Případ Václava Talicha. K problému národní očisty a českého heroismu – Křesťan Jiří (2014)

After the end of World War II, conductor Václav Talich was accused of collaboration. Minister Zdeněk Nejedlý is often cited as an inspirer. The publication notes the correct relationships between them during the interwar period. Talich was a member of the Social Democratic Party, and his friends included left-leaning individuals. A conflict of interest between the two men occurred in 1935 when Nejedlý unsuccessfully advocated against Talich's candidacy for the position of head of the opera at the National Theatre for composer O. Jeremiáš. During the so-called Second Republic, both Nejedlý and Talich equally defended national cultural values. The author meticulously maps the dilemmas Talich faced during the occupation, does not shy away from problematic actions, including a speech at the Municipal House on July 12, 1942, after the assassination of Heydrich, corrects the legends surrounding the story of Talich's arrest in May 1945, and outlines the discussions surrounding the 'Talich case.' Talich's defense was supported by collaborators (I. Medek), as well as communists (E. F. Burian, V. Nezval, P. Kočí, later J. Taufer and L. Čivrný), and some of Nejedlý's students (K. B. Jirák, J. Hutter) expressed understanding, while others (M. Očadlík, A. J. Patzaková) attacked him. Nejedlý and other politicians (E. Beneš, J. Masaryk, A. Zápotocký) maintained their...