Czech founding father Masaryk's message revealed in long-sealed envelope
7 hours ago
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- The final words of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, were revealed in a live broadcast.
- The message, sealed for nearly a century, was found inside an envelope handed to the National Archives in 2005 with the condition to remain unopened for 20 years.
- Contrary to speculation, the letter was not a final warning before Europe's descent into war but a personal reflection from 1934, three years before Masaryk's death.
- Masaryk expressed acceptance of his impending death due to illness and urged his successors to continue his work carefully.
- The letter also contained Masaryk's thoughts on the political situation in Czechoslovakia, including advice on handling the German minority and criticisms of a Slovak politician.
- Historians note the significance of Masaryk's message during a turbulent period in European history, with Hitler's rise to power and the subsequent World War II.
- Masaryk remains a highly revered figure in Czechia, often compared to foundational leaders like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln in the U.S.