in the Czech Republic
Translated from the German by Hans Aaen
English edited by Ben Vail
At the beginning of the Nazi period in Germany there was help from Friends for Jews and German democrats to escape via Yugoslavia to the UK, France, USA, etc. Some Czech Quakers or attenders lost their lives due to their anti-Nazi activity.
After WW II, there was renewal of the broken contacts. At this time there occured the first contacts with communist GDR (East Germany), regular communication with East German Friends, participation in Yearly Meetings in Erzgebirge (Schmiedeberg), and later also participation in Baltic Meetings.
Because of the unfriendly attitude of the communist Czechoslovak State toward all religions and religious organizations, there was no attempt to form groups. But there were international contacts with Quakers, who kept up official relations such as conferences and seminars, which were tolerated by the State. In communist Czechoslovakia, some "Friends of Friends" were under State surveillance as in the GDR.
After 1989 came the first contacts with German and British Friends and Yearly Meetings. Starting in 1996, annual Central European Meetings for Quakers have been held: in 1996 in Budapest; in 1997 in Kosice; in 1998 in Brno; in 1999 in Piliszaba; in 2001 in Gardony; in 2002 in Brno; 2003 in Velave; 2004 � none.
Quakers in the Czech Republic are single persons and sympathizers -- two in Prague, and others in Ceske Budejovice, Olomouc, and Nachod. We meet for worship every second Sunday of each month (except July and August).