„And in the night, sirens sounded and dad ran with me to their main shelter, and above, the trees, those rockets, lit up, they were used to light up those objects. So dad lied on me, we lay for a while in the field. When it stopped, we got to the shelter, the door slammed behind us and the first bombing of Pardubice started.”
“Before they took them away, Evička came running and brought me a book with a dedication that evening. They thought they would be coming back but she gave me a book as a reminder, I still have it. It’s title is Fight for the Forest. That’s how we said our goodbyes. She was a great friend of mine, and she had to wear the [Jewish] star. She never came back, she died in Auschwitz.”
„What I tried to uphold was one good deed every day. I did not manage all the time, even though it could be a small thing, helping someone. This has stuck with me for all my life, to commit good deeds. Even when I was a small boy, I had that written down at home and when I was being naughty, mom always told me, read this over there. And that’s how my parents raised me with this.”
„And then brother finished his army service and returned home. He sought the company of priests, he often visited the parsonage and met them there, he served as an altar boy in secret, and then they jailed them all, including my brother. There were excellent priests, such as Father Pirkl. Then there was the court process, conspiracy of subversion (against the republic) and he got a year of jail. We went to visit him there, too. That’s what we were going through. When we went to see the court hearing, we couldn’t even see him, we only saw him when they led them there… It was terrible. We cried a lot.”
„At the gymnasium (secondary school), there was an excellent teacher, Father Tajovský. Mu brother admired him. But, we were church-goers, my father came from a large Catholic family. We were serious Catholics. Even our mom. So he [Tajovský] influenced him [my brother] so much that he [brother] joined the novitiate in Želiv. From there, my brother transferred to Prague, to study theology at the faculty of theology. And there they arrested them and we had no idea where he could be for a year. There was a lot of crying at home. I do not like recalling this. We did not know brother’s whereabouts for a year, it was driving my parents crazy. Only much later, after a year, we got the news that they were in Králíky where all the priests were kept in internmet. We then went to visit him there.”
"It was Christmas. The first Christmas. When we were in that room, the mood was awful. I had not been on a leave for Christmas. All the guys sat there this way (gloomily). And I just wanted to do something so one guy brought a fur coat from the storage, I put that on, then a hat. I started playing Saint Nicholas, Jesus, Father Christmas, all in once, to lift up the moods. I was crying inside as well but I was trying."
"When one is a true scout, he's a scout forever. I still live that way. I kept going to Wolker [memorial] as much as I could. I and my wife always went in secret to that memorial where we swore our oaths. That idea... as they say: 'Once a scout, always a scout.' That's what's in me and what will always remain my integral part."
"Then there was this Wield, when the revolution came [meaning liberation at the end of WWII], they obviously caught him, chained him and led him through the town as a traitor. And then there were the court hearings [in the building where] there's the academy of agriculture and Masaryk's memorial. So there was the court hearaing with Nacházel and Wolf. Wolf managed to escape and Nacházel was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. However, as I was underage, when the sentence was to be read, I had to leave. And then they executed him. The rope broke so they executed him once more."
František Vondráček was born on the 4th of January in1931 in Nučice, not far from Prague, however, the family roots were in the Vysočina region. Shortly after his birth, the family returned to Humpolec where his parents were from. František went to basic school there and among his schoolmates was Jan Zábrana, who later became a poet, writer and translator. During the German occupation, his mother was under the threat of being taken in a transport along with the other Jews from Humpolec because she was from a mixed Jewish-Christian family. After the end of the WWII, František witnessed a public trial with traitors who were then executed by hanging.
In June 1945, František, along with his older brother Zdeněk joined the Scout band. A year later, he passed the exam of Three Eagle Feathers and in March 1948, he became the leader of the Humpolec scout band. After scounting got banned by the Commiunists, the Humpolec scouts would secretly meet at the memorial of Jiří Wolker where František his scout oath. In September 1948, František’s brother Zdeněk joined the Zeliv monastery and became a novice. In April 1950, as the result of Operation K [K stands for kláštery = convents], he and other brothers from the Strahov convent were first interned in the Broumov monastery and later in Králíky, The Vondráček family remained true to their Catholic faith even during the Communist dictatorship which had a negative impact on the witness’ dossier. After two years of studies at the Secondary Technical School in Brno, he was not allowed to continue his studies. At the end of 1952, he was drafted and started his service with the Auxiliary Technical Batallions in Svatá Dobrotivá [Saint Benigna] in Zaječov[Saint Benigna was an Augustinian convent; the army took over numerous convent buildings which then served as barracks or storage facilities]. After two years’ service, he got a job as a production planner in the Sukno [Broadcloth] factory in Humpolec and a year after, he got married. His brother Zdeněk regular job as well but on the 28th of March in 1958, he was arrested during a house search and in the trial of the Voves group, he was sentenced for subversion against the republic. He was released in 1959 and forced to leave the order of the Premonstratensians; later he got married. During the second renewal of scouting, between 1968-1970, František was the leader of the Humpolec scout band and he organised two scout summer camps named Bratrství [Brotherhood] which took place on a camp ground in Vřesník. When scouting was banned again, he took part in illegal summer camps in 1971 and 1972. Consequently, the State Security kept summoning him for interrogations regarding the illicit scout activities. After the 1989 revolution, he kept his band leader position and… the return of the Orlov forest keeper’s lodge to the Humpolec scout band which has been its owner since. Until his late age, he gladly and happily raised the wolf cubs. Apart from scouting, he was active in the Humpolec amateur theatre troupe. He got several notable awards: The Award of the Honourable Lily in a Trefoil second class, the Syrinx Medal, the Medal of Thanking and the Memorial medal of the Army labour camps of the Auxiliary Technical Batallions 1948 – 1954 and others. František Vondráček died on July 28, 2022.
Scouts' summer camp in the vicinity of Vojslavice, 1945, the first scout camp where František Vondráček (kneeling) participated. "For the tents, we used tarpaulins left behind by the German army," František recalled.
Scouts' summer camp in the vicinity of Vojslavice, 1945, the first scout camp where František Vondráček (kneeling) participated. "For the tents, we used tarpaulins left behind by the German army," František recalled.
František's mom, Eliška Vondráčková, née Maršíková, (fourth from right) during her apprenticeship with Marie Šelepová, ladies' dressmaker in Humpolec, in today's Jihlavská Street.
František's mom, Eliška Vondráčková, née Maršíková, (fourth from right) during her apprenticeship with Marie Šelepová, ladies' dressmaker in Humpolec, in today's Jihlavská Street.
Far left, Jan Zábrana who later became a writer and a translator, far right, František Vondráček. The girl in a cap is Věra Metzlová, who later perished in a concentration camp.
Far left, Jan Zábrana who later became a writer and a translator, far right, František Vondráček. The girl in a cap is Věra Metzlová, who later perished in a concentration camp.
School photograph of the 4th class, 1941. František Vondráček (top row, fourth from left) attended the school with Jan Zábrana (bottom row, centre), who was to become a renowned author and translator.
School photograph of the 4th class, 1941. František Vondráček (top row, fourth from left) attended the school with Jan Zábrana (bottom row, centre), who was to become a renowned author and translator.
Olive Baden-Powell, wife of the scout movement founder, is meeting the scouts in Německý Brod (today's Havlíčkův Brod). Witness' brother Zdeněk Vondráček (nicknamed Akéla) was present at the meeting, he is one of the boys in the back rows.
Olive Baden-Powell, wife of the scout movement founder, is meeting the scouts in Německý Brod (today's Havlíčkův Brod). Witness' brother Zdeněk Vondráček (nicknamed Akéla) was present at the meeting, he is one of the boys in the back rows.
Zdeněk Vondráček, at that time a student of theology, was interned with other priests in the Broumov convent. There, he took his Premonstratensian wows secretly and took a religious name of Leo.
Zdeněk Vondráček, at that time a student of theology, was interned with other priests in the Broumov convent. There, he took his Premonstratensian wows secretly and took a religious name of Leo.
From the left, František Vondráček, Jan Riško and Františeks uncle Oldřich Maršík in the gardens of the Premonstratensian convent in Želiv.
em v zahradách premonstrátského želivského kláštera. The church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary can be seen in the background.
From the left, František Vondráček, Jan Riško and Františeks uncle Oldřich Maršík in the gardens of the Premonstratensian convent in Želiv.
em v zahradách premonstrátského želivského kláštera. The church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary can be seen in the background.
Mrs. and Mr. Vondráček went to visit their son Zdeněk to Slovakia where he served, along with other priests, with the Auxiliary Technical Batallions. The service term was over 30 months.
Mrs. and Mr. Vondráček went to visit their son Zdeněk to Slovakia where he served, along with other priests, with the Auxiliary Technical Batallions. The service term was over 30 months.
František and Zdeněk's uncle Oldřich Maršík from Čejov near Humpolec, who, in 1950, allegedly tried to cross the country borders of Czechoslovakia illegally. He was sentenced to six years of inprisonment which he served in the labour camp in uranium mines in the Příbram area.
František and Zdeněk's uncle Oldřich Maršík from Čejov near Humpolec, who, in 1950, allegedly tried to cross the country borders of Czechoslovakia illegally. He was sentenced to six years of inprisonment which he served in the labour camp in uranium mines in the Příbram area.
Reunion of the Humpolec grammar school graduates of 1948. Vladimír's head is barely showing (back row, left), with their teacher and later the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský. Humpolec, 1978
Reunion of the Humpolec grammar school graduates of 1948. Vladimír's head is barely showing (back row, left), with their teacher and later the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský. Humpolec, 1978
Abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv who had taught at the Humpolec grammar school, Bohumil Vít Tajovský with his colleague, Mr. Knaut. Humpolec, 1996
Abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv who had taught at the Humpolec grammar school, Bohumil Vít Tajovský with his colleague, Mr. Knaut. Humpolec, 1996
Reunion of the Humpolec grammar school graduates of 1948, with their teacher and later the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský. Also shown witness' mother, Růžena Vondráčková. Humpolec, 1998
Reunion of the Humpolec grammar school graduates of 1948, with their teacher and later the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský. Also shown witness' mother, Růžena Vondráčková. Humpolec, 1998
Reunion of the Humpolec grammar school graduates of 1948. Also shown a popular teacher and later the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský. Humpolec, 1996
Reunion of the Humpolec grammar school graduates of 1948. Also shown a popular teacher and later the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský. Humpolec, 1996
The scouts' camp ground by Želiv. In 1969 and 1970, the camps bore the name Bratrství [Brotherhood]. In 1971 and 11972, the Junák/scout organisation was forcibly merged with the socialist youth organisation, Pionýr [Pioneer] and the scout camps were organised illegally.
The scouts' camp ground by Želiv. In 1969 and 1970, the camps bore the name Bratrství [Brotherhood]. In 1971 and 11972, the Junák/scout organisation was forcibly merged with the socialist youth organisation, Pionýr [Pioneer] and the scout camps were organised illegally.
In the footsteps of the first scouts. František Vondráček, the chief of the Humpolec scout band, was one of its organisers. The event took place on the 23rd July 1970 and its route was from Prague to the Jiří Wolker memorial and then to Humpolec.
In the footsteps of the first scouts. František Vondráček, the chief of the Humpolec scout band, was one of its organisers. The event took place on the 23rd July 1970 and its route was from Prague to the Jiří Wolker memorial and then to Humpolec.
The spot where the Junák/scout members used to meet when scouting was banned. June 1970.
In this very place, the first Czech Junák/scout summer camp took place in 1912. Four years later, in 1916 Jiří Wolker, a renowned poet, was camping here; there is a memorial plaque dedicated to him.
The spot where the Junák/scout members used to meet when scouting was banned. June 1970.
In this very place, the first Czech Junák/scout summer camp took place in 1912. Four years later, in 1916 Jiří Wolker, a renowned poet, was camping here; there is a memorial plaque dedicated to him.
František Vondráček and Jindřich Rázek in July 2020. In 1971 and in 1972, the latter was the chief of illegal scouts' summer camps that took place at Vřesník.
František Vondráček and Jindřich Rázek in July 2020. In 1971 and in 1972, the latter was the chief of illegal scouts' summer camps that took place at Vřesník.
![The scouts' camp ground by Želiv. In 1969 and 1970, the camps bore the name Bratrství [Brotherhood]. In 1971 and 11972, the Junák/scout organisation was forcibly merged with the socialist youth organisation, Pionýr [Pioneer] and the scout camps were organised illegally.](https://www.memoryofnations.sk/sites/default/files/2021-02/Sken%205.jpeg)
![The Bratrství [Brotherhood] summer camp. 1969 or 1970](https://www.memoryofnations.sk/sites/default/files/2021-02/bratrstvi%CC%81.jpeg)
