Jan Masaryk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jan Masaryk
Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia
In office 21 July 1940 – 10 March 1948
President	Edvard Beneš
Prime Minister	Jan Šrámek Zdeněk Fierlinger Klement Gottwald
Preceded by	German occupation
Succeeded by	Vladimír Clementis
Czechoslovakia Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office 1925 – December 1938
President	Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk Edvard Beneš
President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations
In office 2 August 1946 – 10 March 1948
Preceded by	Post created
Personal details
Born	Jan Garrigue Masaryk 14 September 1886 Prague, Austria-Hungary
Died	10 March 1948(1948-03-10) (aged 61) Prague, Czechoslovakia
Cause of death	Disputed – see text
Parent	Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
Religion	Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
1In exile 1940 – April 1945

Jan Garrigue Masaryk (born September 14, 1886 – died March 10, 1948) was an important Czech diplomat and politician. He served as the Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia from 1940 to 1948. An American journalist, John Gunther, once described Masaryk as "a brave, honest, turbulent, and impulsive man."

Early Life and Career

Jan Masaryk was born in Prague, which was then part of Austria-Hungary. His father was Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who later became the first president of Czechoslovakia in 1918. His mother was Charlotte Garrigue, an American.

Jan went to school in Prague and also lived in the United States for some time. While in the U.S., he worked as a steelworker. Because he spent his youth there, he spoke both Czech and English with a strong American accent. He returned home in 1913 and served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. He served in Galicia and learned Polish. His father was working for Czech independence from Austria, which made Jan a target for some difficulties during his military service. These experiences made him reluctant to talk about his time as a soldier after the war.

After the war, Jan Masaryk joined the diplomatic service. This meant he worked for his country's government in other nations. In 1919, he became a diplomat in the U.S., and later in London. In 1922, he became a secretary to the Czechoslovak foreign minister, Edvard Beneš. By 1925, he was made the main representative (minister-plenipotentiary) for Czechoslovakia in Britain.

A British scholar, Robert Powell, described Masaryk as a very unusual diplomat. He was witty, smart, and had a lot of common sense. He was not afraid to speak directly, which sometimes surprised people. His father resigned as president in 1935 and passed away two years later. Edvard Beneš took over as president. Masaryk had always looked up to his father, and then to Beneš, who became like a father figure to him.

Diplomat in London

When Masaryk arrived in London, he noticed that many officials in Britain's Foreign Office still missed the old Austrian empire. He worried that some in the Foreign Office were not friendly towards Czechoslovakia. They thought Czechoslovakia was a mistake that should not have been created.

In 1927, a British newspaper owner, Lord Rothermere, published an article. It called for Hungary to get back lands it lost after World War I under the Treaty of Trianon. This article caused a lot of concern in Prague. President Beneš quickly went to London to find out if the British government supported Rothermere's ideas.

To counter these views, Masaryk secretly provided money to British journalists. These journalists then wrote articles that supported Czechoslovakia. This helped to influence British public opinion. Two important people he supported were journalist Wickham Steed and historian Robert Seton-Watson. They were strong supporters of Czechoslovakia and friends of Masaryk's father. Masaryk helped make their writings available to many people. He also worked with diplomats from Yugoslavia to support journalists who challenged the anti-Czech articles.

In 1936, Joachim von Ribbentrop became the new German ambassador in London. He sent out invitations for a party in German, instead of the usual French. Masaryk replied in Czech, showing that he would not follow Ribbentrop's unusual request. Other ambassadors did the same, causing confusion at the German embassy.

During a time when King Edward VIII was giving up his throne, Masaryk was not a fan of the king. He believed the king was too close to the Nazis. Masaryk was relieved when Edward VIII left the throne.

Masaryk understood that the anti-Czech articles in the newspaper were influenced by someone close to Adolf Hitler. He wrote that this person was a "secret agent" and "spy" who was helping Hitler's propaganda in London.

From 1935 to 1938, the Sudeten German leader Konrad Henlein visited London several times. He gave speeches criticizing Czechoslovakia. Masaryk realized that Czechoslovakia was losing the public relations battle. In late 1936, Masaryk spoke to British politicians. He explained why Czechoslovakia had allied with the Soviet Union in 1935. He said this alliance was needed to protect peace in Europe. He warned that if Russia was treated badly, it might ally with Germany again. He spoke with Austen Chamberlain and Winston Churchill. Churchill warned Masaryk that British public opinion was turning against Czechoslovakia because of the Sudetenland issue.

By 1938, Masaryk reported that the English people disliked Czechoslovakia. He felt they saw his country as a burden.

The Munich Agreement

During the Sudetenland crisis in 1938, Masaryk traveled between London and Prague to meet with President Beneš. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met Adolf Hitler in Germany. They agreed that the Sudetenland region should become part of Germany.

Masaryk tried to turn British public opinion against this plan. He worked with the Soviet ambassador and Clement Attlee, the leader of the Labour Party. He also gave money to Churchill's group, "The Focus," which opposed Chamberlain's policy. However, the German secret service had broken Czechoslovakia's diplomatic codes. They found out Masaryk was funding Churchill. This made Chamberlain very angry at Masaryk.

Under strong pressure from Britain and France, President Beneš agreed to give up the Sudetenland. However, Hitler then demanded that the Sudetenland be annexed even faster. This brought Europe close to war. Masaryk told Chamberlain that Beneš would not agree to Hitler's new demands. Masaryk was annoyed that Chamberlain seemed more upset with Czechoslovakia than with Hitler.

On September 28, 1938, a meeting was announced in Munich. Hitler, Chamberlain, Benito Mussolini, and Édouard Daladier would attend. Masaryk was furious that Czechoslovakia was not allowed to be fully involved. The Czechoslovak representative was only allowed to be an "observer."

The Munich Agreement was signed on September 30, 1938. It meant that the Sudetenland would go to Germany in stages. Without the mountains of the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia was left defenseless. The new Czechoslovak president, Emil Hácha, changed the country's foreign policy. Portraits of President Beneš and President Masaryk were removed from the legation in London.

After the Munich conference, Masaryk told Chamberlain: "If you have sacrificed my nation for the sake of peace, I will be the first to applaud you. But if not gentlemen, then God help your souls." Churchill called Masaryk, urging him to delay handing over the border forts. Churchill believed this would cause a backlash against Chamberlain's government. Masaryk did not agree and advised Beneš to ignore Churchill's advice.

In October 1938, Germany occupied the Sudetenland. Masaryk resigned as ambassador in protest, but he stayed in London. Other government members, including Beneš, also resigned. Masaryk then visited the United States, where he gave speeches criticizing the Munich Agreement. He argued that it was unlikely to bring lasting peace.

On March 15, 1939, Germany occupied the rest of the Czech lands. A separate Slovak state was created, but it was controlled by Germany. In July 1939, Masaryk returned to London.

Wartime Role

During World War II, Jan Masaryk regularly broadcast messages over the BBC to occupied Czechoslovakia. These broadcasts started in September 1939 and continued until April 1945. It was illegal to listen to the BBC in Czechoslovakia, but many people still tuned in every Wednesday night to hear his program, Volá Londýn (London Calling). His speeches made him a national hero.

In 1940, a Czechoslovak government-in-exile was formed in Britain. Masaryk was appointed Foreign Minister. He often stayed with President Beneš. Beneš had great faith in the Soviet Union after Germany invaded it in 1941. Masaryk joked that they needed to keep Beneš grounded.

Masaryk worked to convince the British to cancel the Munich Agreement. He wanted the Sudetenland to be part of Czechoslovakia again after the war. He argued that Czechoslovakia needed its defensible border back to protect itself from future German aggression. The British Foreign Office saw Masaryk as more reasonable than Beneš on this issue.

In 1943, Masaryk gave a radio speech for the Jewish New Year. He urged people in Czechoslovakia to help the Jewish community. He called them the "most wretched of the wretched" and wanted Czechs to be remembered as "decent people" after the war.

Masaryk had doubts about a proposed military alliance between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. He hinted that he preferred Czechoslovakia to be closer to Poland after the war. However, in December 1943, Beneš went to Moscow and signed a 25-year military alliance with the Soviet Union. Masaryk had to accept this decision. He later said that the Soviet alliance was approved in America and would play a very important role in Europe.

In April 1945, Beneš and Masaryk met with Joseph Stalin in Moscow. They agreed that Czechoslovakia's foreign policy would align with the Soviet Union. However, Czechoslovakia would still keep its independence and democracy.

After the War

After Czechoslovakia was liberated, Masaryk remained Foreign Minister. He was part of the new government, which was dominated by Communists. Even after the Communists gained more power in the 1946 elections, Masaryk stayed on. He wanted to keep good relations with the Soviet Union. However, he was upset when the Soviets prevented Czechoslovakia from joining the Marshall Plan, which was a U.S. plan to help rebuild Europe.

Czechoslovakia sold weapons to Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. These weapons were very important for Israel's creation. Masaryk personally signed the first contract in January 1948. He was also given the task of explaining the government's plans to expel the German population (including German-speaking Jews) to Jewish organizations in the West.

In February 1948, most of the non-Communist government members resigned. They hoped this would force new elections. Instead, a Communist government was formed under Klement Gottwald. This event is known as the Czech coup. Masaryk met with a Soviet official who told him that Gottwald was their only choice for the new government. Masaryk remained Foreign Minister, making him the only prominent minister who was not a Communist or a strong supporter of them.

Masaryk also served as the President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations. There is a memorial in Geneva, Switzerland, honoring his memory and his work with this organization.

Death

On March 10, 1948, Jan Masaryk was found dead in the courtyard of the Foreign Ministry building in Prague. He was dressed only in his pajamas. His body was found below his bathroom window.

Jan Masaryk's remains were buried next to his parents in the Lány cemetery. His sister, Alice Masaryková, was also laid to rest there in 1994.

Private Life

From 1924 to 1931, Masaryk was married to Frances Crane Leatherbee. She was from a wealthy American family. Through this marriage, Masaryk had three stepchildren.

In 1945, Masaryk became close to American writer Marcia Davenport. She had a strong connection to Czech culture and Prague. She lived with him in Prague from 1945 to 1948. After the Communist takeover, she returned to London. They planned to get married once he could join her, but he died a few days later.

Masaryk was a talented amateur pianist. He once played Czech folk songs to honor the victims of the Nazi destruction of Lidice.

He was known for his great sense of humor. Once, when he was a young ambassador, he was asked to play the violin at a party. He played a simple Czech nursery song. When a friend asked why he was asked to play the violin, Masaryk joked that people confused him with his father, his father with a famous pianist, and the piano with a violin!

Jan Masaryk Medal

The Honorary Silver Medal of Jan Masaryk (Czech: Stříbrná medaile Jana Masaryka) is a special award. It is given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. It is one of the highest honors that can be given to people from other countries.

Images for kids

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  Grave of the Masaryk family in Lány cemetery

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  Memorial plaque with Masaryk's quote "Pravda vítězí, ale dá to fušku" (The truth prevails, but it's a chore). It is a reference to the Czechoslovak national motto Pravda vítězí (Truth prevails).

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  Jan Masaryk with Laurence Steinhardt, the United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

See also

• A Prominent Patient, a 2017 film
• List of unsolved deaths