The Pe sonal S uc u e o he Regional Commi ees
o he Communis Pa y o Czechoslo akia
in České Budějo ice, Os a a and P ague,
1945–1951
Tomáš Hemza
KEYWORDS:
Czechoslo akia — Communis Pa y — České Budějo ice — Os a a — P ague
In he So ie poli ical sys em, 1 he bu eauc a ic appa a us o na ional communis
pa ies occupied he pinnacle o he py amid o powe . E en oday, he wo k o Milo-
an Djilas2 can be conside ed he basic analy ical wo k conce ning he unc ion o
he pa y appa a us in communis o ali a ian egimes. Ma in Malia da es he be-
ginnings o a pa allel s uc u e o pa y and s a e o ganiza ions o he pe iod o Rus-
sian ci il wa — in he anks o Red A my, he e was a p ac ice o nomina ing poli i-
cal commissa s, who we e supposed o wa ch o e he “un eliable” sa is o ice s.
La e on, hese poli ical commissa s we e inse ed in o all a eas o ci il li e o wa ch
o e “bou geois”expe s.3 E en hough hese commissa s we e o iginally in ended o
s ay in con ol only un il new “wo ke in elligen sia” could be educa ed, he pa allel
s uc u e o pa y appa a us became one o he pilla s o he communis go e nmen
no only in So ie Union p ope , bu also in he o he coun ies o he Eas e n Bloc.
Yo an Go licki and Hans Mommsen lis he ins i u ionalized leading ole o he pa y
appa a us among he main di e ences be ween So ie and Nazi es ablishmen s.4 As
o he heme we’ e going o conce n ou sel es wi h, he basic o e iew o he Com-
munis Pa y o Czechoslo akia appa a us is based on he wo ks o Ka el Kaplan5 and
Jiří Maňák.6
1 This ou pu was c ea ed wi hin he p ojec “Dějinný ý oj egionů III.”, subp ojec “Kolek-
i ní biog am poli ických p aco níků s anického apa á u KSČ yb aných k ajských
ýbo ů le ech 1945–1949” sol ed a Cha les Uni e si y in P ague om he Speci ic uni-
e si y esea ch in 2015.
2 Milo an Djilas, The New Class. An Analysis o he Communis Sys em, San Diego, 1957.
3 Ma in Malia, So ě ská agédie. Dějiny socialismu Rusku le ech 1917–1991, P ague
2004, pp. 131–133.
4 Yo an Go licky — Hans Mommsen, The Poli ical (Dis)O de s o S alinism and Na ional
Socialism. In: Michael Geye — Sheila Fi zpa ik (ed.), Beyond To ali a ianism. S alinism
and Nazism Compa ed, Camb idge 2008, pp. 41–85.
5 Ka el Kaplan, Apa á ÚV KSČ le ech 1948–1968. S udie a dokumen y, P ague 1993.
6 Jiří Maňák, P oměny s any moci III. Poče nos a složení p aco níků s anické apa á u
KSČ 1948–1968, P ague 1999.
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TOMáš HEMza 55
The pu pose o he p esen ed s udy is o analyze he pe sonal s uc u e o he e-
gional commi ee appa a us in h ee selec ed egions o he pos -wa Czechoslo a-
kia. Fo his esea ch, we chose he egions o České Budějo ice, Os a a and P ague.
The s udy o h ee dis inc egions will allow us o compa e hese egions and ind
bo h he common and di e en de elopmen ends. E en hough he s udy only con-
ce ns i sel wi h a e y b ie pe iod o 1945 o 1951, i ’s di ided in o h ee ch onologi-
cal pa s. The i s pa examines he pa y appa a us un il he seizu e o powe by
he Pa y in Feb ua y 1948. Due o he low a ailabili y o a chi ed sou ces, we could
only examine he de elopmen in all h ee egions only up un il he au umn o 1949.
The second pa he e o e examines he de elopmen in all h ee egions in he pe iod
om he sp ing o 1948 un il he au umn o 1949. The inal pa , which examines he
pe iod om he au umn o 1949 o yea 1951, could only be examined on he examples
o he egions o České Budějo ice and Os a a.
The pe sonnel o he pa y appa a us could be oughly di ided in o wo basic ca e-
go ies — poli ical pe sonnel and e e yone else. The non-poli ical pe sonnel ca ego y
was u he di ided in o adminis a i e pe sonnel (pe sonal assis an s and copy
ypis s), echnical pe sonnel (d i e s, elephone ope a o s, cleaning pe sonnel and
o he s) and specialis pe sonnel (lib a ians, ansla o s o accoun an s).7 The s udy
is ocused only on he poli ical pe sonnel, since hese o med he mos c ucial and
decision-making pa o he pa y appa a us.
Each o he h ee pa s o he p esen ed s udy s a s wi h he desc ip ion o
he de elopmen al de e minan s ha had a signi ican in luence o e he o gani-
za ional amewo k and pe sonal s uc u e o he pa y appa a us in each egion.
A e wa ds, we p esen a basic o e iew o he pe sonal s uc u e based on he col-
lec i e biog aphy me hod.
THE COLLECTIVE BIOGRAPHY METHOD
We chose h ee main cha ac e is ics o ou esea ch o he pe sonal s uc u e o
he pa y appa a us: yea o bi h, he pe iod o joining he Pa y and he o iginal
oca ion o he poli ical employee in ques ion. Fu he mo e, we ake no e o he in-
ol emen o he poli ical pe sonnel in he insu gency mo emen du ing yea s 1939
o 1945. All s a is ical da a in his s udy a e he esul o he au ho ’s calcula ions.
These da a mos ly o igina e in he “cad es” ma e ials and assessmen s a ailable o
he poli ical pe sonnel in ques ion. The esul s should be only conside ed o be ap-
p oxima e. Many o he cad es ma e ials and assessmen s s a e di e en da es o
bi h o da es o joining he Pa y.8
7 J. Maňák, P oměny s any moci III., p. 13.
8 The da es o joining he Pa y is based on he con empo a y p ac ice — no e e y membe
o he Communis Pa y du ing he i s Czechoslo ak Republic was au oma ically con-
side ed o ha e been a p e-wa membe a e he wa . The pa y membe s who we en’
ac i e in he illegal Communis Pa y du ing he wa we en’ conside ed o ha e been
p e-wa membe s. In he yea s immedia ely ollowing he wa , p e-wa membe ship was
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The mos di icul ac o o assess is he o iginal oca ion. In he cases whe e
he s a is ical ma e ials s o ed by he Pa y include he social and p o essional cha -
ac e is ics o pa y employees, hey usually conce n hemsel es wi h social o igins.
The Communis Pa y ecognized h ee ca ego ies o social o igin: wo ke o igin,
a me o igin o cle k o igin. These pa y s a is ics a e unsui able o use in his
s udy o se e al easons. Fi s o all, a signi ican amoun o employees claiming
wo ke o igin ne e made a li ing as wo ke s hemsel es. Secondly, he “wo ke ” ca -
ego y was e y b oad, o en allowing people o classi y hemsel es as wo ke s, e en
hough hey ha e held employee con ac s. Thi dly, many o hose who conside ed
hemsel es o be wo ke s ac ually spen some ime as labo e s, o example as a pa
o o al deploymen du ing WWII. Howe e , o he mos pa o hei ac i e wo king
li e, hese people ac ually wo ked in o he , non-wo ke oca ions.
Fo hese easons, we ha e es ablished ou ca ego ies o o iginal oca ion o
he pu poses o his s udy: wo ke s, o he employees, in elligen sia and a me s.
The e o e, con a y o con empo a y pa y ma e ials, only he people who ac ually
wo ked as manual wo ke s in a ac o y a e conside ed o be “wo ke s” wi hin his
s udy. Usually, hese employees wo ked as machine i e s, blacksmi hs, la he ope a-
o s, machinis s o u nace ope a o s. Fu he mo e, he wo ke ca ego y emb aces
oca ions ha include hea y manual labo , mos ly mine s, masons o ca pen e s.
The second ca ego y, “o he employees”, encompasses mainly employees wi hin se -
ices. This ca ego y includes wai e s, ba be s, bake s, bu che s, se an s, me chan s,
shop cle ks o ailo s. We also included housewi es and o me small businessmen in
his ca ego y. The pu pose o his di ision is o di e en ia e ac o y wo ke s and hea y
manual labo e s om o he ca ego ies o economically ac i e people. “Fa me ” and
“in elligen sia” ca ego ies a e less con o e sial. “In elligen sia” encompasses a b oad
ange o p o essions ha sha e a common de ini ion o a non-manual oca ion. Mos
o en, hese pa y membe s we e cle ks, accoun an s and eache s. Less common
we e lawye s, jou nalis s o a chi ec s. The esul s should, howe e , only be consid-
e ed o be app oxima e — many o he pa y employees used o pe o m wo k om
mo e han one ca ego y o o iginal oca ions du ing hei li e ime. In hese cases,
he inclusion in o one o he ca ego ies is based on he leng h o he each oca ion.
DEVELOPMENT DETERMINANTS, 1945–1948
Un il he communis akeo e in Feb ua y 1948, he amoun o poli ical employees in
egional pa y s uc u es was signi ican ly limi ed by he lack o inancial esou ces.
In České Budějo ice egion, he p oblem o pa y inancial managemen was epea -
ecognized only o membe s who we e ac i e in he an i-Nazi insu gency. This also mean
ha in some cases, a p e-wa membe ship ecogni ion was denied e en some concen a-
ion camp su i o s. Acco ding o Jiří Maňák, du ing 1950s his app oach elaxed some-
wha and a p e-wa membe ship was also ecognized o membe s who we en’ in ol ed
in insug ency ac i i ies. See J. Maňák, P oměny s any moci. S udie a dokumen y k ý oji
Komunis ické s any Českoslo enska období 1948–1968. 1. čás , P ague 2005, pp. 58–59.
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TOMáš HEMza 57
edly aised du ing he mee ings o he Poli bu o o he Regional Commi ee. In June
1946, he Pa y was o ced o e mina e he employmen o se en adminis a i e em-
ployees due o he sho age o unds. Ano he i e employees chose o lea e olun a ily.9
The issue o inancial managemen was also discussed in Sep embe and No embe
1946, when he Poli bu o ques ioned whe he he Pa y can a o d o pay i s own d i e ,
among o he ma e s.10 As a means o imp o e he inancial si ua ion, se e al measu es
we e decided upon: o imp o e he mo ale o membe ship ees, o d aw some unds
om he egional pa y newspape and o o ganize e ening e en s ocused on en e -
ainmen and lec u es. The mo e well-o pa y membe s wi h double income we e
asked o conside p o iding a dona ion o he pa y easu y.11 In No embe 1946, se -
e al addi ional op ions o imp o ing he income we e discussed, e.g. he o ganiza ion o
an e en o “gadge ee s”, who would make oys o kids ha would be sold by he Pa y
du ing Ch is mas. Addi ionally, he commi ee once again conside ed he o ganiza ion
o en e ainmen e en s. As a las eso , he commi ee discussed he op ion o aking
a loan o hal a million c owns, o which he Pa y would mo gage i s headqua e s.12
Bad mo ale o pa y membe s, when i came o paying membe ship ees, p e-
sen ed a signi ican p oblem. An onín No ý, a membe o he Poli bu o o he Re-
gional Commi ee in České Budějo ice, sugges ed in i ing especially gla ing o ende s
o he pa y Cad es Depa men and admonishing hem s e nly. I he p oblem pe -
sis ed, he o ende s would be expelled om he Pa y and hei cases subsequen ly
published.13 Despi e hese measu es, in Ap il 1947, he pa y budge was de ici by
mo e han a million and wo hund ed housand c owns. This de ici had o be eplen-
ished om he unds o he Cen al Commi ee.14 Howe e , in Oc obe o he same
yea , he pa y budge was al eady in de ici again and he Pa y had o e mina e
he employmen o ano he d i e .15
Due o his lack o unds, he appa a us o he Regional Commi ee in České
Budějo ice egion was composed o only se e al paid employees. The speci ic e-
gional s uc u e employee eco ds he e o e s a e he ollowing. In Oc obe 1945,
he commi ee employed ele en poli ical employees,16 in Decembe 1945, his numbe
dec eased o nine.17 In he wo ollowing yea s, his numbe was only a li le highe . In
9 The S a e Regional A chi es in Třeboň (he eina e as SOA Třeboň), ond (he eina e as .)
KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 290, pp. 6–7, The Sec e a ia o he Regional Commi ee
[SKV] mee ing 3.6.1946.
10 The Na ional A chi es in P ague (he eina e as NA P ague), . O ganizační oddělení Ma-
ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 28, a. j. 199, pp. 73–74, PKV mee ing 23.9.1946.
11 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 28, a.j. 199, p. 76,
The Poli bu o o he Regional Commi ee [PKV] mee ing 1.10.1946.
12 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 28, a.j. 199, pp. 90–93,
PKV mee ing 29.11.1946.
13 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 66, p. 161, PKV mee ing 17.2.1947.
14 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 66, p. 176, PKV mee ing 21.4.1947.
15 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 66, p. 286, PKV mee ing 21.10.1947.
16 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 30, a.j. 211, p. 1.
17 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 28, a.j. 196, p. 1.
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June 1946, he commi ee again employed ele en poli ical employees;18 in Ap il 1948 i
employed hi een people.19 The lack o und esul ed no only in e y limi ed numbe
o paid pa y employees, bu also in hei low sala ies. The mon hly sala y o leading
sec e a y o he Regional Commi ee was 7000 c owns, he es o he employees was
paid an amoun ha a e aged be ween 3000 and 4000 c owns.20 E en lowe sala-
ies we e paid o women employed in he egional s uc u e, who igh ly complained
abou he hige sala ies o hei male coun e pa s.21
The pa y leade ship in Os a a egion aced p oblems simila o hose in České
Budějo ice. P esumably due o he highe membe ship base22 and be e sales o pa y
newspape , he o ganiza ion in Os a a wasn’ in de ici , howe e , i also couldn’ a -
o d o pay high sala ies o i s employees. In Os a a egion, oo, he Pa y appealed
o i s well-o membe s o dona e highe ees o i s easu y. Acco ding o he sugges-
ion o Vik o Linha , a membe o he Poli bu o o he Regional Commi ee, pa y
membe s wi h mon hly income abo e 12 000 Czechoslo ak c owns we e supposed
o dona e 15–20% o hei income o he Pa y.23 In June 1946, he Poli bu o concluded
ha he pa y appa a us employees a e unde paid, and had o eassess hei sala ies.
E en hough he sala ies o poli ical employees in Os a a we e on a e age highe
han hose in České Budějo ice by 2000 c owns, i was di icul o a ac employees o
he pa y s uc u e, because mos people p e e ed be e paid jobs and we en’ in e -
es ed in wo king wi hin he pa y appa a us.24 Due o he size o he egion, he appa-
a us in Os a a was bigge han he one in České Budějo ice. The i s a ailable s a us
epo conce ning he appa a us in Os a a om Decembe 1946 lis s wel e poli i-
cal employees and hi y six adminis a i e employees.25 The nex a ailable epo is
da ed Ma ch 1948, when he appa a us consis ed o wen y i e poli ical employees.26
18 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 290, pp. 6–7, SKV mee ing 3.6.1946.
19 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 28, a.j. 196, p. 14.
20 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 28, a.j. 196, pp. 14a–14b.
21 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 66, pp. 206–208, SKV mee ing 19.5.1947.
22 By he ime o he in a-Pa y sc eening in 1948, he Communis Pa y o Czechoslo akia
had 97406 membe s in České Budějo ice egion, 164407 membe s in Os a a egion and
570688 membe s in P ague egion. Un il Feb ua y 28, 1950, he numbe o pa y mem-
be s in espec i e egional o ganiza ions declined signi ican ly — o 67675 membe s and
13976 candida es in České Budějo ice, 118764 membe s and 24580 candida es in Os a-
a and 388660 membe s and 89369 candida es in P ague egion. See J. Maňák, P oměny
s any moci. S udie a dokumen y k ý oji Komunis ické s any Českoslo enska období
1948–1968. 1. čás , p. 80, 100.
23 The P o incial A chi es in Opa a (he eina e as ZA Opa a), . KV KSČ Os a a, ca on
(he eina e as ca .) 109, in en o y numbe ( he eina e as i. no.) 51, sign. P-32, PKV
mee ing 9.8.1946.
24 ZA Opa a, . KV KSČ Os a a, ca . 109, i. no. 51, sign. P-28, PKV mee ing 21.6.1946. Fo
compa ison, he a e age sala y in Czechoslo akia in 1946 was 4.340 Czechoslo ak c owns.
See Václa P ůcha e al., Hospodářské a sociální dějiny Českoslo enska 1918–1992, 2. díl,
B no 2009, p. 209.
25 NA P ague, . Gene ální sek e a iá 1945–1951, s . 5, a. j. 30, p. 9.
26 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 69, a. j. 384, pp. 26–29.
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The la ges o he h ee moni o ed egional s uc u es was he pa y o ganiza-
ion in P ague egion. In Decembe 1946, he egional appa a us consis ed o 140 em-
ployees, o which he e we e wen y six poli ical employees and 114 adminis a i e
employees.27 Acco ding o he epo o an ins uc o o he Cen al Commi ee om
June 1947, he egional appa a us s uggled wi h he lack o compe en employees
o such ex en ha se e al egional depa men s and especially coun y sec e a ia s
we e se e ely unde s a ed.28
The p oblem o low sala ies o pa y employees is also men ioned in he summa y
s a us epo conce ning egional and coun y s uc u es om June 1947, which s a es
ha despi e all he di ec i es and guidelines om he Cen al Commi ee, employees
in egions and coun ies we en’ paid enough o be sel -su icien .29 Howe e , his e-
po doesn’ men ion ha he egional o ganiza ions ha en’ had he unds o p o ide
highe sala ies, no men ioning hei inabili y o p o ide accommoda ion o hei
employees in hei place o employmen . A signi ican numbe o employees had o
commu e om a a , which subsequen ly u he lessened hei mo i a ion o wo k
in he pa y appa a us.
PERSONAL STRUCTURE, 1945–1948
F om 1945 o Ap il 1945, he e we e eigh een poli ical employees in o al in he pa y
appa a us in České Budějo ice. Only ou o hese poli ical employees we e p e-wa
membe s o he Communis Pa y, ele en joined he Pa y a e he wa and in h ee
cases, he a ailable sou ces lis no disce nible da e. Hal o hese employees we e
bo n a e 1920 and he e o e we e younge han hi y yea s o age. E en hough
he České Budějo ice egion was p edominan ly ag icul u al, only one a me was
employed by he pa y appa a us. Fu he mo e, i e o he employees we e wo ke s,
ano he i e hailed om in elligen sia backg ounds (all o hem we e cle ks) and an-
o he h ee came om he se ice sec o .
The leading pa y sec e a y in České Budějo ice was Jose Paleček. He was bo n in
1902 and was a pa y membe since 1925. Be ween 1933 and 1936, he s udied he In e -
na ional Lenin School in Moscow in he So ie Union. Du ing Wo ld Wa II, Paleček
was de ained in a Nazi concen a ion camp. Also ano he membe , Václa S a ečný,
was imp isoned in a concen a ion camp. As o he emaining employees, he only
wo o he membe s who ook pa in he an i-Nazi esis ance mo emen we e Ja o-
sla Kubá and F an išek No o ný.
In Os a a, he e we e hi y poli ical employees in o al in he pos -wa pe iod.
Twel e o hese joined he Pa y be o e 1938, ano he wo joined in 1939. Hynek Kožušník,
Ma ie Lau e o á, Jose Ma yš and Vilém No ý we e numbe ed among he ounding
membe s o he Pa y in 1921. No speci ic age b acke was dominan in he age s uc-
u e. The Pa y employed bo h younge and olde employees. The s uc u e o he o igi-
27 NA P ague, . Gene ální sek e a iá 1945–1951, s . 5, a. j. 30, p. 9.
28 NA P ague, . Gene ální sek e a iá 1945–1951, s . 199, a. j. 1270, p. 79.
29 NA P ague, . Gene ální sek e a iá 1945–1951, s . 199, a.j. 1270, p. 93.
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nal oca ion was e y simila o České Budějo ice egion. The e was only one a me
among he employees and he numbe o wo ke s and in elligen sia was balanced.
A e he wa , he pos o leading pa y sec e a y in Os a a was illed by Vilém
No ý. He was bo n in 1904 and was a pa y membe since se en een yea s o age. Since
1930s, he was a p o essional pa y unc iona y and jou nalis . Du ing Wo ld Wa II, he
was in exile in G ea B i ain. Howe e , he spen only one yea in Os a a a e he wa .
In 1946, he was ans e ed o P ague, whe e he became he edi o in chie o “Rudé
p á o” newspape . A e his depa u e, he o ice o leading sec e a y wen o Ví ězsla
Fusch. Fuchs was bo n in 1915 in Os a a in a amily o a small adesman. When he
was se en een, he joined Komsomol, and in 1936 he joined he Communis Pa y. A e
g adua ing om he Gymnasium in Os a a, he a ended he Facul y o Law o Cha les
Uni e si y in P ague. Due o his Jewish o igin, he le Czechoslo akia in 1939 and spen
he wa pe iod in G ea B i ain. Ini ially, he wo ked as a ac o y wo ke and a e
he So ie Union joined he wa , he joined he o eign Czechoslo ak A my. Be o e he be-
came he leading sec e a y, he wo ked in he P o incial Na ional Commi ee in Os a a.
Ví ězsla Fuchs was no he only membe who ook pa in he a med insu gency
agains he Nazi Ge many. Jose Ploskonka also ough in he anks o he Czechoslo-
ak A my on he wes , and A noš Ma ýsek and Ka el Š e ka we e pa isan igh e s.
The head o he egional Cad es Depa men Rudol Peschel le o he So ie Union
be o e he WWII and du ing he wa was deployed in he P o ec o a e as a pa a-
oope . He was a es ed by he Nazi sec e police and imp isoned un il he end o
he wa , howe e . Many o he employees we e in ol ed in illegal unde g ound ac i i-
ies, en employees we e imp isoned in Nazi concen a ion camps.
The bigges numbe o poli ical employees, a leas 44 people, wo ked in he i s
h ee pos -wa yea s in P ague. Compa ed o he p e ious wo egions, his egion
had a highe numbe o olde employees and also a highe numbe o p e-wa pa y
membe s. Jose Hulínský, S anisla Mlejnek and An onín No o ný we e among
he ounding pa y membe s in 1921, ano he i een employees coun ed among
he p e-wa membe s, and F an išek Vomas ek joined he Pa y in 1939. The s uc-
u e o he o iginal oca ion was e y simila o he p e ious cases. The e was only
one a me among he employees in P ague, oo, and he numbe o wo ke s and
in elligen sia was balanced.
The leading sec e a y in P ague egion was An onín No o ný. He was bo n in 1904.
His o iginal oca ion was a machine i e . He joined he Pa y as ea ly as 1921 and du -
ing 1930s he wo ked in he pa y appa a us on a egional le el. Du ing he Nazi occupa-
ion, he was in ol ed in illegal ac i i ies, was a es ed and since 1941 de ained in Mau -
hausen concen a ion camp. Jindřich Ko ál, S anisla Mlejnek, F an išek Vodsloň and
Jose Šťas ný also spen some ime in Nazi p isons and concen a ion camps. Jose Bína,
Jose Hulínský, Alois Ducháček and Jiří Luka ský we e also in ol ed in illegal unde -
g ound ac i i ies in he P o ec o a e. Jose Al ich e , Bohusla Macháček and Božena
Macháčo á spen some ime in he So ie Union. F an išek K iegel spen he wa yea s
in China, whe e he was s a ioned wi h he Allied o ces as a ba le medic.
The pe sonal s uc u e o he poli ical employees o pa y egional commi ees in
České Budějo ice, Os a a and P ague om 1945 o sp ing o 1948 can be summa ized
by he ollowing h ee ables:
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TOMáš HEMza 61
able 1 — Yea o bi h, Poli ical employees 1945–1948
Yea o bi h be o e 1899 1900–1909 1910–1919 1920–1929 unknown
ČeskéBudějo ice 2 4 3 9 0
Os a a 4 7 10 7 3
P ague 1 23 8 9 3
To al 7 34 21 25 6
able 2 — Pa y membe ship, Poli ical employees 1945–1948
Joined he Pa y 1921–1938 1939–1944 1945–1947 unknown
ČeskéBudějo ice 4 0 11 3
Os a a 13 2 12 4
P ague 18 1 7 18
To al 35 3 30 25
able 3 — O iginal oca ion, Poli ical employees 1945–1948
Voca ion Wo ke O he In elligen sia Fa me unknown
ČeskéBudějo ice 5 3 5 1 4
Os a a 11 4 11 1 4
P ague 16 4 18 1 5
To al 32 11 34 3 13
As can be clea ly seen om hese ables, a signi ican po ion o he egional pa y
s uc u es in Os a a and P ague egion consis ed o p e-wa pa y membe s. In
all h ee egions, he pos o he leading sec e a y was illed wi h expe ienced and
long- e m pa y membe s. Aside om he a o emen ioned Jose Paleček om České
Budějo ice, h ee o he pa y employees (Jose Al ich e om P ague, Rudol Peschel
and Jan Tepe om Os a a) also s udied he In e na ional Lenin School in Moscow.
Ou o o al 93 poli ical employees, se en people we e in ol ed in he ab oad esis-
ance mo emen du ing Wo ld Wa II, nine we e in ol ed in illegal unde g ound ac-
i i ies wi hin he P o ec o a e and ano he eigh een we e imp isoned o hese ac-
i i ies. Ou o 34 membe s o in elligen sia, he bigges po ion consis ed o cle ks,
eache s and s uden s. O he oca ions a e ep esen ed by one doc o , one a chi ec
and wo lawye s. The a me s a e ep esen ed by a su p isingly small numbe in all
h ee o he moni o ed egional s uc u es.
DEVELOPMENTS AND DETERMINANTS AFTER FEBRUARY 1948
The pe sonal and o ganiza ional s uc u e o egional appa a uses p o ed com-
ple ely insu icien a e he communis akeo e in Feb ua y 1948. The la ges de-
iciencies could be obse ed especially in he a ea o “cad e’s policy” and economy.
Due o he lack o inancial esou ces hese wo key b anches we e le in he com-
pe ency o pa y commi ees un il Feb ua y 1948 — wi hin he egional appa a us,
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62 WISOHIM/ESHP 23
only a hand ul o employees wo ked in hese depa men s. The pa y e o concen-
a ed on massi e indus ializa ion,30 collec i iza ion31 and especially he illing all
he leading posi ions in s a e adminis a ion, economy, public adminis a ion and po-
li ical o ganiza ions wi h loyal employees. These asks mean he pe sonal s uc u e
o he pa y appa a us had o be s eng hened.32 Simply pu , i he Communis Pa y
wished o become he leading o ce in he s a e and socie y, i s ac i i y could no lon-
ge be based only on he wo k o pa y execu i e bodies o p ima y o ganiza ions. I
had o be based on he wo k o p o essional poli ical employees. The e o e, he main
change a e Feb ua y 1948 consis ed o signi ican inc ease o he numbe o paid
poli ical employees on all le els o he pa y appa a us.
Ano he impo an eason o he pe sonal inc ease o he egional s uc u es
s emmed om he es ablishmen o a egional s uc u e in Czechoslo akia om Janu-
a y 1, 1949.33 This mean ha he Regional Commi ee o he Communis Pa y was no
longe only an in e media y be ween he pa y headqua e s and coun y o ganiza-
ions, bu was supposed o become he leading poli ical o ce in i s espec i e egion.34
Howe e , inancial ma e s ep esen ed one o he linge ing p oblems. In České
Budějo ice, he egional commi ee budge o 1949 an icipa ed a de iciency o 2 736 000
Czechoslo ak c owns.35 To imp o e he pa y budge , he egional Poli bu o came up
wi h special pa y s amps in Feb ua y 1949.36 Rega dless o his e o , he mon hly de i-
ci o he egional pa y inances in 1950 was 250000 o 260 000 Czechoslo ak c owns.37
The egional pa y Poli bu o in České Budějo ice again s uggled o a solu ion
in Augus 1950, when he Pa y es ablished a se ies o measu es designed o im-
30 Václa P ůcha e al., Hospodářské a sociální dějiny, pp. 249–278; Ka el Kaplan, Kořeny
českoslo enské e o my 1968, B no 2000, pp. 163–175; Zdisla Šulc, S učné dějiny eko-
nomických e o em Českoslo ensku (České epublice) 1945–1995, B no 1998, pp. 9–21.
31 Ka el Jech, Kolek i izace a yhánění sedláků z půdy, P ague 2008.
32 Lenka Kalino á, Společenské p oměny čase socialis ického expe imen u. K sociálním
dějinám le ech 1945–1969, P ague 2007, pp. 129–134; Jiří Maňák, O ien ace KŠČ na y oření
socialis ické in eligence. In: Zdeněk Ká ník — Michal Kopeček (ed.), Bolše ismus, komunis-
mus a adikální socialismus Českoslo ensku II., P ague 2005, pp. 110–155.
33 Zdeňka Hledíko á — Jan Janák — Jan Dobeš, Dějiny sp á y českých zemích. Od počá ků
s á u po současnos , P ague 2007, p. 447.
34 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 21, a. j. 156, pp. 61–63,
SKV mee ing 27.9.1948.
35 The 1949 budge an icipa ed income o 2 585000 c owns and expendi u e o 5 321000
c owns. See SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 290, p. 38, PKV mee ing 7.1.1949.
36 Once in a qua e , e e y pa y membe had o buy a s amp o ollowing alues. A pa y
membe wi h a mon hly income 2500 c owns o less had o buy a s amp o 5 c owns, wi h
a mon hly income up o 4000 c owns a s amp o 10 c owns and wi h a mon hly income
highe han 4000 c owns a s amp o 20 c owns. The coun ies kep 30% o he s amp sale
income, he emaining 70% had o be passed on o he egions. The p oceeds o he s amp
sale was supposed o be used mainly o inance he pa y schools. SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV
České Budějo ice, ile 15, p. 218, PKV mee ing 12.2.1949.
37 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 29, a. j. 206, pp. 91–94,
PKV mee ing 4.8.1950.
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TOMáš HEMza 69
niza ions and ac o ies wi h new people who would be loyal o he Communis egime.
I was also necessa y o build a pa y appa a us capable o ac ion. The pa y leade -
ship a ge ed young people, ideally ha dwo king and capable wo ke s. These p omis-
ing membe s would be p o ided basic aining ei he in “Cen al wo ke s’ schools” o
in one o he pa y poli ical schools. G adua es o hese schools subsequen ly became
he main sou ce o pe sonnel o he s a ing o he leading posi ions wi hin he s a e
adminis a ion, mass o ganiza ions, ac o ies and also in he pa y appa a us.
The goals o he pa y leade ship, howe e , we e mos ly incompa ible wi h he goals
o he manu ac u ing sec o and especially wi h he goals o he indi idual ac o ies.
These ac o ies had hei own main goals, namely he mee ing o p oduc ion plans, and
o his, hey needed capable employees. The e o e, he ac o ies o en eleased an ex-
pendable employee o he pa y poli ical aining, a he han a capable one. Many o
hese less capable employees hen ended up in he pa y appa a us. Usually hough,
hese employees we en’ su icien ly capable o handle he di icul wo k in he pa y ap-
pa a us and had o be eplaced wi hin a ew mon hs. This was no ed by he depu y lead-
ing sec e a y Rudol Peschel in Os a a on he occasion o c i icising he poo quali y
o new poli ical employees du ing he assembly o he Poli bu o: “The main sou ce (o
new employees) is he egional poli ical school, howe e , i ’s becoming ob ious ha his
egional poli ical school doesn’ a ac he people we need. Ins ead, i a ac s he peo-
ple ha a e expendable. I ’s c ucial o ge he bes people in o he ou mon h egional
poli ical school, ha would p o ide us wi h he bes low o compe en s uden s.”58
As a as pa y poli ical schools we e conce ned, he si ua ion was simila o
he selec ion o s uden s o Cen al wo ke s’ schools. E en hough i was gene ally
emphasized ha only he bes wo ke s and especially “S akhano i es” should be
sen in o hese schools, ac o y leade s we e inclined o send he less capable em-
ployees.59 Regional pa y poli ical schools p o ided a su icien numbe o g adua es,
bu he downside was ha hese g adua es had gene ally poo quali y, which led o
he high luc ua ion a e in he pa y appa a us.
The Pa y aining also conce ned pa y unc iona ies and he pe sonnel al eady
wo king wi hin he appa a us, no only he ank and ile membe s. These employees
we e sen o he s udy in he Cen al School o Poli ics o u he deepen hei heo-
e ical knowledge o Ma xism-Leninism. The unc ion o he egional pa y appa a-
uses, howe e , was u he signi ican ly hampe ed by he ac ha hese employees
we en’ e u ned back o hei o iginal posi ion a e g adua ion, bu ins ead we e
sen o a ious posi ions in he pa y headqua e s.
The o iginal goal o he pa y leade ship, which was o educa e he pa y employ-
ees, unc iona ies and membe s, he e o e had a des abilizing e ec on he unc ion
o he pa y appa a us on he local le el. On one hand, he ins i u e o pa y aining
p o ided coun y and egional appa a uses wi h inexpe ienced and incompe en em-
58 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 72, a.j. 399, pp. 76–77,
PKV mee ing 22.1.1951.
59 Ma ek Pa ka, Kád y ozhodují še! Kád o á poli ika KSČ z hlediska eo ie eli . P ních pě
le komunis ické lády, B no 2003, p. 59; Jiří Maňák, O ien ace KSČ na y oření sociali-
s ické in eligence.
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70 WISOHIM/ESHP 23
ployees ha no o he employe was in e es ed in. On he o he hand, he pa y educa-
ion p og am in he Cen al poli ical school made i easie o he compe en egional
poli ical employees o mo e on o highe posi ions in he headqua e s.
As a esul , he pa y leade ship in České Budějo ice egion was con on ed wi h
a e y unpleasan u h du ing he “pa y sc eening” (s anická p o ě ka) in 1950. Due
o he high luc ua ion a e, he as majo i y o he pa y appa a us was composed o
new employees, who had absolu ely no idea wha kind o ac i i y is expec ed o hem.
Mo eo e , he pa y appa a us was almos comple ely de oid o expe ienced employees,
who could ain and guide new colleagues. Jose Dušák, employed in he Depa men
o De ense, complained ha he was b ough in o he appa a us wi hou any explana-
ion o guidance.60 Simila ly, F an išek Če ník, an employee o he Cad es Depa men ,
complained ha no one ga e him any ins uc ions conce ning his wo k.61 The e y same
complain was also b ough up by Oldřich Nouza,62 F an išek No o ný,63 Jan Plánský,64
Jose Čadek,65 Jan Če kl,66 Milosla Kušl,67 Zdena Kulhánko á,68 Václa Lejča 69 o Ja-
omí Neuho .70 This p oblem wasn’ limi ed o České Budějo ice, as e idenced by
he accoun o one Mi osla To a a, who wo ked as a poli ical employee o he Depa -
men o Cul u e and P opaganda in P ague. Like o he s, To a a hasn’ been gi en any
ins uc ions conce ning his wo k and had no idea wha he should do and how o do i .71
Du ing he pa y sc eening, many employees also complained abou low sala ies and
o he oiced hei dissa is ac ion wi h he pa y appa a us wo k and wan ed o lea e
and ind o he jobs. Addi ionally, he pa y sc eening had shown ha he indi idual
employees o he pa y appa a us we en’ e y ond o each o he on a pe sonal le el.
This al eady e y oubled si ua ion wi hin he pa y appa a us in 1951 was u -
he des abilized by ano he ac o , he hun o ai o s wi hin he Communis Pa y
i sel . In summe o 1950, he leading poli ical sec e a y in Os a a egion, Ví ězsla
Fuchs, ecei ed p aise o his good wo k du ing he pa y sc eening.72 His depu y
and he head o he Cad es Depa men Rudol Peschel was showe ed wi h p aise
om o he pa y membe s as well: “Com ade Peschel handles his wo k well and his
ex ensi e expe ience helps he egional o ganiza ion handle i s challenging asks.
He’s one o he pilla s o ou egional o ganiza ion […]”.73 No one has oiced any se i-
60 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 437, pp. 72–74.
61 Ibid., p. 54.
62 Ibid., pp. 11–13.
63 Ibid., pp. 29–31.
64 Ibid., pp. 39–41.
65 Ibid., pp. 45–49.
66 Ibid., p. 51.
67 Ibid., pp. 214–216.
68 Ibid., p. 225.
69 Ibid., p. 248.
70 Ibid., pp. 271–276.
71 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 21, a.j. 153, pp. 251–254.
72 ZA Opa a, . KV KSČ Os a a, ca . 35, i. no. 29, sign. Z-35, p. 3.
73 ZA Opa a, . KV KSČ Os a a, ca . 35, i. no. 29, sign. Z-35, p. 4.
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TOMáš HEMza 71
ous p oblems wi h nei he Peschel no Fuchs on any o he mee ings o he Poli bu o
no he plenum o he Regional Commi ee. The e o e, i came as a g ea su p ise o
Os a a when, in ea ly Feb ua y 1951, Ví ězsla Fuchs and Rudol Peschel we e a -
es ed as enemies o he Pa y and he people.74 Thei a es was ollowed by a signi i-
can powe s uggle in Os a a — no ably, he ac i i y o so-called wo ke s’ checking
commi ees led o an ex ensi e pu ge o pe sonnel in he pa y appa a us.
The pa y o ganiza ion in České Buděj ice wen h ough his inne c isis, oo. La e
in 1950, he cu en leading sec e a y Jose Paleček was sen o B no o ake he place o
O o Šling, who was a es ed. The place o he leading sec e a y o České Budějo ice
egion was illed by he ins uc o o he Cen al Commi ee S anisla Vlček. Ve y soon,
Vlček became emb oiled in a con lic wi h local pa y unc iona ies. As he a ailable e-
po s sugges , his con lic was nei he caused by he di e ences in opinion conce ning
he p og am o ac ual ma e s — ins ead, i was a powe s uggle, plain and simple.75
On one side, he e was he new leading sec e a y S anisla Vlček. On he o he , depu y
sec e a y I an Halada, he head o he Depa men o O ganiza ion and Ins uc ion
Albe Vyško ský and a membe o he Poli bu o o he Regional Commi ee and he e-
gional head o sec e police An onín No ý. On egional pa y con e ence in June 1951,
S anisla Vlček managed o eno o ce he elec ion o a new Poli bu o o he Regional
Commi ee, which subsequen ly sided wi h him in he powe s uggle. Me e days a e
he egional con e ence, he Poli bu o announced he e i emen o I an Halada, Albe
Vyško ský, An onín No ý and o he pa y unc iona ies om hei posi ions.76 Be o e
au umn o 1951, he new leade ship has e ec ed sweeping pe sonal changes among
he poli ical employees o he egional pa y appa a us.77
PERSONAL STRUCTURE, AUTUMN 1949 TO 1951
F om au umn o 1949 onwa ds, he numbe o poli ical employees con inued o ise.
I would each i s maximum in 1950. In České Budějo ice, he numbe o poli ical em-
ployees inc eased om 42 in Oc obe 1949 o 58 in July 1950. In Os a a, he inc ease
74 In Janua y 1954, Ví ězsla Fuchs was sen enced o 15 yea s o imp isonmen . His wi e
spen wo yea s in p ison. In 1955, he o iginal sen ence was e oked and Ví ězsla Fuchs
was again sen enced by he Sup eme Cou o 10 yea s o imp isonmen . He was eleased
on pa ole in 1956 and subsequen ly wo ked as a cons uc ion i e in Teplické s ojí ny.
In 1963, he was ehabili a ed by bo h he cou and he Pa y. Acco ding o a ailable sou c-
es, he has ne e e u ned o ac i e poli ics and died in 1995. Rudol Peschel was sen enced
o six yea s o imp isonmen in 1954. In 1963, he was ehabili a ed by bo h he cou and
he Pa y. He died in 1967 and was pos humously awa ded O de o Labo .
75 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 31, a.j. 212, pp. 280–281.
76 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 71, pp. 338–340, PKV mee ing 21.6.1951.
77 NA P ague, . O ganizační oddělení Ma ie Š e mo á 1945–1951, s . 30, a.j. 210, pp. 32–36,
PKV mee ing 13.7.1951; SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 71, p. 488, PKV mee -
ing 13.7.1951; SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 72, pp. 658–664, PKV mee ing
18.10.1951.
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72 WISOHIM/ESHP 23
was om 75 poli ical employees in Oc obe 1949 o 102 employees in Decembe 1950.
This was oo big an inc ease e en o he pa y leade ship. In connec ion wi h he new
eo ganiza ion and sys ema iza ion o he pa y appa a us wo k low, he numbe o
employees in Os a a was signi ican ly educed. The e o e, by he end o 1951, he e
we e 57 poli ical employees in he egional appa a us in České Budějo ice and in
Os a a, he numbe was signi ican ly educed o 67.78
In bo h o hese egional sec e a ia s, he high a e o pe sonnel luc ua ion e-
mained a p oblem. Be ween au umn o 1949 and 1951, a leas 203 poli ical employees
joined he pa y appa a us in Os a a and České Budějo ice. Mos o hese employees
qui a e a ew mon hs. The ollowing h ee ables con ain he basic biog aphical da a
o hese new employees.
able 10 — New poli ical employees, au umn 1949–1951, yea o bi h
Yea o bi h be o e 1899 1900–1909 1910–1919 1920–1929 a e 1930 unknown
České Budějo ice 0 4 30 27 3 10
Os a a 1 17 37 47 0 27
To al 1 21 67 74 3 37
able 11 — New poli ical employees, au umn 1949–1951, yea o joining he Pa y
Joined he Pa y 1921–1938 1939–1944 1945–1947 1948 unknown
České Budějo ice 4 2 57 0 11
Os a a 4 1 103 1 20
To al 8 3 160 1 31
able 12 — New poli ical employees, au umn 1949–1951, o iginal oca ion
Voca ion Wo ke O he In elligen sia Fa me unknown
České Budějo ice 33 14 13 2 12
Os a a 80 21 7 0 21
To al 113 35 20 2 33
The de elopmen al cons an s o he p e ious yea s only in ensi ied. The e we e
only a ew p e-wa pa y membe s among he new employees, and only a hand ul o
he new employees we e in ol ed in he esis ance mo emen du ing Wo ld Wa II.
Simila ly, he e we e no o me membe s o he Social Democ a ic Pa y among
he new employees. As a as o iginal oca ions a e conce ned, in bo h o he moni-
o ed egions, a as majo i y o new employees ep esen ed wo ke s. Especially in
Os a a, he di e ence be ween wo ke s and in elligen sia is s agge ing. The e o e,
he public p oclama ions o wo ke s aking he s age in he pa y appa a us du ing
78 This is he numbe o egula ly employed poli ical employees. The numbe o he sys em-
a ized posi ions was highe . In České Budějo ice, his was 62 poli ical employees, in Os a-
a i was 78.
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TOMáš HEMza 73
he pe iod o “agg a a ion o class s uggle” ha e p o en o be ue in p ac ice.This is
also e idenced by he wo ollowing ables. These ep esen he pe cen age sha e o
wo ke s and pos -wa pa y membe s among poli ical employees.
able 13 — The pe cen age sha e o wo ke s among poli ical employees
Wo ke s 1948 1949 1950 1951
České Budějo ice 27.8% 28.6% 39.7% 54.4%
Os a a 35.5% 53.5% 56.7% 67.2%
able 14 — The pe cen age sha e o pos -wa pa y membe s among poli ical employees
KSČ 1945–1947 1948 1949 1950 1951
České Budějo ice 61.1% 78.6% 86.2% 92.9%
Os a a 38.7% 70.7% 67.6% 85.1%
We can summa ize he pe sonal changes in České Budějo ice egion o Oc obe 19,
1951, when he Poli bu o a i ied he new pe sonnel sys ema iza ion o he egional
pa y appa a us.79 Along wi h he sys ema iza ion, a pe sonnel s uc u e o he appa-
a us was app o ed. The o al numbe o poli ical employees dec eased om 58 peo-
ple in July 195080 o 57 in au umn o 1951. Compa ing he pe sonnel s uc u e, we ind
ha om he o iginal 58 employees emained only 14. Simila ly sweeping pe sonal
changes happened in he egional appa a us in Os a a. The o al numbe o poli i-
cal employees dec eased om 102 people in Decembe 1950 o 67 on Oc obe 28, 1951.
F om he o iginal 102 people, only 21 poli ical employees emained. The es ha e le
he pa y appa a us.
Compa ing he pe sonal s uc u e o he pa y appa a us in Ma ch 1948 and Oc o-
be 1951, we ind ha only i e o he o iginal poli ical employees emained in Os a a.
In České Budějo ice, he e was only one employee le o hose who wo ked in he e-
gional appa a us in Ap il 1948. The las h ee ables, he e o e, compa e he end esul
o he pe sonal s uc u e o egional commi ees in České Budějo ice and Os a a in
1951. The ends o p e ious yea s a e s ill immedia ely appa en and a e addi ionally
exace ba ed in 1951 by he inne pu ge he Pa y unde wen . Dominan posi ion was
held by young wo ke s who joined he Pa y a e Wo ld Wa II. Mos o hese people
became p o essional poli ical employees a e Feb ua y 1948. Some o hese employ-
ees wo ked on a coun y le el be o e joining he egional appa a us. Majo i y o hese
employees, howe e , we e common wo ke s wi hou any poli ical expe ience, who
only wen h ough a b ie aining in one o he pa y schools be o e joining he e-
gional appa a us.
79 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 72, pp. 658–664, PKV mee ing 18.10.1951.
80 SOA Třeboň, . KSČ-JKV České Budějo ice, ile 424, pp. 148–172.
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74 WISOHIM/ESHP 23
able 15 — Poli ical employees, 1951, Yea o bi h
Yea o bi h be o e 1899 1900–1909 1910–1919 1920–1929 a e 1930 unknown
České Budějo ice 0 2 26 27 2 0
Os a a 3 13 18 28 0 5
To al 3 15 44 55 2 5
able 16 — Poli ical employees, 1951, Yea o joining he Pa y
Joined he Pa y 1921–1938 1939–1944 1945–1947 1948 unknown
České Budějo ice 2 2 53 0 0
Os a a 7 0 57 0 3
To al 9 2 110 0 3
able 17 — Poli ical employees, 1951, O iginal oca ion
Voca ion Wo ke O he In elligen sia Fa me unknown
České Budějo ice 31 11 15 0 0
Os a a 45 11 8 0 3
To al 76 22 23 0 3
SUMMARY
The s udy had wo basic goals. The i s was o desc ibe he basic de e minan s im-
pac ing he o ganiza ional s uc u e o he pa y appa a us on a egional le el.
The second aim was o desc ibe he pe sonal s uc u e o h ee egional pa y appa-
a uses based on he collec i e biog aphy me hod.
Un il Feb ua y 1948, egional pa y o ganiza ions s uggled wi h a undamen al
lack o inancial esou ces and he e o e could only a o d o employ a limi ed num-
be o poli ical employees. F om an o ganiza ional s andpoin , he pa y appa a us
wasn’ di ided in o indi idual specialized depa men s. Ra he , each employee was
esponsible o a ce ain poli ical, o ganiza ional o economic segmen . A e Feb-
ua y 1948, all h ee moni o ed pa y appa a us unde wen a massi e inc ease in
he numbe o poli ical employees. A he same ime, he pa y appa a us was o ga-
nized in o specialized depa men s. The lack o unds con inued o be a signi ican
ac o . I s main impac s we e low sala ies and esul ing high a es o luc ua ions.
As a as pe sonal s uc u e is conce ned, in he i s h ee yea s a e he wa ,
a signi ican pa o poli ical pe sonnel consis ed o p e-wa pa y membe s, who
we e also la gely in ol ed in he an i-Nazi esis ance mo emen . These expe ienced
pa y membe s almos exclusi ely held leade ship posi ions in egional pa y o gani-
za ions. A e 1948, howe e , many o hem le o o he posi ions and hei aca ed
pos s we e g adually s a ed by younge employees, mos ly pos -wa pa y membe s.
E en despi e he high pe sonal luc ua ion a e, a e 1948 a new no able end has
eme ged — new poli ical employees we e ec ui ed om he anks o young wo ke s
wi hou poli ical expe ience. A e he inne pa y pu ge in 1951, hese young poli i-
cal employees con olled egional pa y appa a uses no only by shee numbe s, bu
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TOMáš HEMza 75
also by holding leade ship posi ions. The e o e, we can conclude ha by he end o
1951, he pa y appa a us wi hin he wo moni o ed egional commi ees o he Com-
munis Pa y o Czechoslo akia was s a ed mainly by young wo ke s wi h no only
negligible poli ical expe iences, bu also no wo k expe ience conce ning leade ship
posi ions. They also comple ely lacked any kind o highe educa ion, which was in-
s ead subs i u ed by a quick aining in he basic S alinis dogmas in any poli ical
pa y school.
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