Tracks of History : a historical narrative analysis on the memory of the First World War and creation of the Czechoslovak state in the 21st Century Czech Republic
(2024) HISS33 20241History
- Abstract
- The following thesis is an attempt to analyse the concept of narrative in and around retellings of the events surrounding Czechoslovakia during the First World War and how they are subsequently depicted. This is done by primarily looking at three primary source materials: in English Czech historiography from the past 20 years, an autobiography from WWI and a modern video game on the same subject. All these cover in greater or lesser capacity WWI and the Czechoslovak Legion who played a crucial role in Czech history as well as historic memory and the subsequent creation of Czechoslovakia. WWI played an important role as it set the stage that allowed the Czech independence movement to gain momentum and the Legions’ contribution in the war... (More)
- The following thesis is an attempt to analyse the concept of narrative in and around retellings of the events surrounding Czechoslovakia during the First World War and how they are subsequently depicted. This is done by primarily looking at three primary source materials: in English Czech historiography from the past 20 years, an autobiography from WWI and a modern video game on the same subject. All these cover in greater or lesser capacity WWI and the Czechoslovak Legion who played a crucial role in Czech history as well as historic memory and the subsequent creation of Czechoslovakia. WWI played an important role as it set the stage that allowed the Czech independence movement to gain momentum and the Legions’ contribution in the war gave the cause much needed prestige to work with during negotiations.
The three areas analysed provide a glimpse into how the history surrounding the war and independence has been used in different narratives during Czech history from independence following WWI, the communist regime post WWII, and the post-Velvet Revolution modern Czech state. This thesis in particular focuses on what these narratives are and how these used narratives affect observers and readers' understanding and perception of Czech history and involved events. Some of the results that came of this thesis might not on their own be considered surprising, but provides insight into how prevalent and entrenched certain narratives are and have been in society at large. Older narratives such as those present during the early Czechoslovak republic and later communist Czechoslovakia were much more active in using their shared history in, among other reasons, gaining legitimacy and support. The modern Czech state has up until recently been in a grey area and limbo-like state in regards to their past, especially so when it comes to the communist period and only just in the past few years have opened up to it. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9174502
- author
- Espelin, David LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- HISS33 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Czech, Czechoslovakia, Czech history, Czechoslovak Legion, WWI, communism, nationalism
- language
- English
- id
- 9174502
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-13 09:26:49
- date last changed
- 2024-09-13 09:26:49
@misc{9174502,
abstract = {{The following thesis is an attempt to analyse the concept of narrative in and around retellings of the events surrounding Czechoslovakia during the First World War and how they are subsequently depicted. This is done by primarily looking at three primary source materials: in English Czech historiography from the past 20 years, an autobiography from WWI and a modern video game on the same subject. All these cover in greater or lesser capacity WWI and the Czechoslovak Legion who played a crucial role in Czech history as well as historic memory and the subsequent creation of Czechoslovakia. WWI played an important role as it set the stage that allowed the Czech independence movement to gain momentum and the Legions’ contribution in the war gave the cause much needed prestige to work with during negotiations.
The three areas analysed provide a glimpse into how the history surrounding the war and independence has been used in different narratives during Czech history from independence following WWI, the communist regime post WWII, and the post-Velvet Revolution modern Czech state. This thesis in particular focuses on what these narratives are and how these used narratives affect observers and readers' understanding and perception of Czech history and involved events. Some of the results that came of this thesis might not on their own be considered surprising, but provides insight into how prevalent and entrenched certain narratives are and have been in society at large. Older narratives such as those present during the early Czechoslovak republic and later communist Czechoslovakia were much more active in using their shared history in, among other reasons, gaining legitimacy and support. The modern Czech state has up until recently been in a grey area and limbo-like state in regards to their past, especially so when it comes to the communist period and only just in the past few years have opened up to it.}},
author = {{Espelin, David}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Tracks of History : a historical narrative analysis on the memory of the First World War and creation of the Czechoslovak state in the 21st Century Czech Republic}},
year = {{2024}},
}