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IMAGO International History, 35 Years of the Fall of the Wall, Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic

Sep 17, 2024

The following photos have been selected for you by the IMAGO picture desk on this topic. For more pictures please use the search function.

  • Vaclav Klaus, 80. Geburtstag am 19. Juni Prague, Czechoslovakia, Velvet Revolution. December 19th 1989. Polititian Vaclav Klaus is coming to the parliament house. Students in front of the parliament were supporting Vaclav Havel to become a president of Czechoslovakia.
  • Prague, Czechoslovakia, Velvet Revolution. December 19th Prague, Czechoslovakia, thousands of students came to support the presidential election of Vaclav Havel while two women carry the photographs of him.
  • Prague, November 26th 1989, Velvet Revolution, between half and one million people gather at Letna Plains to support the new political body, the Civic Forum (Obcanske Forum) with dissident Vaclav Havel as its leader. Hradcany castle is in the background.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution, December 10th 1989. Participants waving Czech flags at Wenceslas Square during the celebration of the Day of Human Rights.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution, Old Town Square, December 11th 1989. High School students and teachers holding posters of Vaclav Havel manifest to support the recent political change.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution, Old Town Square December 11th 1989. High School students and teachers waving Czech flags manifest to support the recent political change.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution, November 25th and 26th 1989. Hundreds of thousands of people come to Letna Plains to suport students and the Civic Forum (Obcanske Forum) - a citizens group which became a new political body in Czechoslovakia. One of the speakers at this rally was Alexander Dubcek, one of the main initiators of Prague Spring in 1968.
  • Velvet Revolution - Prague, November 24th 1989, Demonstrations on Wenceslas Square in Prageu, Czechoslovakia on Nov. 24, 1989. The events of November 1989 started by the brutal supression of student demonstration which led to the fall of the government and effectively ended Communism in Czechoslovakia. (CTKxphoto)
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution, November 1989. From right to left, Vaclav Havel, Alexander Dubcek - popular politician who initiated Prague Spring in 1968 and Rita Klimova - who was just about to become Czechoslovak Ambassador to the United States gather together during speech at a press conference in Prague November 24th 1989.
  • Czechoslovakia, November 24th 1989, Velvet Revolution, euphoric Prague citizens laying on an imported American car happily celebrate the announcement that Communist government including the high ranking officials at the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia resigned their posts.
  • Czechoslovakia, November 24th 1989, Velvet Revolution, euphoric Prague citizens celebrate the announcement that Communist government including the high ranking officials at the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia resigned their posts.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution - November 24, 1989, Marta Kubisova, popular Czech singer who was denied her career during Gustav Husak Normalization speaks to crowd from the balcony of the Melantrich Building in Prague, Czechoslovakia on Nov. 24, 1989.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution - November 24, 1989, Alexander Dubcek, the main creator of Prague Spring in 1968 which was crushed by the Red Army and other Warsau Pact forces invasion on August 21 1968, speaks to crowd from the balcony of the Melantrich Building in Prague, Czechoslovakia on Nov. 24, 1989.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution - November 24, 1989, Alexander Dubcek, the main creator of Prague Spring in 1968 which was crushed by the Red Army and other Warsau Pact forces invasion on August 21 1968, Vaclav Havel and Marta Kubisova open their arms to the crowd from the balcony of the Melantrich Building in Prague, Czechoslovakia on Nov. 24, 1989.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution - November 24, 1989, Alexander Dubcek, the main creator of Prague Spring in 1968 which was crushed by the Red Army and other Warsau Pact forces invasion on August 21 1968, with Vaclav Havel speak to crowd from the balcony of the Melantrich Building in Prague, Czechoslovakia on Nov. 24, 1989.
  • Velvet Revolution - November 29th 1989, Vaclav Havel smiles during a press conference.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague - Czechoslovakia, November 26th, 1989. Over half a milion Prague citizens and people from every corner of the republic came to Letna Plains to support the politics of the Civic Forum - Obcanske Forum - and Vaclav Havel who is soon to become the first democratic president since the Communist takeover in 1948.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague - Czechoslovakia, November 26th, 1989. Over half a milion Prague citizens and people from every corner of the republic came to Letna Plains to support the politics of Civic Forum (Obcanske Forum) and Vaclav Havel who is about to give a speech.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague - Czechoslovakia, November 26th, 1989. Over half a milion Prague citizens and people from every corner of the republic came to Letna Plains to support the politics of Obcanske Forum and Vaclav Havel. Ludvik Princ, the member of motorized unit of VB - the feared Public Safety - gives a speech.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague - Czechoslovakia, November 26th, 1989. Over half a milion Prague citizens and people from every corner of the republic came to Letna Plains to support the politics of Obcanske Forum and Vaclav Havel. Alexander Dubcek - the creator of Prague Spring 1968 - raises arms toward the crowd.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague - Czechoslovakia, November 26th, 1989. Over half a milion Prague citizens and people from every corner of the republic came to Letna Plains to support the politics of the Civic Forum - Obcanske Forum - and Vaclav Havel who is soon to become the first democratic president since the Communist takeover in 1948.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague - Czechoslovakia, November 26th, 1989. Over half a milion Prague citizens and people from every corner of the republic came to Letna Plains to support the politics of the Civic Forum - Obcanske Forum - and Vaclav Havel who is in the middle of Mr. Alexander Dubcek and Mr. Ladislav Adamec.
  • Velvet Revolution Prague, Czechoslovakia December, 5, 1989. Students raise barricades in protest of the government and express their diagreemennts about the Czech Constitution.
  • Prague, Velvet Revolution, November 27 1989, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators stage their support to striking students during a two hour general strike that took place on the rest of the republic. Students, together with mothers with children, nurses and doctors, actors and writers protest at Old Town Square. The Communist regime is just about to crumble down. Protestors with Czech flags and banners at Wenceslas Square. Protestors are seen near the statue of St. Wenceslas.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague December 11, 1989. Old Town Square is filled by High School students, teachers and technical school students. Communist regime is falling apart. Michael Kocab speak to microphone.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague December 11, 1989. Old Town Square is filled by High School students, teachers and technical school students. Communist regime is falling apart.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague, Czechoslovakia, December 8, 1989. People again fill up the Wenceslas Square to demonstrate the support for the striking students and their will for change.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 25, 1989. Meeting of leading Communists representing factories and big companies gather to discuss the upcoming political changes in the country.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 21, 1989. Architecture and structural ingeneering students support the abolishment of Communist gevernment.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows students demanding truth - as shown on the banner - in front of the Czechoslovak Radio on Nov. 21, 1989, in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows police officers in front of the Czechoslovak Radio on Nov. 21, 1989, in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows students and other citizens in Usti nad Labem, a main city in the north.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. People demonstrates at Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czechoslovakia on Nov. 20, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows Vaclav Havel speaking to protestors at Letna Plains on November 25, 1989.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows supporters of Vaclav Havel to be the next president. Woman lifts poster with his image.
  • Velvet Revolution, Bratislava - November 27, 1989. Thousands of people including actors, nurses, doctors and writers meet to protest the Communist government. Alexander Dubcek, a Slovak citizen, spoke to protesters in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia on November 23, 1989. (CTKxPhoto PeterexBrenkus)
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. On this photo: High School students and their teachers protest at Old Town Square on Dec. 11, 1989 in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
  • Velvet Revolution November 1989, demonstrators Prague Castle.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. On this photo : Just innaugurated Vaclav Havel gives speech at Prague castle.
  • Prague - Czechoslovakia during Velvet Revolution, November 23rd 1989. For the fourth day in row demonstrators meet at Wenceslas Square to protest the brutal police crack down on peaceful demonstrators which occured on November 17th.
  • Prague, November 17, 1989. Student demonstration which marked the begining of Velvet Revolution is met by heavily armed police unit. The students were dispersed by batton wielding police. Many demonstrators were crudely beaten. This night started the chain of events that eventually led to the end of Communist regime. Playwrite, dissident Vaclav Havel was subsequently elected president of Czechoslovkia.
  • Prague, Czechoslovakia November 17, 1989. Student demonstration which marked the begining of Velvet Revolution is met by heavily armed police unit. The students were dispersed by batton wielding police. Many demonstrators were crudely beaten. This night started the chain of events that eventually led to the end of Communist regime. Playwrite, dissident Vaclav Havel was subsequently elected president of Czechoslovkia.
  • Velvet Revolution 22 November 1989, demonstrators on Wenceslas Square.
  • Prague, Czechoslovakia, November 17, 1989. Student demonstration which marked the begining of Velvet Revolution is met by heavily armed police unit. The students were dispersed by batton wielding police. Many demonstrators were crudely beaten. This night started the chain of events that eventually led to the end of Communist regime. Playwrite, dissident Vaclav Havel was subsequently elected president of Czechoslovkia.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague, Czechoslovakia November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover.
  • Velvet Revolution November 28, 1989, Vaclav Havel (R), leader of civic movement Civic Forum (Obcanske forum) shakes hand with prime minister Ladislav Adamec. The events of November 1989 started by brutally supressed student demonstration led to government fall and the end of Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel´s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows Alexander Dubcek during his speech to protestors on November 26, 1989.
  • Velvet Revolution, Prague November 17, 1989. At the 50th anniversary of closing of universities by German occupational forces and subsequent death of Jan Opletal, about 15 000 students commemorate this event. Soon after the demonstrating students were met by herds of police officers who brutally beat many of them. This chain of events contributed to the defeat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and led to Vaclav Havel s innaguration. Havel was the first democratic president elected since the 1948 Communist takeover. Photo shows Alexander Dubcek during his speech to protestors on November 26, 1989.
  • Czechoslovakia, Velvet Revolution, November 1989, demonstrators peacefuly pass a police officer.
  • November 1989, Prague, Velvet revolution, demonstrators with a poster of Vaclav Havel call on him to be the next president. CTK Photo Pavel Hroch
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