As the past 100 years of Czech (and Slovak) history have shown, freedom and democracy don’t come easy.

After gaining independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire following WWI, Czechoslovakia was officially formed on October 28, 1918.

But following 20 years of independence, the country was occupied by Nazi forces in 1938 until being liberated in 1945, a time the Czech lands officially spent as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

On November 17, 1939, Nazi forces stormed Czech Universities including Charles University in Prague after organized demonstrations following the killings of student Jan Opletal and worker Václav Sedláček.

Czech Republic embassy of Sweden with Ambassador Jiří Šitler invited diplomats and distinguished guests for a concert with the famous George Riedel and guests, and drinks with tasty food at the Historic Museum in Stockholm.