Battle for Czech Radio

The Battle for Czech Radio was a major part of the Prague uprising during World War II. Plans for the liberation of the radio station were prepared by Captain Valter in late April 1945. Captain Palička and Captain Valter grouped their forces so as to attack the building. The fierce battle resulted in a victory of the uprisers.

Background
From 30 April-1 May 1945, the Waffen-SS Senior Group Leader (Obergruppenführer) and General of Police Karl Hermann Frank announced over the radio in Prague that he would drown any uprising in a "sea of blood". As rumors of an impending Allied approach reached Prague, the people of Prague streamed into the streets to welcome the victors. Frank ordered the streets to be cleared and instructed the German army and police forces in Prague to fire at anyone who disobeyed.

Battle
On 5 May, the uprising was triggered in the morning by a broadcast on Czech radio. In a mixture of Czech and German, the broadcast announced: "It is just six o' clock". A group of Czech policemen attempted to seize the radio building on Vinohradská street, without realizing that a detachment of SS soldiers was already stationed there, which resulted in bitter fighting. With the sounds of combat in the background, the radio station continued to broadcast messages of defiance, encouraging citizens to revolt. There were about 90 heavily armed German soldiers of the Waffen-SS in the building.

At about 1:00 am on May 5, 1945, armed Czech resistance fighters overwhelmed the Waffen-SS defending the radio buildings. The radio announcer broadcast a call to the Czech nation to rise up and asked the people in the streets of Prague to build barricades. Elsewhere, Czech resistance fighters occupied the Gestapo and Sipo Headquarters.

Aftermath
The uprising continued on. See Prague uprising for more.

External sources

 * Radio.cz
 * Broadcast article