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![Jiří Wonka s bratrovým psem 1977.](/sites/default/files/2023-12/2023-10-17%20Wonka%20Jiri_FA_10.jpg)
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Jiří Wonka was born on 8 April 1950 in Dolní Branná. He comes from a family of Czech Germans. During the tumultuous post-war years the witness‘s mother Gerta was raped twice by members of so-called „looting guards“. The witness‘s father Ludwig Wonka died from a twisted bowel in 1953. Jiří‘s mother raised the children by herself. Jiří Wonka trained as a mechanic and completed an evening technical school while employed. His brother Pavel trained as a car mechanic and then applied to study law three times, but was denied. Pavel therefore took up studies by himself, and he later provided amateur legal aid to those who wanted it. When he was convicted in 1984, Jiří Wonka and his mother went on a hunger strike with him at Prague Castle. In 1986 Jiří and Pavel Wonka announced their independent candidacy for the elections to the People‘s Chamber of the Federal Assembly. Both brothers were arrested. After twelve months in custody, the Municipal Court in Prague pronounced their sentence on 26 May 1987. Jiří Wonka was sentenced unconditionally to twelve months of prison for inciting public outrage. He was tortured in prison, causing such permanent injury that he was awarded a disability pension in 1991. Upon release he signed Charter 77 and was subsequently fired from his job. He earned his living with menial labour. He was repeatedly brought to trial for protest letters addressed to Communist offices and courts. On 26 April 1988 his brother Pavel Wonka died in prison under unexplained circumstances. In 1991 Jiří Wonka managed to have all the Communist verdicts on himself and his brother struck down. However, of those who judged and tortured his brother, none were punished.