My Czech grandfather was orphaned at 14 and then imprisoned in a forced labour camp in Austria when he was 19. He was the first person to start managerial training in Czechoslovakia when he was 33. He is 90 today. Ask him Anything!

Vzkažte dědečkovi, že ačkoliv se to nezdá, mladá česká generace si lidí jako on váží a všeho co vytrpěl proto, abychom mohli dnes žít ve svobodném státě. Vážím si svobody a ještě více lidí, kteří kvůli ní trpěli. Ať prožije zbytek života v klidu a v pohodě!

Thank you it is good to know that my Grandad is appreciated, those are lovely words.

I don't see many Czechs in Reddit and I am very glad that you make this happen. Thank you and your grandfather.

Thank you for your kind message, I held my laptop over the table and my mum read it out to him over dinner. He was really touched by your words!

If you would ask your question and let us know where in the world it's coming from that would be great my grandad is really interested and excited

I recently moved to the Czech Republic from America to teach English at a small private college in Olomoucs! I'm wondering where his favorite place in all of the Czech Republic is? I'm constantly researching new travel destinations and I would love to go visit a place cherished by such an amazing individual!

Wow - he says he is touched by your kindness. He loves his home town of Brno, the historical centre and the beautiful surroundings (forests and hills surround the city). A specific place is a small spa called Luhacovice.

Quick views of the rest of the family...if you'll indulge us: My husband: Český Krumlov Castle. My mum: A small town in the uplands called Nedvedice (Vysocina) it has a gorgeous medieval castle called Pernstejn.
My dad: Prague, specifically Charles Bridge which is a tourist must. Me: The best caves I've ever visited are called Macocha.

Edit: He also says if you speak Czech you are welcome to come and visit him in his care home in Brno.

Ahoj, please look at the website http://www.pametnaroda.cz/ (switch to english version of website Memory of nations), they are building database of people like your grandpa. They record memories of people who experienced nazi and communist persecution.. The database is pretty huge by now (about 1500people). Its amazing project full of incredible stories (both audio and written form). Your grandfather could be part of it and you would have record of his voice and written story, CV etc.

Yes thank you. Both my mum and him would love to participate. I will make sure we follow this up.

What was the most beautiful thing that he saw in the labor camp?

Edit: I'm originally from Illinois, USA, but I'm living in San Juan, Argentina.

Wow what a great question, and a fantastic way to turn such a negative experience to look at the positive. Whilst in the camp my Grandad and his fellow Czechs would sneak pieces of bread into the toilet cisterns for the Polish prisoners to eat as they were a lot worse off than them...there was a lot of camaraderie. He had an italian friend called Giovanni Caldo who would draw pictures cigarette paper of my Granddad and his fiancée (my grandmother was not in the camp but my Granddad had a locket with her picture in it). He would like to know what happened to Giovanni. We still have some of the sketches which are in my parents house. Giovanni was truly talented. Here's a link to the pictures and my Grandad holding them: http://youtu.be/tBf0eNCR6hk Just to reiterate these are drawings and not photos!

Hi, Italian here, I'm trying to search online for this type of information (on how to find your grandad friend) but the only thing I found was a form on the Mauthausen memorial website. Maybe your grandad can fill in some of the info they require.

There's a book with an extensive list of all of the italian deported, I could try and see if it's available at the library, but it could take time.

Thank you so much. I will see if I can find out more from him tomorrow after he's had a nice sleep and time to refresh.

What the actual fuck these look so real i cant even comprehend it. Also, how big were cigarette packs back then ? :) These look like painting done with proper gear, at least.

We asked the same thing as cigarette paper now is far smaller. Apparently back then the paper was like normal paper and you would hand cut it down to size. This is why they are so large. My parents have them in their bedroom. My grandmother died before I was born so this picture of her mother is very special to her and I think both the portraits capture their spirits really well.

What's his favourite drink? I'm from the uk btw!

French cognac in small doses in particular Martel - he laughed at this question thanks :)

Escaping a Nazi labor camp seems like a major achievement. How did he do it?

There was an allied air raid which destroyed a lot of the camp. They were taken to the shelter but there was mayhem during the transfer so he and 6 others managed to escape. He says he was wearing his labour camp clothes and shoes. They escaped because the opportunity presented itself but it of course was dangerous - if they had been seen escaping they would have been shot on the spot or been taken next door to Mauthausen concentration camp.

This may not be something your grandad wants to answer, maybe a history buff instead, but if an Allied air raid destroyed parts of the camp does that mean some prisoners were probably killed from it too?

I asked this and he didn't really want to answer this. I asked my Mum and she wasn't able to provide much more. He was getting a little tired so I wonder if his memory wasn't so great. I will gently ask tomorrow if I can and of course post a response.

By the way, Texas gulf coast.

Thank you. I am collating a list of all the locations for him.

What's the craziest technology change or social change that he has seen during his lifetime?

Thanks for this AMA!

Edit: I'm from Maryland, USA.

Thanks for your question. Mobile phones, the fact we're doing this across the globe from a phone. That he can call my mum at any time and reach her.

Edit: My parents live in a village north of London and my Grandad lives in Brno.

Don't forget to update your post with where you're posting from--OP says her grandfather was really touched that people from so far away were interested to hear from him. It would be pretty cool for her to be able to tell him where all the questions came from!

Thanks for asking people for their locations.

What would you consider your greatest success in life.

This had the whole family pricking their ears up to listen as I don't think anyone has asked him this before. He says: Being the first in Czechoslovakia to introduce managerial training and be able to impart his knowledge to others.

Could you describe what daily life was like in the labour camp? Thank you so much!

Edit: posting from Corvallis, Oregon.

A typical day started at 5am, he was given black coffee and bread no butter or anything. Work started at 6am and continued for 12-18 hours. As he was skilled, he was putting together the Tiger and Panther Tanks. There were 24 people to one room to sleep in basic bunks.

Thank you Drahomir for answering these questions.

What were the best two days of your entire life? why?

Question was from New Jersey, USA

He says the best two days were getting married and the birth of his daughter (my mum). Of course there were massive events in his life that changed him and his way of life forever, but it was these personal events he chooses. Thank you.

What is the dumbest thing/biggest mistake you have ever seen someone do?

The person who invented wars.

What's the greatest advice you would give to younger generations this day and age?

Edit: As OP asked question is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.

To live a healthy lifestyle, without smoking, drugs and getting drunk and never be afraid not to be honest. President Masaryk who was the first president of the Czech Republic who's famous quote was "Don't be afraid and don't steal"

Edit: Thanks for your location - he cannot believe that people so far away care about his life.

Enjoying your Grandfather's words of wisdom from San Francisco, California. Happy Birthday, Granddad Drahomir!

Thanks for your message :)

Please wish him a happy birthday from Florida, USA!

I have done, he says thank you.

Awesome. Many thanks for doing this.

No problem, this has been so much fun and I'm learning so much more than I ever knew about my Granddad.

Happy Birthday to him!

Thank you. He would like to know where you are posting from.

Georgia, USA...I'd give him a hug if I could!

Happy Birthday from Canada. Sorry that I couldn't do it any sooner!

Thanks very much, I'm making him a list of all the places he's had messages from.

Thanks for messaging back! I've given him a hug for you.

When he was young, before... Everything...what did he want to be when he grew up? Edit: posting from Atlanta, Georgia

He wanted to have a full education and be a teacher of some kind. Through his managerial work he actually feels like this aspiration came true.

Do you hate Germans?

No, not at all. It is not fair to judge one whole country for a black spot in their history.

Update: The first phonecall wishing him Happy Birthday today was from his German friend.

At 90 years old, what kind of music does he listen to now? Does he have a favorite singer/group?

He listens to classical operatic music. Verdi is his particular favourite, he also likes Karel Gott and admires Simon Keenlyside who is a famous English opera singer. He says he splits music into two groups...good and bad. See the below post about Dubstep. He is blind now so spends a lot of time listening to the radio which brings him great pleasure. Thanks for your question.

How long did it take him to walk from the Austrian border to Mohelno? How did he survive the journey?

He says it was 8km to Mohelno where he sheltered with a farming family for about a month, he relied on their generosity for food and shelter. He pretended to anyone who asked to be their son helping in the fields. Then they had to hide in the cellars whilst the front moved over them towards Berlin and Mohelno was liberated by the Russians. As soon as the front moved beyond Brno he walked 50km in around a day.

Wow!!

It's pretty fast walking for someone who hasn't eaten a proper meal in years. My Grandad has always been a very active person and when I was younger he'd take me on long walks through some gorgeous places in the Czech Republic and he walked SO fast. Even today he refuses to walk with a stick.

Sorry guys our Internet went down my grandad is staying with my parents and they have a dodgy village connection

What does he think of dubstep?

He doesn't know what it is...but I am going to play him some and try to video his response for you and pop it on my YouTube channel - I'll post the link...may take a little time so please bear with!

He was forced to listen to a lot of pop music when I was a teenager and I wanted to share it with him...to that he would always have an open mind. He even bought me some Czech pop music from a band called Holki when I was younger!

Edit: Here's the video: http://youtu.be/jeQ972qGOHg

Please follow through with this.

link above :)

What's the best advice you can give?

He's answered this below...sorry didn't spot this one as we were using my mobile whilst we fixed the internet. He says that he believes President Masaryk's (the first president of the Czechoslovakia) famous quote "Don't be afraid and don't steal"

Edit: Czech Republic to Czechoslovakia --- sorry

does he like Halušky?

He says yes that is a Slovak dish, he likes it and they often have it in his care home. His favourite Czech dish is Chicken soup with liver dumplings and Svickova which is beef in a vegetable cream sauce with bread dumplings and cranberry sauce.

Edit: Liver dumplings oops!

It is brilliant you're doing this AMA. If only we young people would more often listen and learn from their elders, for they have much to share. I have three questions for your grandfather.

1: What do you think your defining moment was?

2: What have you crafted that you are the proudest of?

3: What do you think of the progression away from craftsmanship in products to cost effectiveness and quantity?

Thank you for your kind words. Some great questions. 1. No moment but he says his strong will and patience which led him to become what he wanted to be despite being brought up in poverty and his problems through the war. The upbringing pre-war, in democratic Czechoslovakia gave him values in life. 2. He had to think a while for this one. My mum offers the fact he built a washing machine for his wife as there was a shortage in the shops. He admits it was his masterpiece! The washing machine never broke down but they upgraded to an automatic...he says it probably would still work in the way it was supposed to if he still had it. (He said this somewhat longingly looking into the distance thinking about it.) 3. He's not impressed by modern shoddily mass made products. He prefers to fix things rather than buy new ones. Though now due to age and loss of eyesight he is limited. He says his opinion is probably shared by his generation who had the 'made do and mend' mentality.

Dobry den! My Czech husband (I'm American) is now in a managerial position here in America and his employees call him "the pit bull". He's a wonderful and hard working man but he feels Czechs are born to be managers and need no training. What advice can I give him to help him move forward in this new position that only a Czech man would understand? Dekuji!!

This made the whole family laugh. He would like to refer back to his previous comment about learning from others. No matter what you know yourself and your capabilities, there is always the ability to learn from others and grow.

I'm concerned that he might actually prefer not to talk about his war experience because it could be traumatising for him at that time.

Would very much prefer to know about his experiences in managerial training instead. Any lessons that he would like to teach us in the field of management?

He's thrilled to have this question, he doesn't mind talking about the war but this is something he is most proud of and I think defines him as a person. Even for this trip he had a neatly packed suitcase with everything organised. He had a folder with his itinerary in it in Czech and English in case he had any problems in either airport.

He says take people with a little experience, be able to negotiate in foreign languages. Be prepared yourself to learn from other people and other experts in the field. Education gives you the basis and experience helps you to progress and go further. Once when he was in his 40s he talked to an 85 year old lady and was thoroughly surprised how good economic advice she could give him on the basis of her life experience.

Update: he also says 'Learn from your mistakes'

AmA! But don't mention the war

We explained the Fawlty Towers link as he's never seen it - he thinks it's funny.

Hope I'm not late, I'm truly amazed by his life. Wish him happy birthday from Italy!

What was life like during the Communist Era?

(i'm opening a thread on /r/italy to see if anyone knows a person named Giovanni Caldo)

Some extra details, he would be in his 80's or 90's. Giovanni was possibly from southern Italy and his father may have owned a cafe. Apologies, my Grandad finds it hard to remember these details. He was an Italian solder (we're not sure of the details here as the Italians were supporting Hitler...but he may have defected hence ending up in the camp)

yes, lots of italian soldiers were kept prisoners by the nazis after the government decided to switch side. They gave me a bunch of websites but i cannot find anything related, maybe i can track him down in some way sending an email to ANPI, the national association for Resistance soldiers, they might have some kind of record book.

Anything else I can get from him I will let you know, he was getting a little tired towards the end of the day so I wonder if he will remember any more tomorrow. Interestingly a Polish man lived round the corner...literally on the same road...from my parents who was in the same camp at the same time. Though they never met at the camp they both could recall the same events. At the time it was in the local papers here, alas the Polish gentleman has now passed away, but it made for some reunion then. It would be amazing if Giovanni was still alive.

FYI - OP is experiencing technical difficulties (internet has gone down at her parent's house). She's trying to get some responses through via her phone, but it's going to take a little while. Drahomir and her send their apologies!!

Thanks Steve :)

How did the Nazis treat him in the labor camp?

He was very lucky in having decent bosses at work when he was building the tanks, because he was such a hard worker BUT the Gestapo was a different cup of tea - they were power hungry and would regularly beat up the prisoners. The camp was surrounded by electrified barbed wire...step too close or look at them funny and you were in trouble.

I'm polish and want to thank your grandfather for his effort. My grandfather was a soldier during WWII and survived but died before I was born.

Thank you for your message, I am sorry you never met your grandfather, I never met my Grandmother as she died two months before I was born...he speaks of her so fondly it's like I know her but just don't have the memories to go.

Wow. Inspirational. What was the most inhumane thing he ever witnessed while there?

He saw some people being shot, and others carted off to the next door concentration camp (Mauthausen). He cannot believe that humans are capable of such atrocities.

What a life. Brno is such a cool city. Prague gets all the glory, but Brno is just as awesome.

Thank you. He says he loves his home town very much, he's been to Prague many times and enjoys a little Prague Pivo (beer) called Staropramen...but at dinner he does ask for Starobrno!

If (hypothetically) the Nazis were to offer an apology to Drahomir for everything they did to him and those people around him, would he accept it and forgive them?

If he could see/recognise real penitence then he would be able to forgive because it is a hand extended. He has many friends who are german who he bares no ill feeling towards.

What is his favourite kind of chocolate?

He loves Lindt Swiss chocolate.

I once had the chance to meet a Jewish man from Poland who barely escaped being taken prisoner to a concentration camp. He said through the years of having to relocate and the need to be able to communicate with those around him he learned a lot of different languages. He was completely literate in polish, Yiddish, Spanish, Italian, German and Russian. I'd like to know if your grandfather learned any other languages through the years and if so how that affected his situation. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Today at lunch he was communicating very well with a Polish waitress, he speaks basic German and understands a little Italian. He isn't very linguistic and always thought it a great shame he didn't pick up any other languages.

My mother is a linguist and knows, Czech, Slovak, French, German, Russian, English and a little Bengali.

What was his favourite birthday present? Asking from Leeds (England, I'm sure you know!)

Well he (and this is something I have inherited) is a little obsessive about making a good impression. Example: He travelled from Czech to UK in a full suit. So we all clubbed together and bought him a brand new charcoal grey suit for his birthday. He's really excited as he never treats himself to things so it was an opportunity to spoil him. That said I think he would say the that the best gift was his health that he was able to make the journey to the UK to celebrate with family. We would have of course gone out there if he couldn't make it, but he is fiercely independent...today when we did a little walk he refused to use the wheelchair he wanted to walk the entire circuit of the woods at the end he said "what do you think of my walking." so I guess that tops the list. Thanks for your question.

Všetko najlepšie prajem. (happy birthday)

Thank you. I have passed on your birthday wishes :)

Thanks for the AMA. What does your granddad think of Václav Havel ? Did he participate to the revolution against Communists ?

I'll post a response to the second half of this question when I speak to him. But I know that he thinks/thought that Havel was a marvel, he had great respect for him. When I was very little he and my parents took me to Prague Castle for a ceremony...Havel took some flowers from me (claim to fame). In Brno apparently Havels wife's sister/cousin runs a B&B in which my parents stay when they visit...they talk about it all the time. My mum still has a Havel picture up in the house. He's a bit of a hero to them!

UPDATE: "In spite of his sheltered upbringing Havel had courage to stand up to the regime. Pay with his health and even though he may have made mistakes, he could be called the second President liberator."

"I went along with the people that supported Havel in rallys in Brno, but it is true to say that apart from Prague, Havel was kept quite a close secret by the communist. His name was not mentioned, his plays were not played. In all honesty the main happenings were in Prague."

Hi.

I'm writing to you from Brooklyn, NY. My mother is from Czech Republic, and I speak fluently. I am able to travel and see my family there at least twice a year.

Reading your grandfathers history was an amazing experience for me. You can tell how strong he is. And he is lucky to have the family he has. I wish I could get to know him myself.

Anyways, if he is able to read my terrible czech, below is a little letter to him. It may not make much sense. But he is very inspirational.

Jmenuju se Hana. Je mi 20 let a studuju ve skole. Nevim co chci delat ale uvidime.

Chtela jsem te rict ze te opravdu chvaluju. Ne rozumim jak jsi mohle delat vse co si udelal.

Vidim na tebe ze jsi vzdi byl silne a ses i dneska.

a mas krasnou rodinu.

Vsechno nejlepsi k narozaeninam. Chvalim te.

Vim ze to asi pro tebe moc neni, ale tvoje historije... je mi lito ze jsi musel v tomhle veku zit... pro mne je to neco krasnejo. ze jses porad tady. a ze chces nam (reddit) rict to co jse te stalo.

Dekuju vam za vsechno co jsi delal. Uz nemam slova.

Nascledanou. At ziji Drahomir!!!

My mum read your message out to my Granddad, he says thank you for the kind message. He was touched by what you said and says "I want to reiterate that the world would be a much better place if people talked to each other more. I would like every young person to be able to have an opportunity to do what they want career wise and be supported."

What would you say is your Grandfather's greatest quality?

Aw thanks for your question. He is such an inspiration to me you have no idea...I really don't think I'll make it to 90 years old at all let alone with half the grace, strength and sense that he has.

His greatest quality is hard to label as he has so many. I love his sense of humour and the way he always tries to stay on top of what is going on in the world, he is an active part of his care home helping to organise events and activities for other residents. He just inspires me with his capability to still grow his horizons even at 90!

I just got back from my walk and in a surprising turn of events, it's raining in England. Thanks for the answer. He sounds like a great guy, particularly as I was never really close to my grandparents and my Great Aunt died last year. They would have loved each other :). She was 97.

Thanks for sharing. My English side Grandparents passed away when I was in my early teens. I don't have any Aunts/Uncles/Cousins so we are pretty tightknit with Mum, Dad and my Dedecek.

My family fled czecheslovakia during ww2 and only visited for the first time recently. They found many of the buildings that had been bombed in their village to be in the same state, untouched. Is this common in the Czech Republic?

This is common in mainly villages. During the communist rule there were no funds for the upkeep and maintenance of buildings. Only until relatively recently (last 20 years) Prague town centre was quite dilapidated in places. But he is surprised that they still found buildings in that condition today.

Dobry den!

Dobry den! Where are you from?

If he had to make a list of three places to visit in this world, what three places would those be and why?

Also, if he could, what one living person would he want to meet, and what words would he have for them?

Posting from Medford, Oregon, U.S.A.

"After living under a totalitarian regime I never was given the opportunity to travel. But if I could, I would have loved to visit the USA and see how democracy works there." "I would like to revisit Scandinavia, because I have been there before with work and loved it." He found it really tough to come up with three.

"I feel quite depressed about meeting somebody being blind as I quite likes to see people who I talks to - I would like to meet Pope Francis, I would say to him that he should allow priests to marry because I think it is unfair."

Did he ever go to Plzen? My father was born there.

Yes he has, that's where Pilsner beer is from!! He helped to train managers from that town.

Not a question, just a thank you from New Zealand.

Thank you for your Thank you, my Granddad is as touched that people just came on here to say hi to him as well as ask him questions.

I assume that the mentioned labour camp was the Nibelungenwerke (in German, Google Translate works). My question would be a details of about the escape of your grandfather: How did he meet the people who helped him leave the St. Valentin area? I presume they were railway workers. Did his escape route lead him directly north via the railway form St. Valentin to Ceske Budejovice?

Regarding Giovanni Caldo: There is a list of victims of the national socialism. Caldo is not listed there, which could indicate that he survived, as no death was recorded, although the documentation of the fate of camp inmates may not be complete, especially for 1945.

Thank you so much for the link. I will share this with him tomorrow and ask him your question. Will post response :)

What is the best beer in Czech?

Staropramen is the collective family answer!

How does the work ethic of his era compare to that of those working today?

Are people really getting lazier? Or is that just some bull crap?

And happy birthday!

He says "There is much to improve at the moment. In the Czech Republic the communists destroyed the work ethic."

"It is really important to talk to people and discuss the problems in your work environment (but also in politics) and also that the previous regime didn't explain anything but issued orders - essentially the workforce never learnt skills. That is 20 years ago...but I still think there is a hangover today."

What's his favorite pivo?

Well it depends on where he's drinking. I know when we go his favourite local bar only do Kozel which he happily drinks but over in the UK he asks for Staropramen/Starobrno...we can't seem to find Starobrno here.

The funny thing is he absolutely hates cold beer he has to have it at room temperature. Despite this being the case all my life my mum and him still say 'pivo at room temperature' when I ask if he wants any.

Dobrý den, When did your parent(s) move to the UK? did they go directly there or were there more stops along the route? Děkuji za odpověď :)

Hi sorry to clarify are you asking the OP? My mother (my Grandfathers daughter) was born Czech and is married to my father who was born in Somerset in England. My mum has also had an interesting life as she was prevented from leaving the Czechoslovakia by the communists to marry my father so they had to marry in Czechoslovakia and then wait until she was finally allowed out. She moved to England in 1979 and has lived here ever since. I (OP) was born in the UK.

From Germany: Hi, thank you for doing this AMA. Almost all people I get to know from Czech were pretty awesome and had a special type of black humor I quite enjoy. You lived through some of the hardest times of the last century. How did this affect as a human being, your psyche and the psyche of your friends?

It is so funny that you mention black humour. Today my Granddad was sharing with me a typical example. He was at the funeral of an 85 year old friend recently and she was buried in the local cemetery. One of the other mourners asked my Grandad how old he was, he said nearly 90. She replied; 'You had best stay here at the cemetery then'. I was utterly shocked to hear this...my Granddad is chuckling as he tells the story.

He has always had the drive to 'make a good impression' and the ethos 'everything will be alright if you work hard'.

I will add to this tomorrow if he has anything else to add. Thanks for your question.

I will be in Prague in October what is the one thing I absolutely MUST see or do while I'm there?

Take a walk from the Old Town (stop and have a beer) - over Charles Bridge and up to the Castle. Ask to see the 'Singing Fountain' and have your picture taken crouched underneath it.

Why was he was imprisoned in a Nazi forced labour camp 1942-1945 ? (from GE, CH.)

He was taken because he had been apprenticed to a 'toolmaker' and was very good at his craft, they thought he would be useful to help them build tanks.