Smerš unesl vojáky, kněze i překladatele Švejka. Historici díky ukrajinským archivům odkrývají osudy lidí zavlečených z Československa do SSSR
Smersh kidnapped soldiers, priests and translator Švejk. Thanks to Ukrainian archives, historians uncover the fates of people deported from Czechoslovakia to the USSR

Summary/Abstract: Evžen Vyrový's tragic fate, marked by his desperate leap from a window to escape Soviet capture, epitomizes the harrowing experiences of many Czechoslovak citizens abducted by SMERŠ after World War II. The collaboration between Czech and Ukrainian archives has unearthed thousands of investigative files, revealing the systematic repression and deportation of hundreds from liberated Czechoslovakia to the USSR. These newly accessible documents provide a clearer picture of the brutal interrogations, fabricated accusations, and forced labor camps that awaited the abducted individuals. The narrative underscores the Soviet Union's exploitation of its newfound dominance in Eastern Europe, transforming Czechoslovakia into a vassal state and perpetuating political terror. The relentless pursuit of politically inconvenient individuals, including soldiers, priests, and intellectuals, highlights the pervasive fear and oppression that defined the post-war era.

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