Freedom Train (Czechoslovakia)

At a time when divisions between the Communist-dominated Eastern bloc and the countries of Western Europe were consolidating, the diversion of the train across the heavily policed border between Czechoslovakia and the American-occupied zone of Germany is considered one of the most significant mass escapes from a communist country to the West.

The success of the enterprise was acclaimed around the world[1] and led the communist authorities to tighten the Iron Curtain.

As a member of the right-wing organization Všehrd, he was expelled from his studies at the Faculty of Law of the Charles University in Prague and, soon after, he joined a group smuggling secret documents from the Soviet Union to a French intelligence agency.

The incident and the growing atmosphere of fear and repression by the state apparatus gradually strengthened his intention to leave Czechoslovakia.

The chief organizer was her uncle František Šilhart, a former editor of the magazine Americké Listy (American Letters).

[7] The plot organizers preferred to continue until the train was farther away from the border, but the driver was unwilling to take the risk due to his unfamiliarity with local track conditions.

While the plot organizers explained to the shocked passengers that their action had been planned in advance, a jeep approached.

Karel Ruml, who was the only English speaking person among the hijackers, received an offer (along with Truksa and Konvalinka[7]) from the Americans to undertake a US tour talking about their unusual escape.

[7] After a month, the group of hijackers and their families (who had left the country with them) moved to Canada, where they received the residence visas.

In response, the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia organized trials of the people involved in the incident and other groups collaborating in anti-state activities.