Biography
Antonín Zápotocký (Czech pronunciation: [ˈantoɲiːn ˈzaːpototskiː]; 19 December 1884 – 13 November 1957) was a Czech communist politician and statesman who served as the prime minister of Czechoslovakia from 1948 to 1953 and the president of Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1957. He was born in Zákolany, Kingdom of Bohemia, Cisleithania (then in Austria-Hungary, now in the Czech Republic). His father was Ladislav Zápotocký, one of the founders of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), together with Josef Boleslav Pecka-Strahovský and Josef Hybeš.
He was a delegate of the Left Wing of the ČSSD to the Second Comintern Congress, held in Petersburg, 19 July – 7 August 1920. Together with Bohumír Šmeral, he co-founded the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) when it broke away from the ČSSD in 1921. He was General Secretary of the KSČ from 1922 to 1925. In 1940, he was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. He was released in 1945.
From 18 June to 18 July 1946 he was Chairman of the Constituent National Assembly.
Zápotocký became Prime Minister on 15 June 1948, replacing Klement Gottwald, who became president. On 14 March 1953, shortly after his return from Joseph Stalin's funeral, Gottwald died. As per the Ninth-of-May Constitution, Zápotocký took over most presidential duties until he was elected president in his own right a week later.
Zápotocký favoured a more humane way of governing, but was outflanked by the Stalinist first secretary, Antonín Novotný.
In May 1953, during the monetary reform, which effectively deprived the farmers and better-paid workers of all their savings, sporadic riots against the communist authorities took place. This occasion gave Novotný a chance to seize the upper hand. At a meeting in Moscow, Zápotocký was told to adhere to "collective leadership"—in effect, give up power to Novotný.
Zápotocký stayed in office until his death in Prague in 1957. He was also second Czechoslovakia president to die in office. His body was cremated at Strašnice Crematorium and interred.
Zápotocký penned several novels, two of which were made into films - Red Glow Over Kladno (Rudá záře nad Kladnem) and New Warriors Will Rise (Vstanou noví bojovníci).
Filmography
all 5
Movies 4
Writer 3
TV Shows 1
self 1
The Trap (1951)
Information
Known ForWriting
GenderMale
Birthday1884-12-19
Deathday1957-11-13 (72 years old)
RelationshipsMarie Zápotocká (1910-09-22 - 1957-11-13)
FatherLadislav Zápotocký
CitizenshipsCzechoslovak Socialist Republic, First Czechoslovak Republic, Austria-Hungary
AwardsČeskoslovenská medaile za zásluhy I. stupně, Order of the National Flag, 1st class, Order of February 25, 1st class, honorary citizen of Plzeň, Order of Liberation, Medal for Service to Homeland, Commemorative medals of the Czechoslovak army abroad, Commemorative Decoration of the Second National Rising, Medal "For Bravery Before the Enemy", Decoration for Devotion to Work, Decoration for Loyal Work, Bachmac Commemorative Medal, Order of the Red Banner, Military Order of the White Lion, Order of Labour (Czechoslovakia), Order of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic, Order of Klement Gottwald, Order of the Star of the Romanian People's Republic, Order of Karl Marx, Karl Troop Cross, Order of the Republic, Hungarian Order of Merit, Order of the White Lion, Order of the Red Star, Order of the Slovak National Uprising, Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945, Order of the Red Star of Labour, Czechoslovak Military Order for Freedom, Order of Building of the Socialist Homeland, Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Order of 9 September 1944, Royal Order of Cambodia
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Antonín Zápotocký- Filmography
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