The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation Czech

This original study revisits the critical historical and cultural debates in Czech society immediately following World War II. Bradley F. Abrams discovers that communist public figures were largely successful in controlling the discourse over the nation's

Bradley F. Abrams is associate professor of history at Columbia University

Acknowledgments

vii

Introduction: The Cold War and Contemporary Understandings of the Communist Takeover of Czechoslovakia

1

(8)

Part I: Czech Intellectuals Enter the Postwar World

1 World War II and the East European Revolution

9

(30)

2 Intellectuals in the Czech Environment

39

(14)

3 Four Groups of Postwar Czech Intellectuals

53

(36)

Part II: The Interpretation and Reinterpretation of Czech History and the Reorientation of the Czech Nation

4 The Communist Aim: The Creation of a New Czechoslovakia

89

(15)

5 The Battle over the Recent Past I: The Experiences of Munich and World War II

104

(14)

6 The Battle over the Recent Past II: The First Republic and Tomas G. Masaryk

118

(21)

7 The Shift in Sensibilities and Generations: May 5, 1945, versus October 28, 1918

139

(17)

8 The Reorientation of National Identity: Czechs between East and West

156

(22)

Part III: The Meaning of Socialism

9 Socialism and Communist intellectuals: The "Czechoslovak Road to Socialism"

178

(21)

10 Socialism and Democratic Socialist Intellectuals: The "New Socialist Ethos"

199

(35)

11 Socialism and Roman Catholic Intellectuals: The "Fateful Struggle between Spirit and Matter"

234

(19)

12 Socialism and Protestant Intellectuals: The "Kingdom of God on Earth"?

253

(22)

Conclusion: The End of Czechoslovak Democracy and the Rise of Communism in Eastern Europe

275

(14)

Appendix

289

(7)

Notes

296

(51)

Bibliography

347

(10)

Index

357

(6)

About the Author

363

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The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation Czech Culture and the Rise of Communism

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Struggle for the Soul of the Nation Czech Culture and the Rise of Communism

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License