In the news1929–1936
1929 crisis leads to mass unemployment
The 1929 global economic crisis caused unemployment to soar from 8,000 people to 93,000 by 1936. Many industries, especially textiles, never recovered, forcing the government to finally devalue the Swiss franc by 30% in 1936.
Getting around
Travel time between Prague and Brno
In 1918, the rail journey between Prague and Brno took six hours, and even with later improvements, it took five hours by 1960.
At the table
Sweet main courses and Sunday meat
Sweet dishes like dumplings filled with plum jam, poppy seed noodles, or pancakes were frequently served as a main course, especially on Fridays or traditional fast days. In contrast, meat dishes were saved for Sunday dinners or special family occasions like weddings and funerals.
What people wore
Black embroidery for mourning heroes
In the Domažlice region, women wore collars embroidered in black to mourn a popular hero, Kozina, who was executed there.
Music
Brass Bands and Enthusiastic Prague Audiences
Brass bands were central to Prague's cultural life, with military and civilian ensembles performing dozens of times each week in summer at parks and garden pubs. These performances were so popular that audiences often demanded encores, such as the march Hey, Gretel, which was once repeated three times due to overwhelming applause.
Daily life
Bathing rituals in the household
Families used a single tin bathtub brought into the kitchen, which was filled with water heated on a stove. To conserve resources, the entire family bathed in the same water, typically with children going first, followed by the wife, and finally the husband.