Ferdinand Peroutka facts for kids

Ferdinand Peroutka (born February 6, 1895 – died April 20, 1978) was a famous Czech journalist and writer. Many people think he was one of the most important journalists in Czech history. He was known for speaking his mind, even when it was dangerous.

A Journalist's Life

Early Days as a Writer

From 1919 to 1924, Ferdinand Peroutka worked as an editor for a magazine called Tribuna. After that, from 1924 to 1939, he became the main editor of another magazine, Přítomnost (which means "Presence").

A very important person, T. G. Masaryk, who was the first president of Czechoslovakia, supported Peroutka's work. Masaryk even wrote articles for Peroutka's magazines. Peroutka also wrote about politics for a newspaper called Lidové noviny. He often wrote against the Nazis and Communists, because he believed their ideas were harmful. Because of this, members of those groups often attacked him. He also openly criticized Adolf Hitler, pointing out his lies and false promises.

During World War II

When Germany took control of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the Nazis tried to make Peroutka write articles supporting them. But he refused to do what they wanted.

In April 1939, he wrote an article in Přítomnost called Dynamický život (Dynamic Life). This article was about Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday. In it, Peroutka admitted Hitler was powerful, but he made it clear that Czech people should not obey him. Because of this brave act, he was sent to a concentration camp. He was released after only a few days. However, a few months later, in September 1939, he was arrested again. Many other people who were seen as enemies of the Nazi government were also jailed at that time.

Peroutka was held in two concentration camps: Dachau and Buchenwald. He stayed there until 1945, when the American army finally set him free.

After the War

After World War II ended, Peroutka became the main editor of new newspapers called Svobodné noviny and Dnešek. These replaced his older magazines.

During these years, some Communists often accused him of supporting the Nazis. They claimed he wrote articles like Dynamický život and Hitler po lidské strance (Hitler with a Human Face). But Peroutka said these claims were false, and he did not write the second article. Many years later, in 2015, the Czech president Miloš Zeman also claimed that Peroutka admired Nazism and wrote an article called Hitler je gentleman (Hitler is a Gentleman). However, this was never proven, and Zeman refused to say sorry.

From 1945 to 1946, Peroutka was a member of the parliament for the Czech National Social Party.

Life in Exile

In 1948, the Soviet Union took control of the Czech government. Because of this, Peroutka had to leave his home country and live in exile. First, he went to England, and later he moved to the United States.

He worked for Radio Free Europe in Munich, Germany. This radio station broadcast news and information to people living under Communist rule. He was also a member of a group called The Council of Free Czechoslovakia.

Peroutka became one of the most important people who spoke out against Communism. His writings were banned in countries controlled by the Soviet Union, known as the Iron Curtain. Reading or sharing his work was against the law. The Communist government even pretended he never existed. Because of this, many Czech people who grew up during that time had no way to learn about him.

Ferdinand Peroutka died in New York in 1978. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which ended Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, his remains were brought back to his home country. He was buried in Vyšehrad, a famous cemetery in Prague, in 1991.

See also

In Spanish: Ferdinand Peroutka para niños