49 Diplom pro Maffii

Jan Hálek

Pages	49–64
Citation	HÁLEK, Jan . 49 Diplom pro Maffii. Journal of the National Museum. History Series. Prague: National Museum, 2014, 183(1-2), 49–64. ISSN 1214-0627. Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/jotnmhs/183-1-2/49-diplom-pro-maffii

Journal of the National Museum. History Series | 2014/183/1-2

The aim of this study is to contribute to the issue of recognising and awarding the efforts of people participating in the home anti-Habsburg resistance movement which lead to the formation of independent Czechoslovakia. It also aims to widen the knowledge of the state of society during the First Republic period. The study is based on one specific example – the process of awarding members of the home resistance group called Maffie the Czechoslovakian revolution medal. The original intention of the former main leader of Maffie Přemysl Šámal, who served in the office of president’s chancellor from 1919, was to give an award signed by president Masaryk solely to “Members of Maffie”. The artistic author of the award was the painter Adolf Kašpar. It was printed, but probably due to the atmosphere in the First Republic society it has never been awarded. Participants of the home resistance finally received another form of recognition – the Czechoslovakian revolution medal. Unlike the award, which was intended only for members of Maffie, the medal was given to people, who “greatly contributed to the home revolutionary movement”. Explanation to this change is likely to be sought in the rivalry between members of home and foreign resistance over the contributions to the formation of the Republic in the early 1920s. In order to keep the situation stable it was advisable to award the home resistance as such without differentiating between “Maffie” and “the others”. The fact, that members of the resistance were in the end awarded the Czechoslovakian revolution medal, which was given by the minister of national defence instead of the president, might be perceived as the president’s effort to avoid being told that the award was given only to “his people” or to those politically exposed.

ISSN_1214-0627_1-2_2014_pp_49-64.pdf