Martin Šmíd
Encyclopedia
Martin Šmíd was a fictitious Czechoslovak
university student, who was supposedly killed in the police attack on the November 17, 1989 student demonstration in Prague that launched Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution
. The rumor of Šmíd's death was spread by Drahomíra Dražská, a porter at a student dormitory in the city's Troja district. The dissident Petr Uhl believed the report and passed it along to Radio Free Europe
, which broadcast it. The news of a student's death shocked many, and the rumor is thought to have contributed to the fall of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
The Martin Šmíd in question was allegedly a student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University. Two students with that name attended the school at the time, both in their second year at the university, but nothing happened to either of them on November 17. One did not attend the student demonstration, and the other left it just before the police attack.
Drahomíra Dražská's actions, and her motivation for them, have never been fully made clear, but the most likely explanation is that she invented the story of Šmíd's death. Some conspiracy theorists
, however, think that the rumor was an attempt by State Security
, Czechoslovakia's secret police, to inflame the situation, and that they induced Dražská to spread the disinformation.
The personal testimony of one of the real Martin Šmíds, about what he experienced on November 17, is available on his personal website.
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...
university student, who was supposedly killed in the police attack on the November 17, 1989 student demonstration in Prague that launched Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
. The rumor of Šmíd's death was spread by Drahomíra Dražská, a porter at a student dormitory in the city's Troja district. The dissident Petr Uhl believed the report and passed it along to Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
, which broadcast it. The news of a student's death shocked many, and the rumor is thought to have contributed to the fall of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
The Martin Šmíd in question was allegedly a student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University. Two students with that name attended the school at the time, both in their second year at the university, but nothing happened to either of them on November 17. One did not attend the student demonstration, and the other left it just before the police attack.
Drahomíra Dražská's actions, and her motivation for them, have never been fully made clear, but the most likely explanation is that she invented the story of Šmíd's death. Some conspiracy theorists
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
, however, think that the rumor was an attempt by State Security
STB
STB is an acronym that can mean:* Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Sacred Theology* Set-top box – a television device that converts signals to viewable images* Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP -- a law firm...
, Czechoslovakia's secret police, to inflame the situation, and that they induced Dražská to spread the disinformation.
The personal testimony of one of the real Martin Šmíds, about what he experienced on November 17, is available on his personal website.