World War II memorial

The World War II memorial in Ostopovice is a commemorative plaque honoring the residents of this South Moravian village who were tortured or killed during the German occupation between 1939 and 1945. It stands in Ostopovice, a small village just southwest of Brno in the Czech Republic.

Where is Ostopovice and how do you get there?

Ostopovice lies in the South Moravian Region, a short distance southwest of Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Thanks to its proximity to Brno, the village is easy to reach by car or regional transport, making it a convenient stop for anyone exploring the area around the city.

What does the plaque commemorate?

The inscription reads: "umučeným a padlým občanům ve druhé světové válce" — dedicated to the residents of Ostopovice who were tortured and killed during the Second World War. It was unveiled on 25 April 1971, on the anniversary of the village's liberation.

How did the village experience the war?

Like most of Moravia, Ostopovice fell under German occupation from 1939 to 1945. The Gestapo arrested 14 residents of the village, five of whom were executed. In 1945, during the final months of the war, four civilians were killed in bombing and shelling connected to the fighting for the region's liberation.

Soviet troops liberated Ostopovice on 25 April 1945. The fighting for the village cost the lives of 16 Soviet soldiers. It was on the anniversary of that liberation, a quarter of a century later, that the memorial plaque to the war's civilian victims was unveiled.

Is this the only war memorial in the village?

No — Ostopovice also has an older monument dedicated to those who died in the First World War. It was created in 1921 by sculptor Jaroslav Svoboda and unveiled that same year before a large gathering of villagers. Together, the 1921 monument and the 1971 plaque bear witness to the two most tragic periods in the village's modern history.

Why is it worth a stop?

This is not a large-scale tourist attraction in the conventional sense — it is a place of local memory, of the kind found in many Czech and Moravian villages affected by the war. For anyone interested in 20th-century history around Brno, it offers a chance to pause at a specific, documented site of remembrance rather than only reading about the events in a book. The plaque stands in a public space in the village and can be viewed year-round, without restriction.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does the memorial in Ostopovice commemorate? The plaque honors residents of the village who were tortured and killed during the Second World War; it was unveiled on 25 April 1971.

When was Ostopovice liberated? Soviet troops liberated the village on 25 April 1945; 16 Soviet soldiers died in the fighting for Ostopovice.

What repression did the village suffer during the occupation? The Gestapo arrested 14 residents, five of whom were executed; four civilians died in 1945 due to bombing and shelling.

Is there also a World War I memorial in Ostopovice? Yes, an older monument honoring those who fell in the First World War was created in 1921 by sculptor Jaroslav Svoboda.