Artur London
Encyclopedia
Artur London, was a Czechoslovak
communist politician and co-defendant in the Slánský Trial. He was born in Ostrava
, Austria-Hungary
to a Jewish family.
In 1937, London went to fight in the Spanish Civil War
as member of the International Brigade. He moved to France
after the defeat of the Republicans and, during World War II
, was arrested by the Nazis
and sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp.
After the war he lived in Switzerland but soon moved with family to Prague
, where he became a leading figure in the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
, and was eventually nominated deputy minister of foreign affairs in 1948. In 1951 he was arrested and became a co-defendant in the Slánský trial alongside Rudolf Slánský
. London was accused of being a Zionist
, Trotskyite and Tito
ist and was sentenced to life in prison.
He was released in 1955 and rehabilitated
in 1963. He moved to France where, together with his wife, wrote L'Aveu (The Confession) about his ordeal in the Prague Trials. While the main defendants were senior to London, he gained prominence worldwide by writing the book. The book was made into a film
directed by Costa-Gavras
and starring Yves Montand
and Simone Signoret
.
His wife, Lise, recounts the events in the documentary A Trial in Prague
, dir. Zuzana Justman (2002, 83min).
He died in Paris
, France.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
communist politician and co-defendant in the Slánský Trial. He was born in Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
to a Jewish family.
In 1937, London went to fight in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
as member of the International Brigade. He moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
after the defeat of the Republicans and, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was arrested by the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp.
After the war he lived in Switzerland but soon moved with family to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he became a leading figure in the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
, and was eventually nominated deputy minister of foreign affairs in 1948. In 1951 he was arrested and became a co-defendant in the Slánský trial alongside Rudolf Slánský
Rudolf Slánský
Rudolf Slánský was a Czech Communist politician. Holding the post of the party's General Secretary after World War II, he was one of the leading creators and organizers of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia...
. London was accused of being a Zionist
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, Trotskyite and Tito
Titoism
Titoism is a variant of Marxism–Leninism named after Josip Broz Tito, leader of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, primarily used to describe the specific socialist system built in Yugoslavia after its refusal of the 1948 Resolution of the Cominform, when the Communist Party of...
ist and was sentenced to life in prison.
He was released in 1955 and rehabilitated
Political rehabilitation
Political rehabilitation is the process by which a member of a political organization or government who has fallen into disgrace, is restored to public life. It is usually applied to leaders or other prominent individuals who regain their prominence after a period in which they have no influence or...
in 1963. He moved to France where, together with his wife, wrote L'Aveu (The Confession) about his ordeal in the Prague Trials. While the main defendants were senior to London, he gained prominence worldwide by writing the book. The book was made into a film
The Confession (1970 film)
The Confession is a 1970 French-Italian film directed by Costa Gavras and stars Yves Montand and Simone Signoret.It is based on the true story of the Czechoslovak communist Artur London, a defendant in the Slánský trial...
directed by Costa-Gavras
Costa-Gavras
Costa-Gavras, is a Greek filmmaker, who lives and works in France, best known for films with overt political themes, most famously the fast-paced thriller, Z...
and starring Yves Montand
Yves Montand
-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
and Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret was a French cinema actress often hailed as one of France's greatest movie stars. She became the first French person to win an Academy Award, for her role in Room at the Top...
.
His wife, Lise, recounts the events in the documentary A Trial in Prague
A Trial in Prague
A Trial in Prague is a critically acclaimed documentary film about a 1952 show trial in Communist Czechoslovakia - color - 83min.-Content:...
, dir. Zuzana Justman (2002, 83min).
He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France.
External links
- Interview (in French) about his life with Lise London (Lise Ricol), his wife
- http://liselondonenespagnol.blogspot.com/ (in Spanish) interviews and articles about Lise London