Jiří z Lobkovic Square

Like most other school buildings in Prague, the school building on Jiří z Lobkovic Square was used by the German army as a barracks in the spring of 1945. The garrison consisted of about 600 men. On 5 May, after noon, the Germans from the school posted sentries in the park in front of the building. Using a panzerfaust, the rebels managed to destroy the German machine gun nest in the park pool. On the night of 6 May, the rebels built a barricade at the main entrance to the Olšany cemetery and in the surrounding streets. They also disconnected electricity and water used by the school garrison. There was a stalemate all day on Jiří z Lobkovic Square on 6 May, because it was pointless to attack the well-armed German superiority, and the Germans in the school did not know the power of the besiegers. The siege was coordinated by Lieutenant Colonel Sklenář and his Military Headquarters of Vinohrady–East: Staff Captain Miroslav Procházka, Commander of the Strašnice Votická sub-section, had lent him his 2nd platoon, deployed at the main entrance to the Olšany cemetery. At 1 a.m. on 7 May, the 1st and 6th Companies of the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division of the Armed Forces of the Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia (Vlasovites) and the rebel armoured unit of First Lieutenant Neubauer arrived at Jiří z Lobkovic Square. Together with Lieutenant Colonel Sklenář, their commanders prepared a detailed plan of the attack on the school building. At 7:30 a.m., just before the start of the attack, the German garrison surrendered. The elimination of the strong German garrison helped the rear of the Vršovice rebels and secured the connection with Strašnice.