy for the Czechs and their subsequent political alliances on this trip. The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a Worlds Fair held in Paris, France from May 5, to October 31, 1889. ... This article is about the capital of France. ...

1890s: The Progressive Era

The 1890s were a progressive era for the Sokols. In order to encourage a wider range of participation, the Sokols reformed their programs, offering training sessions of varying intensities, extending their libraries, emphasizing the educational aspect of training, and starting programs for adolescents, youth, and women. There was an increasing focus on mass-based ideology and working class egalitarianism under the leadership of the Young Czechs, namely Jan Podlipný, who was also the mayor of Prague 1897–1900.

The second Slet was held in 1891 (over 5,000 Sokols) and the third one soon afterwards in 1895. At this third Slet the congress of the Sokol union laid out its progressive new trajectory in the St. Wenceslas Day Resolutions. The leaders chose to continue to provide more accessible forms of training, with less focus on competition and more on an egalitarian idea of people’s gymnastics, balancing mental as well as physical education. Wenceslas (or Wenceslaus; Czech: Václav; German: Wenzel), styled Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia (b. ...

1900–1914: Competitors and Neo-Slavism

The rise of the Social Democrats and Agrarian Parties in the political arena played out in Sokol politics as well as national ones. The Social Democrats formed a rival gymnastics society, the Workers' Gymnastics Club, (Dělnická tělovýchovná jednota, DTJ). Most Sokol leaders aligned with the Czech National Socialists after the decline of the Young Czechs party, and attacked the Social Democrats as “Germans” and “Jews” opposed to the true Czech cause. , a powerful ČOS figure, developed the policy of "cleansing" (očistění) and sought to limit membership to those who he believed demonstrated commitment to purely Czech causes. --> Most of the progressive members of the Sokols were purged or left voluntarily to join the DTJ. Another rival gymnast society was founded by the Christian-Socialist party under the name Orel, from the Czech word for "eagle". In the face of such competition, the Sokols set about reaffirming their traditional mission under the leadership of the nationally intolerant Josef Scheiner. Logo of the Czech National Social Party The Czech National Social Party (Czech: ÄŒeská strana národnÄ› sociální, 1898 - 1918), Czech Socialist Party (ÄŒeská strana socialistická, 1918 - 1919), Czechoslovak Socialist Party (ÄŒeskoslovenská strana socialistická, 1919 - 1926), Czechoslovak National Socialist Party (1926 - 1948), Czechoslavak Socialist Party (ÄŒeskoslovenská strana socialistická, 1948... The Orel movement (from the Czech word for eagle) is a Moravia based Czech youth movement and gymnastics organization which emerged between 1902-1909 as Church-supported competitor of the mostly Hussit organization Sokol. ... Genera Several, see below. ...

Jumping over horse on fourth Slet, 1901
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček

Exercises in Lviv, 1903
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček

The fourth Slet, held in 1901 (11,000 Sokols), boasted a large international participation, including Galician Poles, Slovenes, Croats, Russians, Bulgarians, Serbians, Montenegrins, as well as Frenchmen and Americans. This Slet also marked the first appearance of women who grew to be a major part of Sokol members in the following decades. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Photographic studio Šechtl and Voseček (earlier spelled as Schächtl and Voseček) was founded in Tábor (Bohemia) by Ignác Šechtl in 1888 who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... “Lvov” redirects here. ... Photographic studio Šechtl and Voseček (earlier spelled as Schächtl and Voseček) was founded in Tábor (Bohemia) by Ignác Šechtl in 1888 who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio. ...

The fifth Slet, held in 1907 (over 12,000 Sokols), had an increasingly Slavic focus and moved away from the more egalitarian idea of people's gymnastics with increased competition aspects. It marked the creation of the Federation of Slavic Sokols under the neo-Slavic idea of the Czechs as the strongest Slavic nation, second only to Russia.

At the 1910 meeting of the ČOS congress the sokols reaffirmed their intentions to remain "above politics” and loosened their strict membership rules to allow Social Democrats, though still not clericals, into the sokols.

In 1912, the first "All-Slavic Slet" (Všeslovanský slet, over 30,000 Sokols) was held with a largely military atmosphere, causing Augustin Očenášek (a member of Sokol) to remark, "When the thunder comes and the nations rise up to defend their existence, let it be the Sokol clubs from which the cry to battle will sound..." (Nolte, p78). The cry to battle did sound two years later, when the first rumors of Franz Ferdinand's assassination reached the Sokol members, most of whom were attending a regional Slet in Brno. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Coordinates: Country Czech Republic Region South Moravia Founded 1146 Area  - city 230. ...

World War I to Communism: Continued Struggle of Czech Nationalism

With the onset of World War I, the Sokols were officially disbanded in 1915. Many members were active in persuading the Czechs to defect from the Austro-Hungarian army to the Russian side. Sokol members also helped create the Czechoslovak Legions and local patrols that kept order after the disintegration of Habsburg authority, and during the creation of Czechoslovakia in October 1918. They also fulfilled their title as the "Czech national army", helping to defend Slovakia against the invasion of Béla Kun and the Hungarians. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Czech Legion, also called Czech-Slovak Legion was an armed force attached to the Russian army during the World War I. It played a prominent role in the Russian Civil War. ... Béla Kun Béla Kun (born Béla Kohn) (February 20, 1886, in Szilágycseh, today Cehu Silvaniei, Transylvania, Romania, died August 29, 1938 in the Soviet Union) was a Hungarian Communist politician, who ruled Hungary for a brief period in 1919. ...

Slet in Prague, 1920
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček

Exercises in Tábor, 1924
photographed by Šechtl and Voseček

The Sokol flourished in the early interwar period, and by 1930 had 630,000 members. The Sokols held one last Slet (350,000 Sokols) on the eve before the Munich Agreement of 1938 and were later brutally suppressed within the Protectorate. Sokol was banned during the Nazi occupation of Czech lands. After World War II they held one more Slet in 1948 before they were once again suppressed, this time by the Communists. Communist party tried to replace tradition of Slets with mass exercises employed for propaganda purposes: Spartakiads (Spartakiády). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Nickname: Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: , Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area  - City 496 km²  (191. ... Photographic studio Å echtl and Voseček (earlier spelled as Schächtl and Voseček) was founded in Tábor (Bohemia) by Ignác Å echtl in 1888 who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... SW corner of the Žižka square as viewed from the church tower. ... Photographic studio Å echtl and Voseček (earlier spelled as Schächtl and Voseček) was founded in Tábor (Bohemia) by Ignác Å echtl in 1888 who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio. ... For the annual global security meeting held in Munich, see Munich Conference on Security Policy Chamberlain holds the paper containing the resolution to commit to peaceful methods signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from Germany in September 1938. ... The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (in German: Reichsprotektorat Böhmen und Mähren, in Czech: Protektorát Čechy a Morava) was a German protectorate that arose in central parts of Bohemia and Moravia on March 15, 1939 when Germany invaded the western part of former Czechoslovakia, the former... Capital Prague Language(s) Czech, German Political structure Protectorate Reichsprotektor  - 1939-1941 Konstantin von Neurath  - 1941-1942 Reinhard Heydrich (acting)  - 1942-1943 Kurt Daluege (acting)  - 1943-1945 Wilhelm Frick Staatspräsident  - 1939-1945 Emil Hácha Historical era World War II  - Occupation March 15, 1939  - Fall of Prague May 13... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

The Sokols reappeared briefly during the Prague Spring of 1968, but the next Slet was not held until 1994 (23,000 Sokols), well after the fall of Communism. People in a café watch Soviet tanks roll past The Prague Spring (Czech: Pražské jaro, Slovak: Pražská jar, Russian: пражская весна) was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia starting January 5, 1968 when Alexander Dubček came to power, and running until August 20 of that year when the... Non-violent protesters face armoured policemen The Velvet Revolution (Czech: , Slovak: ) (November 16 – December 29, 1989) refers to a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that saw the overthrow of the communist government there. ...

Members of Sokol who emigrated from Czechoslovakia set up small Sokol groups abroad.

After years of hibernation, Sokol was revived for the fourth time in 1990. Presently, the organization focuses on physical training in gymnastics and other athletics. Its popularity is, however, well below pre-war levels and large percentage of members are older people remembering the Sokol in 1948 or before. The last Slet was held in 2000 (25,000 Sokols); the next one has been held in July 2006.

Expansion

Pionýr, which had under communism been a part of the Socialist Union of Youth is nowadays a non-political organization organizing leisure time for children, part of the International Falcon Movement-Socialist Education International. Pionýrs logo Pionýr (- Czech, in English Pioneer) is a Czech-based voluntary, independent and non-political movement of children, youth and adult people. ...

At the beginning of the twentieth century sokols were introduced in Catalonia and soon was considered and had the rang of a new tradition. It had the name of falcons (hawk in Catalan) and was modified influenced by the older tradition of the castellers. Anthem: Capital Barcelona Official language(s) Catalan,Spanish and Aranese. ... Genera Accipiter Micronisus Melierax Urotriorchis Erythrotriorchis The term hawk refers to birds of prey in any of three senses: Strictly, to mean any of the species in the bird sub-family Accipitrinae in the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. ... Catalan IPA: (català IPA: or []) is a Romance language, the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia (in the latter with the name of Valencian), and in the city of LAlguer in the Italian island of... Castells are human towers that are traditionally built during festivals in many places in Catalonia, Spain. ...

Quotations

"Whatever is Czech is also Sokol..." -Tyrš

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Sokol

• Sokol in Poland
• Sokol in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
• Sokol Auditorium
• Pan-Slavism
• Mass games

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Banner of the Będzin-based Sokół nest Sokół festival in Lwów, 1903 Sokół member in parade uniform Sokół (Polish: , Polish Gymnastic Society Falcon) is the Polish off-shoot of the Pan-Slavic Sokol, and the oldest youth movement organization Poland. ... Outside of Sokol Auditorium The Sokol Auditorium, located in Omaha, Nebraska, is a local icon for musical performances and gymnastics. ... Pan-Slavism was a movement in the mid 19th century aimed at unity of all the Slavic people. ... A 1998 mass gymnastics display in Pyongyang. ...

External links

• SokolClub.org - Slovak Catholic Sokol's Pittsburgh Based Assembly/Wreath
• Slovak Catholic Sokol's Official webpage, the largest active Slovak Sokols in America
• Official webpage of ČOS, Czech and English
• Historical photographs of Sokol by Šechtl and Voseček studios
• Sokol postcards
• American Sokol
• Serbian/Yugoslav Sokol Librabry at Project Rastko

References

• Nolte, Claire E. The Sokol in the Czech Lands to 1914: Training for the Nation. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.
• Crampton, R.J. Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century - And After. London: Routledge, 1997.
• Jandásek, Ladislav. "The Founder of the Sokols: Miroslav Tyrš." Slavonic and East European Review, 10 (1931/1932).
• Kruger, Arnd, and Murray, William (eds). The Nazi Olympics: Sport, Politics, and Appeasement in the 1930s. University of Illinois: 2003. p9.