kpt. Alfréd Bartoš - SILVER A

The memorial to Captain Alfréd Bartoš – SILVER A stands right in the heart of Sezemice, in front of the town hall. It commemorates one of Czechoslovakia's most important World War II resistance figures, who spent his childhood in this very town.

Who was Alfréd Bartoš?

Alfréd Bartoš was born on 23 September 1916 in Vienna, but moved to Sezemice with his family while still a small child, after his father took a job there as a baker. He grew up and spent his youth in the town before leaving for Great Britain, where he joined the Czechoslovak army in exile.

Bartoš became the commander of the parachute group codenamed Silver A, dropped into the occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in 1941. The group carried out intelligence and communications work on behalf of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile in London, and its members maintained contact with the Anthropoid group, responsible for the assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich, Deputy Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.

How did the commander of Silver A die?

Following the assassination of Heydrich in May 1942, the Gestapo launched an intense manhunt for the parachutists and their collaborators. Bartoš, betrayed by a collaborator, was tracked down in Pardubice. On 21 June 1942, while fleeing the Gestapo, he attempted suicide rather than be captured alive by the Nazis. He died of his injuries the following day, 22 June 1942.

What does the memorial in Sezemice look like?

The memorial was unveiled on 17 June 2007, marking the anniversary of the tragic events tied to the reprisals following Heydrich's assassination. The life-size statue was created by sculptor Josef Čermák. The monument takes the form of a stone block whose lower part resembles a roughly worked prism, merging seamlessly into the figure of the hero. It was built at the initiative and expense of the town of Sezemice, honoring its most famous resident.

Why visit this memorial?

The statue stands in the park in front of Sezemice's town hall, making it an easy stop during a walk through the town center. The site regularly hosts commemorative ceremonies organized by the town and military representatives — in recent years, wreaths have been laid at the memorial by, among others, members of the 14th Logistic Support Regiment. Visitors can use the occasion to learn more about the local hero whose fate is closely tied to one of the most significant episodes of the Czechoslovak resistance movement.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the memorial located? In the park in front of the town hall in Sezemice.

When was the memorial unveiled? On 17 June 2007.

Who created the statue? Sculptor Josef Čermák.

What was Alfréd Bartoš's connection to Sezemice? He spent his childhood there, as his father worked in the town as a baker.

What was Operation Silver A? A Czechoslovak military intelligence parachute group operating in the occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia from 1941, which cooperated with the Anthropoid group responsible for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.

How did Bartoš die? Pursued by the Gestapo, he attempted suicide on 21 June 1942 and died of his injuries the following day.