pomník padlých

Pomník padlých ("Monument to the Fallen") is a modest memorial on the outskirts of Trhové Sviny in South Bohemia, standing beside the road leading toward Nové Hrady, in a spot locally known as Rejta. It commemorates a local tragedy from the final days of the Second World War and stands among the many quiet, small-scale memorials scattered across this part of southern Czechia recalling events from May 1945.

What does this monument commemorate?

The memorial is tied to events from the very first days of May 1945, when an SS cavalry unit retreating from České Budějovice passed through the area around Trhové Sviny. Warned of alleged partisan activity in the Sviny district, the soldiers rounded up around thirty young men from the surrounding villages, beat them, and marched them into town. Several of them did not survive the ordeal — the monument honors ten victims from Trhové Sviny and nearby villages who died as a result of the reprisals carried out by the retreating German forces in those final chaotic days of the war.

Where exactly does the monument stand?

The memorial stands right on the road leading out of Trhové Sviny toward Nové Hrady, just beyond the edge of the town's built-up area, in a location known locally as Rejta. It's a quiet, semi-rural spot — the same route travelers still use today when heading further south toward the Czech-Austrian border region.

What does the inscription mean?

The monument bears the inscription "MY DALI ŽIVOT, VY DEJTE LÁSKU!" — in English, "We gave our lives, you give love!" It's a direct, emotional appeal aimed at future generations passing by, characteristic of the postwar memorials that local communities across Czechoslovakia raised themselves to honor neighbors and relatives lost in the final days of the war.

Why is it worth a stop?

The Pomník padlých is not a grand monument or a headline tourist attraction — it belongs instead to the countless small, community-raised memorials found throughout South Bohemia. For anyone passing through Trhové Sviny, though, it can still be a meaningful stop: it's a reminder that this now-peaceful countryside was, in May 1945, the setting for a harrowing episode tied to the chaotic withdrawal of German forces from Czech territory just before the war's end. It's also a useful starting point for exploring the wider wartime history of a region dotted with many similar, lesser-known sites of remembrance.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the events commemorated by the monument take place? They took place at the turn of April and May 1945, in the final days of World War II, as an SS cavalry unit retreated through the Trhové Sviny area from České Budějovice.

How many people does the monument commemorate? The monument is dedicated to the memory of ten victims from Trhové Sviny and the surrounding villages.

Where in Trhové Sviny is the monument located? On the road leading out of town toward Nové Hrady, in a spot known as Rejta, on the outskirts of the built-up area.

Is the monument easy to reach for visitors? Yes — it stands directly beside the road, so it can be visited during a drive through the area without needing a long walk off the main routes.