• 609/2 Dlouhá Street

House of the Golden Elephant

The Czech National Council was established in April 1945. It was headed by Professor Albert Pražák, a respected yet politically naïve and inexperienced man. As a result, Josef Smrkovský, a communist representative and member of the council’s board, had a major say. The composition of the council’s board seems quite unusual, with the communists having six representatives and the social democrats eight, while the remaining parties had only one representative each.

During the first days, the Czech National Council representatives convened at the former Svépomoc (Self-Help) Citizens Savings Bank located at 609/2 Dlouhá Street. This was where the order to initiate the uprising was issued on the Saturday afternoon of 5 May 1945. Nevertheless, there had already been violent clashes in the streets of Prague, particularly due to the appeals and calls for help that Czech Radio had broadcast since the early morning. (Czech radio)

After all, this is evidenced by the report of Čestmír Mattuš, who headed towards Dlouhá Street in the mid-morning: ‘I discovered on my way that citizens were covering German signs, and upon reaching Old Town Square, I saw Praguers attacking and insulting German soldiers and depriving them of their weapons. Single shots were heard, and there was a gunfight in Dlouhá Street, in which I took part. When I arrived at the Czech National Council, I realised that Czech Radio was calling for help, and the Czech Police and government troops had occupied the Czech Radio building. It was concluded that a situation had arisen in which the Czech National Council had to intervene and address the rapidly evolving situation.’ (A copy of the report by Dr Čestmír Mattuš, VÚA, fonds ČNR)

A group led by the former military officers Karel Kutlvašr, František Slunečko, and František Bürger prepared an uprising independently of the Czech National Council, forming the Alex Command and Bartoš Command. (House of the stone table) This group and the Czech National Council were unaware of each other’s existence until the outbreak of the Prague Uprising. 

During the uprising, the Czech National Council had to leave the House of the Golden Elephant due to gunfire and change locations every few hours (Vltava Café, Žižkova Cargo Station, Včela at Tyl Square in Vinohrady, Černý/Black Brewery in Vinohrady, and eventually, on 7 May, the police headquarters in Bartolomějská Street).

Dlouhá Street from Old Town Square, with the Monastery of the Order of Minims on the left and the Svépomoc (Self-Help) Savings Bank, one of the seats of the Czech National Council during the Prague Uprising, unknown date. Museum of Prague, photo by Paul.

The Old Town Hall from the arcades of house no. 609-I, located at the corner of Dlouhá Street. Museum of Prague, photo by Karel František Pešák.

Damaged houses, struck by gunfire, near the end of Dlouhá Street where it meets Old Town Square during the Prague Uprising, May 1945. Museum of Prague, photo by Josef Hezoučký.