HARTMANICE/PRÁŠILI - President Petr Pavel today paid tribute to the memory of American soldiers killed during the last days of World War II in Šumava. In his speech, he stressed the need to do everything possible to end the war in Ukraine and prevent any conflict from coming to the Czech Republic. The commemorative event took place in two defunct villages in the border region - in Zhůří and the former settlement of Gruberg. Both places are associated with the fighting between American and German troops at the end of the war, specifically on 5 and 6 May 1945.
In Zhůří, President Pavel laid a wreath at the memorial, which has stood there for 25 years. It commemorates the battle of 5 May 1945, in which ten American soldiers of the 90th Infantry Division were killed. From there, the President rode his motorbike 12 kilometres to the area of Prášil, where he unveiled a new memorial in the former Gruberg settlement. It commemorates the events of 6 May, when an armed clash between American soldiers and German cadets took place. During the battle, 21 German fighters were killed and six Americans were wounded.
President Pavel praised the courage of the soldiers who took part in the liberation of Czechoslovakia and called for the memory of the war victims to be preserved. At the same time, he stressed the importance of preventive measures to maintain peace in contemporary Europe. The commemorative event was attended by the public, historians, military representatives and representatives of local authorities. In the remote landscape of Šumava, the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of others was revived.
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