Oldřich Plajner

“As a matter of fact, Junák was about to merge with the Socialist Union of Youth. Under its influence – and other things – my father being Junák’s head chief put his name under this merger even if it was against his conviction. First of all, he was outvoted and second, he was given an option to either sign the merger or to face Junák being proclaimed a counter-state organization and its adult members being treated accordingly. Had he not signed Junák’s merger, he would have exposed some 1 500 Junák’s officials of age to persecution and disgrace.”

“At one point a colleague of mine – an eminent communist who knew Rudolf Slánský – took pity on poor Plajner, my persistent refusal, and all the misunderstandings that arose out of it. Allegedly she said at some meeting: ‘Please, can you leave finally leave Plajner at peace – he is a decent person.’ That of course amused me in many ways. First of all because they really gave me rest with the party application and second, that she implied that decent people had no place in the Party. I was fully content with the result.”