World Wars memorial in Golčův Jeníkov

World Wars Memorial in Golčův Jeníkov is a modest but meaningful monument standing right in the heart of this small town, on Masaryk Square (Masarykovo náměstí). It's the kind of site easy to walk past without a second glance, yet it carries the story of an entire local community across two world wars.

What does the memorial look like?

The monument is built around a slender obelisk, to which two granite slabs were later added. The obelisk is topped with the state emblem and a date, and at its base sits a black, polished plaque bearing the names of forty residents of Golčův Jeníkov who died in the First World War. This original, obelisk-only part came first — it was erected after 1918, during a period when many Czech towns and villages raised similar monuments to honor soldiers who fell for the newly founded Czechoslovakia.

Who do the granite slabs commemorate?

After the Second World War, the memorial was expanded with two granite slabs. They carry the names of further victims — both local townspeople and Soviet soldiers who died during the fighting of 1939–1945. This expansion turned the monument into a record of remembrance spanning both world wars rather than just the first — hence its name, referring directly to the victims of both conflicts.

Where exactly is it located?

The memorial stands on Masarykovo náměstí, the main square of Golčův Jeníkov, making it an easy stop for anyone visiting this small town in the Vysočina Region, within the Havlíčkův Brod District. Its central location means it naturally fits into a walk around the square and the surrounding historic buildings, alongside the town's other landmarks.

Why stop in Golčův Jeníkov?

Golčův Jeníkov is best known as the birthplace of Karel Havlíček Borovský — a Czech journalist, poet, and political figure, and one of the leading personalities of the 19th-century Czech National Revival. The World Wars memorial on the square rounds out this local landscape of memory: alongside a figure tied to the 19th-century fight for national identity stands a monument dedicated to residents who paid with their lives in the conflicts of the 20th century. For travelers passing through the Vysočina region, it's a modest but genuine stop — a testament to how small towns preserve the memory of the townspeople they lost to war.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the World Wars memorial in Golčův Jeníkov stand? On Masarykovo náměstí, the town's main square, in the Vysočina Region.

What does the monument consist of? An obelisk topped with the state emblem, a black plaque at its base listing 40 names of First World War victims, and two granite slabs added after 1945 listing Second World War victims.

Who exactly does the memorial honor? Residents of Golčův Jeníkov who died in the First World War (40 names on the plaque) and victims of the Second World War — both local townspeople and Soviet soldiers.

When was the memorial built? The original obelisk was erected after 1918, and the monument was expanded with granite slabs after the end of the Second World War in 1945.