About this place
The Monument to the Victims of World War I stands at a crossroads in Vašírov, a small settlement belonging to the municipality of Lány in the Czech Republic, close to the very center of the hamlet. This modest yet meaningful obelisk commemorates local soldiers who died between 1914 and 1918, and it was raised amid the patriotic spirit surrounding the twentieth anniversary of Czechoslovak independence.
When was the monument built?
Villagers decided to erect the monument at a meeting held on 24 July 1938, as the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic approached. The design came from Josef Suchopárek, while the actual construction was carried out by V. Frolík from the cement works in Tuchlovice. An iron fence was added around the stone obelisk, made by Antonín Perman's Slovanka metalworking shop for 840 crowns. The ceremonial unveiling took place on 6 November 1938, attended by relatives of the fallen soldiers from Vašírov.
What does the monument look like?
The small monument, made of artificial stone, features a hexagonal top bearing the abbreviation "ČSR" — a symbol of the Czechoslovak Republic. The obelisk carries the inscription "1918 Č.S.R 1938 MÍSTNÍM PADLÝM VOJÍNŮM 1914–1918", dedicating it to local soldiers who fell during the First World War. A fenced patch of lawn surrounds the monument, planted with three linden trees, a species traditionally associated with Czech statehood.
What happened to the monument during the war?
During the Nazi occupation, this emblem of Czechoslovak independence became a target for the occupying authorities. A plaque bearing the name of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk had to be removed from the obelisk, and the monument itself faced the threat of complete destruction. The residents of Vašírov, however, managed to hide it and protect it from being demolished. After the war ended, in May 1945, the monument was returned to its original spot.
What happened to it in later decades?
The monument's story did not end with its postwar return. In the late 1950s, the stone mysteriously vanished from the crossroads — it later turned out to have been buried in a pit near its original location. It was not rediscovered and restored to its place until late summer 1998, where it still stands today as a testament to the region's turbulent history.
Why is it worth a visit?
The monument in Vašírov is more than a local historical relic — it illustrates how a small rural community managed, across decades, to safeguard a symbol of its national identity, first against Nazi occupation and later through the upheavals of postwar history. Visitors will find a quiet spot at the edge of the village, well suited to a moment of reflection on the fate of a small Czech community throughout a turbulent twentieth century.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the monument located? It stands at a crossroads in the center of Vašírov, a hamlet within the municipality of Lány in the Kladno district.
When was the monument unveiled? The ceremonial unveiling took place on 6 November 1938.
What does it commemorate? Local soldiers who died between 1914 and 1918 during the First World War.
Has the monument survived in its original form? Yes — despite being hidden during the occupation and temporarily disappearing in the late 1950s, the stone was found again in 1998 and restored to its original location.
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