Pamětní deska železničářů

The Railwaymen's Memorial Plaque is a modest yet moving commemorative tablet inside the main station hall in České Budějovice, right beside the entrance to the underpass leading to the platforms. It honors South Bohemian railway workers who lost their lives at the hands of the Nazi occupiers between 1939 and 1945.

Where exactly is the plaque located?

The plaque is mounted in the main hall of the České Budějovice railway station building, near the entrance to the pedestrian underpass that leads travelers toward the platforms. Thousands of passengers pass this spot every day, so the memory of these railway workers is woven into the everyday rhythm of the station rather than tucked away in some forgotten corner.

Who does the plaque commemorate?

The inscription refers to Czech railway employees who became victims of Nazism during the Second World War, the period of the German occupation of the Czech lands (1939–1945). Railway workers were a professional group particularly exposed to reprisals: they controlled train movements, had access to information about transports, and many took part in resistance activity and sabotage aimed at German military logistics. The plaque expresses gratitude for their sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the price they paid.

What does the inscription say?

The text takes the form of a short, poetic verse. It evokes the image of fingerprints left on black, wrought iron — a metaphor for the hard, everyday labor around tracks and locomotives — and expresses the conviction that, however much time passes, the memory of the fallen will never fade, and that they themselves remain present among the living. The plaque's composition was created by Josef Bartuška, an artist connected to the local creative scene.

Why did the railway play such an important role in České Budějovice?

Since the mid-19th century, the city has been a key railway hub of southern Bohemia, served by one of the earliest lines on Czech territory, which connected the region to Austria and the rest of the Habsburg monarchy. The current main station building dates from 1908 and was designed by architect Gustav Kulhavý in a neo-Renaissance style; it remains one of the city's notable landmarks to this day. This strong railway tradition meant that the local community of railway workers was large, and the losses suffered during the war were felt deeply.

What does this place mean for locals and travelers today?

For residents of České Budějovice, the plaque forms part of local historical memory — a reminder that the railway was never just transport infrastructure, but also a workplace for people who risked their lives during the occupation. For travelers passing through the station, it is a modest, easily overlooked yet meaningful historical detail amid the everyday bustle of the station hall. It is worth pausing for a moment near the underpass entrance to read the inscription — one of those small city details that never make it onto postcards but shape a place's identity all the same.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the plaque stand? In the main hall of the České Budějovice railway station, next to the entrance to the underpass leading to the platforms.

Who does it commemorate? Czech railway workers murdered or persecuted by the German occupiers between 1939 and 1945.

Who created the plaque? Josef Bartuška.

Does the station building itself have a notable history? Yes — the current main station building was erected in 1908 to a design by Gustav Kulhavý, in the neo-Renaissance style.

Is entry to the station hall to view the plaque free of charge? Yes, the station hall is freely accessible to all travelers and residents.