1940 Válečný zlom/en
Liga českých woodcrafterů ("Czechoslovak Woodcrafters League", LČW)
Picture from p. 124 1. The Police Headquarters' official document about the end of LČW's activity, 1944. ~z~ OA
Picture from p. 124 2. LČW bulletin, 1941. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 124 3. Kmen pražských woodcrafterů's water sports trail. ~z~ JP
Picture from p. 124 4. Woodcrafters at the creek Sladovařský potok, 1943. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 124 5. LČW's council in Červený Kostelec, 1943. From the left: Ink, Vlk, Wajikani, Wo, Bobr, Bouček, Sova, Smrk. ~z~ SI
LČW emerged in March 1940 as a sports group, mainly thanks to the scout Karel Skála – Čil, a clerk at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Felix Dvořák – Wajikani was elected the Chief, and Ctirad Švehla - Bobr was elected the Fire Warden and Vice-chief. The organization did not officially consist of tribes, but of individuals (today we would call them Guards). Around ten tribes existed unofficially. Summer camps were organized every year, and otherwise the members tried to implement active woodcraft in their lives as well. In the beginning of 1944, the organization was disbanded by the authorities, but they stayed active ilegally. LČW also published the bulletin Oběžník (Hlasatel) – "Memo (Reporter)" copied on a cyclostyle (mimeograph). Similarly to brothers scouts or Sokol members, woodcrafters were sent to Reich's camps of forced labor too, they worked for the resistance or even with weapons in their hands in the army or with guerrillas. Many brothers and sisters died in concentration camps.
Stvořidla
Picture from p. 125 1. The camp at Stvořidla, 1943. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 125 2. A pastel drawing of Stvořidla, 1942. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 125 3. Morning hygiene routine and a warm-up at Stvořidla, 1944. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 125 4. A view of the rapids at Stvořidla, 1943. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 125 5. A rock tower above Stvořidla, 1943. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 125 6. A rapid part of the Sázava river, which woodcrafters fell in love with during the war..., 1944. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Between the towns Ledeč nad Sázavou and Světlá nad Sázavou, the railway curls along the Sázava river. It is a romantic area with charming corners, rapids, backwaters, enormous boulders, and narrow paths running along the water as well as deeper into the forest. This is where Stvořidla is located, a place that became Czech woodcrafters' new campsite in summer 1943. Our devotees to forest wisdom liked Stvořidla so much that camps took place there for another 20 years.
Kmen pražských woodcrafterů ("Prague Woodcrafters Tribe", KPW)
Picture from p. 126 1. The Stárků hut at Živohošť, 1941. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 2. KPW at Živohošť, from the left: Jason, Slunce, Mýval, Sova, Ink a Zdeňka, 1941. ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 3. A teepee at the creek Sladovařský potok, 1942. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 4. Vlk feeding Honzík strawberries, 1943. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 5. A family camp at Stvořidla, from the left: Jalka, Honzík, Duška, Vlk, Ink, Ekedan, Zdeňka, 1943. ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 6. KPW wandering around Sv. Jan pod Skalou, Mýval is looking into the camera, 1944. ~a~ FIC, ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 7. Inka's hut on the Střela river, 1943. ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 126 8. A trip to the Karlštejn castle, 1943. ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 127 9. A leather folder painted by Jiří Novák – Hukwim. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 127 10. KPW sleeping under the stars, 1943. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 127 11. KPW on the Sázava river, 1942. Mahykan is in the front, wearing a cap. ~z~ JP
Picture from p. 127 12. Wakin's three blackprints from KPW's trip, Žloukovice 1943. ~a~ LC, ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 127 13. KPW heading to Stvořidla, Smrk is last in the line, 1943. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 127 14. KPW in the forests around Křivoklát, 1944. ~z~ SI
KPW resulted from a merger of the Prague-based tribes Wahpeton and Dakota towards the end of 1941. Ctirad Švehla – Bobr was elected the Chief, Jaromír Wolf – Vlk was elected the Fire Warden. The tribe's members constituted the largest part of LČW during the war. They camped at Živohošť, Stvořidla, and at the camp Královská. In 1945 they initiated the renewal of LČSW. During Prague Spring in 1968 they changed the name to Wahpeton – this name was accepted by the tribe of the oldest woodcrafters after the renewal of LLM in 1990 as well.
Other LČW tribes
Picture from p. 128 1. A cover of the chronicle of Kmen Šelem 1943-1945. ~z~ JK
Picture from p. 128 2. A cover of the magazine Liška ("Fox") no. 1/1943. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 128 3.–4. The tribe Delawares at Vlčtejn, 1944. ~z~ JS
Picture from p. 128 5. Liščí kmen at Sv. Jan pod Skalou, 1944. ~z~ SI
Picture from p. 128 6. The tribe Šelmy on a water trail, 1944. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 128 7. The Wahpekute tribe, Tarka is at the top, 1943. ~z~ JP
The Prague-based Kmen pražských woodcrafterů was definitely the backbone of the organization, but the activity of other tribes should not be dismissed. In Prague, there were mostly tribes of younger boys – Kmen Šelem ("The Ferine Tribe"), the tribe Kmen Wahpekute, and Liščí kmen ("Foxes' Tribe"). A very agile tribe of the Delawares was active in Chválenice near Pilsen. All these tribes were directly connected to Kmen pražských woodcrafterů and camped with them at Stvořidla in summer. Apart from that, the section Bojovní Orli ("Fighting Eagles") under the leadership of Ladislav Vodák was active in the town of Tábor. Rhytmika, a tribe of younger girls, was led by Antonie Bukovanská from the Walden group.
Bratrstvo Bílého bobra ("White Beaver Brotherhood", BBB)
Picture from p. 129 1. A cover of the magazine Zálesák no. 1/1944. ~z~ RP
Picture from p. 129 2.–4. Some of BBB's activities, 1944. ~z~ RP
Picture from p. 129 5. Jiří Pacl, 1943. ~z~ RP
It is quite ironic that the most distinct woodcraft activity in Slovakia during the war was the achievement of a group of Czech high school students in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. At first, they knew nothing about the pre-war organization LČSW. On 4 October 1942, Jiří Pacl – Bílý Orel and Dimitrij Nikolajev – Rychlý šíp founded Bratrstvo Bílého Bobra as a scouting section, inspired by the book Boys from the Beavers' River written by Jaroslav Foglar – Jestřáb. The chronicle reads:
In our club, we decided to live a brotherly, scouting life together, and to get educated in woodcraft. We want to put all our efforts towards reaching higher ideals of a strong personality and manhood. We want to become such boys as Roy was.
The chronicle says further on that the group used the greeting "Mannitou with us!" and that its totem was a statuete of the Indian character Velký Išimak (also an inspiration by a book by Foglar, this time The Cottage in the Lake Basin).
The Brotherhood shortly expanded as Jožko Pauhof and Milan Pakán – Rys had joined. In April 1943, the boys held a ceremonial campfire to become an Indian tribe. The tribe's warriors would traditionally hold the Red Sky Celebration which they had read about in Foglar's book. The last three warriors accepted into the tribe were Slávek Ostrčil – Šedý Vlk, Zdeněk Lejdar – Mauglí and Jindra Merganc – Rychlonohý Lišák.
War heroes and victims
Picture from p. 130 Watercolor painting "Glowing Fire", 1981. ~z~ AW
After the Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich was successfully assassinated on 27 May 1942, the Czech population was severely repressed by the Nazis; there were at least 2,000 victims. This chapter recounts woodcrafters' heroism and the sacrifices for our country's freedom. Much was written about hundreds of scout heroes, whereas the backers of forest wisdom are still believed to have had their hands tied by their pacifist mindset.
Here we present some photos and stories of our brothers and sisters who did not live to see the end of the war. This is by all means just a fragmentary selection limited by the amount of the information we have. Although we do have a quite extensive archive of photographs from woodcrafters' camps. Unfortunately, we are often unable to link the faces with official names. In this case we have used photographs from the relevant gravestones or memorials of the fallen. Thank you in advance for providing us with any other information!
- Hans Robitschek
- A doctor by profession. He studied at the German Charles University in Prague (1924–1930) and was the Chief of the tribe Prager Pfadfinder. In the years 1923–1926 he was a member of LLM. In concentration camps during the war: Transport Am, no. 400 (24 Apr 1942, Prague -> Terezin), transport Eb, no. 2198 (18 May 1944, Terezin -> Auschwitz). Murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz.
- Hildegarda Voglová
- A roentgenologist who graduated in medicine from the German Charles University in 1928. A member of the woodcrafter tribe Prager Neupfadfinder. On 31 October 1941, Hilda, her husband Emil – Wučiček and other relatives got deported to the ghetto in Łódź, Poland. They were subsequently sent to Auschwitz and separated. Hilda was later sent to the concentration camp Stutthof. From there, she was transferred to Bernsdorf on 29 November 1944, and further on to Zwodau (Flossenbürg concentration camp) where she died on 6 March 1945.
- Jaroslav Robovský
- The Chief of the clan Vlci ("Wolves") from the tribe Inkové ("Incas") from Hradec Králové. His nickname was originally Bílý Tesák ("White Fang") and later Grizzly. He visited the Kibbo Kift summer camp with Miloš Seifert in 1923. He was employed at the Czechoslovak Railways.
- He got arrested for his activities with the resistance, and was executed by the fascist occupants in Dresden. At the station Masarykovo nádraží in Prague there is his name on a memorial plaque for the war victims who had worked for the railways.
- Jaroslav Šimsa
- The LLM Chief in 1926–28. When the Nazi occupation began, he took active part in the 2nd Resistance. For example, he co-founded the petition committee Věrni zůstaneme ("We Remain Faithful"). From 27 February 1940 he was imprisoned at Karlovo náměstí in Prague, then in the concentration camp Terezin, and later in Munich for over two years. In 1943 they transported him to the concentration camp in Terezin via Ulm. After that he was shortly held in Pankrác, Prague, and then transferred to the concentration camp Dachau. This is where he caught epidemic typhus at the beginning of 1945, which also caused his death not long before the war ended.
- Miroslav Borkovec
- A member of Kmen Ohně ("Tribe of Fire") in Husovice. He worked as a mechanic, later went through flight training, and joined the Czechoslovak pilots in France at the beginning of the war. In 1940 he joined the British RAF troops. With the Sergeant rank he was assigned to the Czechoslovak No. 313 Squadron B. He died on 17 May 1942 in an air battle above the English Channel, approximately 15 km from Calais.
- Robert Müller
- The Chief of the tribe Mohykán ("Mohican") from Hradec Králové. In Prague in 1936 he was introduced to E. T. Seton and was able to shake his hand. By then he was already preparing in his mind for a Great Journey to Palestine where he wanted to work as a worker in agriculture at a kibbutz and to start a woodcrafter league for Jews and Arabs. A son of Jewish parents, he was transported to the concentration camp Terezin on 21 December 1942. On 1 February 1943 he was transferred to Auschwitz to die in a gas chamber.
- Antonín Žlábek
- A tax administration financial clerk, a scout, a woodcrafter. In LLM he was registered as a member of Soví kmen Praha ("Owl Tribe Prague") and later as a guard from the village Mšec near the town of Slaný. He was forced to move to the town Domažlice after the occupation, where he led a scouting troop.
- Žlábek was arrested by gestapo already on 14 March 1943 for resistante activities in the region Chodsko. At first, he was interned at the Terezin concentration camp, and then transferred to Berlin where he was executed on 21 April 1943.
- Felix Kohn
- The chronicler of the tribe Wahpeton Praha. He took part in a few camps at Walden and in Petrovice. A member of the Jewish nation from a mixed marriage, he was transported to the concentration camp Terezin on 12 May 1942 and five days later to Lublin where he was murdered at only 21 years of age.
- Jiří Wolf
- Náčelník kmene Svobodného bratrství, přezdívka Vlk. Majitel vegetariánské jídelny v Poděbradech, člen Sokola, náboženské společnosti českých unitářů a woodcrafter, velmi aktivní pracovník v ilegálním odbojovém hnutí. V listopadu 1942 v Kutné Hoře spáchal sebevraždu, aby jej nemohlo zatknout a vyslýchat gestapo.
- Bohumil Linhart
- Člen woodcrafterského kmene Šelem z Prahy. Míla měl přezdívku Vydra a k lesní moudrosti jej přivedla starší sestra Vlasta - Zářka a švagr Vladimír Šilhan - Katug. Během Pražského povstání se připojil k ostatním woodcrafterům a budoval barikády. Když statečný Vydra padl po výstřelu německého vojáka 8. 5. 1945 v Celetné ulici před domem č. p. 556, bylo mu necelých šestnáct let…
- Karel Lustig
- Člen příbramského kmene Želvy, student reálného gymnázia. Za války deportován do koncentračního tábora Terezín (4. 9. 1942) a odsud do nacistického koncentračního a vyhlazovacího tábora Malý Trostinec (Bělorusko), kde byl zavražděn.
- Arnošt Drillich
- Od roku 1933 člen woodcrafterské družiny v Milíčově domě. Od roku 1935 jezdil na tábory Samechovských táborníků. Pro semitský původ Arnošt skončil v transportu do židovského ghetta v polské Lodži dne 21. 10. 1941. Zdejší nelidské podmínky nepřežil.
- Matúš Hronec
- Člen náčelnictva kmene Priatelia prírody ve Zvolenu zvaný Maťo.
- Matúš Hronec byl zavražděný 19. 2. 1945 fašisty Einsatzkommanda 14 v lese Pod Stráňou nedaleko Zvolena.
- Jiří Drillich
- Mladší bratr Arnošta byl také člen woodcrafterské družiny Milíčova domu v Praze, kam pravidelně docházel. S bratrem a maminkou jezdil na tábory, které vedl Zdeněk Teichman. Jiří byl deportován 10. 6. 1942 do pracovního tábora Ujazdów nedaleko ukrajinských hranic. Ani on se nedožil konce války…
Felix Dvořák - Wajikani, Antonie Bukovanská - Šipka
Picture from p. 132 F. Dvořák, 1943. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 132 Wajikani a Wapiton, Walden 1937. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 133 A. Bukovanská, 1932. ~a~ AW
Picture from p. 133 Gymnastická cvičení děvčat pod vedením Šipky. ~z~ AW
Picture from p. 134 Titulní kresba z kroniky Kmene Šelem, 1945. ~z~ AW
- Ing. Felix Dvořák - Wajikani
- (* 28. března 1909, Czentocice, Polsko – † 14. května 1979, Praha)
Původně náčelník Veverek z Bratislavy (od 1926 členem Ligy pro výchovu přírodou), později v Brně.
Nejbližší přítel Viliama Valoviče - Manokiho (spolužáci z gymnázia). Dlouholetý člen náčelnictva LČSW. Náčelník LČW v letech 1940–44. Jako náčelník Rady orlích per dokázal uskutečnit dokončení nového upraveného vydání Svitku orlích per v roce 1948. V letech 1972–79 aktivně podporoval Miloslava Vavrdu v tvorbě archivu a sestavování Kroniky hnutí. Část raritních materiálů (korespondence, fotografie, dekrety) v současném archivu LLM je právě od Wajikaniho.
- Antonie Bukovanská - Šipka
- (* 3. dubna 1903 – † 22. března 1973, Praha)
Rozená Konopásková, působí v LLM od roku 1923 jako náčelnice družiny Vlčích máků z Prahy. Původně působí u Skautů Socialistů pod přezdívkou Sylva.
Velmi brzo se stává v lize vůdčí osobností a členkou náčelnictva i Rady důvěrníků. Spolu se svou sestrou Marií podporují levicové směřování Prokopa Koudely a Josefa Fišera, ale podobně jako Vavrda či Bukovanský se postaví proti převratu Isawanů. Do roku 1932 vede dívčí tábory na Samechově a je členkou náčelnictva, po vyloučení jejího manžela Karla Bukovanského vystupuje z LČW také. Přidává se k zakladatelům Družstva Walden (Vavrda, Retka, Teichmanovi) a i nadále vede letní tábory Dívek táborového ohně na Samechově a u chaty Walden u Nového Hrozenkova.
Za války vede v Praze dívčí kmen Rhytmika, jehož náplní je kromě táboření především pohyb v přírodě, gymnastika, tanec a divadlo.
Po válce se rozvádí, je agilní v ženském hnutí, publikuje v tisku. Na výzvu Míly Vavrdy vstupuje roku 1947 opět do LČSW, spolu s dalšími staršími členy (Pitter, Krch, Trnka ad).
