Meanwhile in Czechia... /25
23.05.2025
Czech Republic promotes preservation of German graves
For the first time, the Czech government is launching a funding program for the preservation of old German graves. This has been approved by the liberal-conservative cabinet in Prague. Around 400,000 euros will be available for 2026 at the start of the Ministry of Regional Development's project. According to the Ministry, the first applications can be submitted at the end of this year or the beginning of 2026. Local authorities and associations are eligible. Up to 70 percent of the costs can be funded.
The Czech Republic committed to maintaining the graves and cemeteries of the former German population back in the days of Czechoslovakia in the 1992 Neighborhood Treaty with Germany. For decades, however, no attention was paid to the graves, with the exception of those where descendants were still living in the Czech Republic.
Some graves were torn down to make room for new graves. The German graves were often the target of vandalism. Cemeteries with German graves that were no longer used fell into disrepair or were forgotten.
For a long time, it was mainly associations that looked after the preservation of individual cemeteries or graves. In recent years, more and more municipalities have joined in. The Czech government has also become involved in maintenance. A specially founded cemetery commission, which included historians and representatives of the German minority, was anchored at the highest level of the government office and produced a handbook for municipalities. What was still missing, however, were finances, as the municipalities were overwhelmed by the large number of German graves. According to estimates by the ministry, there are hundreds of thousands of graves of people of German origin in Czech cemeteries. In the Ústí nad Labem district on the border with Saxony alone, there are said to be around 20,000.
This is now set to change with the funding. For the regional ministry, it is clear that the money is just a drop in the ocean for now. However, with the help of EU funds, the amount is set to increase further in the coming years. A total of 80 million crowns (3.2 million euros) is to be made available by 2029.
National Socialist Germany occupied the Sudeten regions of what was then Czechoslovakia in 1938. In March 1939, the Wehrmacht also invaded the rest of what is now the Czech Republic. After the Second World War, around three million Sudeten Germans were expelled from the restored Czechoslovakia.
Bridge in Děčín partially reopened
More than two weeks after the Tyrš Bridge over the Elbe in Děčín had to be completely closed due to damage to the bridge structure, pedestrians and cyclists can now cross the bridge again. Municipal buses and emergency service vehicles are also allowed to use the bridge. The opening was made possible after a company shored up the affected part of the bridge. According to Mayor Jiří Anděl, cars could also return to the bridge within two weeks.
However, the traffic situation in Děčín will soon become even worse. As a prestressed concrete road bridge has to be demolished in Mojžíř, a district of Ústí, all bypass traffic from Děčín to Ústí will be routed via Teplická Street to Bynov and then via Jílové and Libouchec to the Dresden-Prague freeway.
Between June 24 and 29, the Děčín-Ústí train line will also be affected by the bridge demolition. During this time, there will be a full closure and rail replacement services. The Eurocity trains from Berlin to Prague will then be replaced by a coach between Dresden and Ústí.
Czech Republic earns money from Ukrainian refugees
158,000 Ukrainian refugees had a job in April of this year. This means that the number has continued to rise. A year ago, 114,000 refugees were still in work. In this way, the Czech Republic is not only successfully tackling the shortage of skilled workers. The country is now also taking in more money than it spends on refugee aid. This has been the case since the third quarter of 2023. However, revenue has increased further since then and amounted to 6.9 billion crowns (276 million euros) in the first quarter of this year. The amount is made up of revenue from social security contributions and taxes such as VAT, excise duties and income tax.
In the same period, the Czech Republic spent 3.8 billion crowns (152 million euros) on refugee aid. This money went towards housing support, schools and medical care for refugees, as well as aid in Ukraine.
Improved integration into the labor market also means a decrease in the number of people who are dependent on financial aid. In April, 86,000 people were still receiving social assistance, compared to 94,000 a year ago and 149,000 two years ago. The Czech Republic is one of the countries that has taken in the most refugees from Ukraine in relation to its population.
Karlín barracks reopens
One of Prague's most popular cultural institutions is opening its doors again. From Tuesday, cultural events will once again take place in the former barracks in the Karlín district. For the time being, only the barracks courtyard can be used until the final decision is made by the building authorities in Prague 8. In the meantime, drinks will be served in tents. The organizers around operator Matěj Velek are primarily concerned with sending a signal: We are back.
For years, the barracks, which were built in the 19th century, were a popular place of entertainment, especially for the capital's inhabitants. Families with children found things to do here, as did young people. Some met up for a drink, others went to the summer cinema or one of the many concerts, others played beach volleyball. Just over a year ago, the closure of this incomparably popular area came as a shock. Local residents had repeatedly demanded closure due to the noise and ultimately succeeded. The land use plan did not designate the barracks for cultural activities, but still for security and the army.
The barracks had belonged to the city of Prague since January 2024, which had received the building in exchange. At the end of the year, the city decided to change the plan. However, Velek also emphasizes the great support that this place of alternative culture has received over the past year through protests, petitions, letters to politicians and officials and donations.
Two lawsuits are currently still pending due to noise, and the approval process for a partial renovation and structural changes is also underway, at the end of which the interior spaces are to be used again. The barracks have already written to the neighbors and presented noise protection measures. For example, there will only be three concerts per year and never later than 10 pm. Bonfires are prohibited in the summer months, waste glass may only be disposed of during the day and the summer cinema will only be shown with headphones.
North Bohemia prepares for a dry summer
The water reservoirs at the Ohře (Cheb) waterworks are well filled, most of them already 100 percent full. In anticipation of a dry summer, the remaining reservoirs are now being filled to the brim. In this way, the water company wants to keep the watercourses at a minimum flow rate over the summer.
The water company, which not only covers the Ohře catchment area, but also the tributaries on the right bank of the Elbe in northern Bohemia such as Ploučnice and Kamenice, is already feeling the effects of the drought. According to the water company, the flow rates are 30 to 50 percent lower than the long-term average for May. This is due to the low precipitation last winter. Only the Ploučnice is at 50 to 70 percent of the long-term average for May.