The Slansky Trial, Czechoslovakia, 1952

In November, 1952, major Communists in Czechoslovakia were tried on charges of treason and espionage. Out of 14 people found guilty, 11 of them were Jewish. Most of the guilty men were hanged, although a few were sent to prison. This trial is frequently mentioned by Jewish writers and filmmakers, especially in Europe, due to the high percentage of Jews 'persecuted' in that trial. Indeed, one writer said that the Slansky Trial had "anti-Semitic overtones."

We find it ironic that, not only did Nazi Germany purge its Jews, but so did some Communist regimes, although admittedly to a lesser degree.

The men tried for treason and espionage in the Slansky Trial included:

-- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia Rudolf Slansky [real name Salzmann]

-- Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Clementis

-- Central Party Committee department for foreign affairs head Bedrzhikh Geminder

-- Editor-in-Chief of "Rude Pravo" newspaper Andre Simon

-- Rudolf Margolius, ex-deputy minister of foreign trade

-- Ota Sling, leader of Communist Party in Moravia

-- Deputy Defense Minister Bedrzhikh Raitsin

-- other major government officials

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