bohemican

February 14, 1945 - The closing months of fighting in Europe during World War Two proved to be very deadly as the Allies marched towards Berlin. The mid-February 1945 mission to destroy Dresden, Germany is still a point of historical contention to this day. However, many outside of the Czech Republic don't know of the reason why Prague is connected to the Dresden Bombing runs. The U.S. 398th Bomb Group mistakenly dropped it's payload on Prague during the bombing runs on Dresden, Germany. We examine the reasons that led to this bombing and focus on the aftermath in Dresden and in Prague.

The Bohemican Podcast examines the lives of three powerful woman in Czech history. From the mists of myth and legend to the humbleness of serving the poor and destitute, these women of Bohemia were determined and dedicated to their respective causes. The ancient Pagan Princess Libuse forged a new kingdom on the banks of the Vltava and foretold of the creation of the city of Prague. Her death sparked the Maiden's War against the men that ended in bloodshed and defeat for these warrior women. The noble born Agnes, daughter of King Otakar, forfeited her birthright and plans for an arranged marriage to serve Christ and start a convent to serve the poor of Prague. And finally, the Good Queen Anne of Bohemia proved that one could help shape history through the hardships of an arranged marriage forever linking Bohemia with England. Her marriage to King Richard II was one of power and love.

VESELE VANOCE to our Bohemican podcast listeners this holiday season. Tonight we invite you to join us for a Czech Christmas Eve celebration full of singing, fairy tales, and preparation for a special dinner. We will provide a tour across the Republic to visit various city Christmas markets and a stop over to see the feeding of the Cesky Krumlov bears. Christmas carp will be served this evening and in case you are not aware of this Czech tradition, Travis and I will walk you through how to make this traditional fish dish before you faint from the day-long fasting. The golden pig has been sighted and that means Christmas Eve dinner is almost ready. Pull up a seat.

As the Bohemican podcast nears our two year anniversary, we thought it best to dedicate an episode to responding to listener mail from around the world. We are very fortunate to have a loyal and vocal audience that spands over 15 nations worldwide. Listener comments help our show to improve and we hope to receive more emails as the Bohemican podcast enters year three in 2015.

The American War for Independence was over and the French Revolution Reign of Terror was in full bloom. A hero of both nations was under lock and key in the prison fortress of Olomouc in Northern Moravia (today’s Eastern part of the Czech Republic). The Marquis de Lafayette was languishing in this Austrian prison when a German and a young American hatched an escape plan. Freedom or continued imprisonment was on the line for this French knight of the Enlightenment.

The Bohemican Podcast makes a side trip to one of the more recognized castles in Central Europe: Karlstein Castle. We will walk through the gothic gates of this 14th century stronghold and repository for some of the most important relics in all of Christendom. Built under the direction of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, Karlstein Castle is a must visit destination for history enthusiasts. We will also stop by Velky Amerika, also known as the Czech Grand Canyon.

The Bohemican Podcast and the History of Alchemy Podcast reached a milestone of one full year completed. Travis Dow and I want to thank our listeners and fellow podcasters for their feedback to our respective programs. On this edition of the Bohemican Podcast, we will both sum up our shows and memories from the past year and give some insight on what is to come in 2014. We are working on some great stories for the upcoming year. Thank you again for listening!

On Part Three of the Czechs in the Great War, we will present the top World War One flying aces that claimed Czech roots flying for the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Our spotlight shines upon several amazing Czechs that revolutionized flight tactics and engineering of early sky warfare.

Houska Castle is generally known as the most haunted castle in all of Bohemia. A large gash in the limestone rock opened up a "bottomless pit" sometime in the 12th century. A holy chapel was built on the site to cover this "Pit to Hell" and later a castle was constructed to guard against whatever could come out of that hole. Houska Castle welcomes thousands of visitors every year to showcase this structure with a legendary and mysterious past full of paranormal activity.

Konopiste Castle has roots that date back to the late 13th century. The castle began as a French Gothic style before is current appearance that took shape in the early twentieth century. Purchased in 1887 by Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, Konopiste Castle houses spectacular collections of hunting trophies, medieval weapons, and works of art related to Saint George and the Dragon. Today Konopiste Castle draws thousands of tourists wishing to escape the city environments of Prague. The Bohemican Podcast presents this special destination episode on Konopiste Castle.

The year was 1914 and Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were attending meetings in Sarajevo to bring forth Serb and Slavic unification in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire when Serb separatists gunned down the couple. This “flashpoint” sparked a chain reaction that led to the outbreak of World War One. Join us for our second show on the Great War and the Czech Experience.

Czechs celebrate their Christmas time traditions with a passion. From St. Nicholas Day through Christmas Eve, Czechs practice age old activities such as waiting for Baby Jesus to deliver the Christmas tree and presents to the unique Christmas dinner of fried carp. Expats may find these traditions strange yet interesting and hard to ignore. Join us in a festive look at Christmas in the Czech Republic. Note: Christmas spoilers are mentioned so make sure the kids are not listening:-)

Charles IV ushered in the golden age of Bohemia and left his mark on medieval Europe. He was named Holy Roman Emperor in April of 1355 and he dedicated his life to reform the city of Prague into a shining jewel of Central Europa. Charles IV gave the Bohemian people a sense of importance and worth that helped to solidify him as the most revered leader in Czech history.

The Czechs have a love affair with the sport of hockey that rivals the game's super powers of Canada and Sweden. From the the success in the Winter Olympic games to the local rinks of the Extra Liga, the Czechs know hockey and respect the game. Tonight we drop the puck and explore the relationship between the "Good Old Game" and the Czech people.

Operation Anthropoid was organized to rid the Czech people of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Reinhard Heydrich in May of 1942. The assassination attempt was successful but proved costly. Hitler's retribution was swift and complete as his forces executed those that collaborated with the operation. The small Czech village of Lidice was razed to the ground on June 10, 1942 and soon after several other Czech townships met a similar fate. The assassination of Heydrich is our focus on this episode of the Bohemican Podcast.