Echoes from the Jáchymov mines
Eliáš I
prisoner-of-war and later communist penal camp · 219, Jáchymov, Czech Republic
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Communist label of a prisoner Růžička: E 0951

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In 1949, Kamil Růžička, a scout member, was sentenced to prison "for distributing leaflets" to serve three years in Jáchymov uranium lager, where he was given the label E 0951. He would never forget it: "In Eliáš I., that was located nine hundred meters above the see level, the winter was harsh, just like it used to be all through the Ore Mountains. We lived in wooden barracks and showered in cold water. One work suit had to last whole three years no matter the weather or period. The local doctor was German who had no medicine to treat anything. If you complained, you always got aspirin. If you suffered an accident, you were given a piece of soap to clean the wound. The food was miserable; even just bread was scarce and work extremely exhausting on surface as well as down in the mine,“ Kamil Růžička describes the conditions in a lager.

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Kamil Růžička (1919) - Biography

Kamil Růžička (1919) - Biography

After the coup our group agreed that we would fight against the Communist regime Kamil Růžička (scout name Heřmánek) was born on November 23, 1919, in Veselý Kopec nearby Chrudim. That's also where he joined the Scouts in 1931. Between 1939-1945 he was a member of the scout resistance movement and after the war he founded a scout group in Ostrov nad Ohří. He was among those scouts who printed anti-communist flyers after the February 1948 coup and for this activity, he was imprisoned in the labor camp Eliáš in Jáchymov for three years in 1949. Kamil Růžička actively participated in the restoration of the Scout movement in 1968 and subsequently in 1989 as well. He is a holder of an important award of honor - the Silver syrinx. He is a member of Svojsík's troop.

Eliáš I

Available in: English | Česky

Originally a camp for German prisoners of war. In July 1949, when the first prisoners of the communist regime arrived, it was in a very poor condition and had to be disinfected. Subsequently, over five hundred prisoners were placed in it. The following year, it was closed down as it was unsatisfactory from the point of view of hygiene. It was replaced by the Eliáš II Camp.

Eliáš I

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Communist label of a prisoner Růžička: E 0951

Communist label of a prisoner Růžička: E 0951

Kamil Růžička (1919) - Bi…
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