There’s a popular—though misleading—opinion circulating among some Poles: that Czechs are essentially “little Germans” and that the Czech Republic as an independent state has never truly existed. While it may sound fringe, it’s not as rare belief as one might hope.
In Episode 69 of the Czechostacja podcast Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska together with Jakub Medek explore the long and complex relationship between the Czech lands and their neighbors over the span of more than a thousand years.
This is not a conversation full of easy answers. Even the modern concept of what it means to be “German” doesn’t fit neatly into Czech history. Historical political entities and modern national analogies simply don’t hold up under scrutiny. The topic is tangled, layered, and fascinating because of it.
Discussion spans the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburgs, and why Jan Žižka was seen as a hero by 19th-century Germans. If you’re looking for a story that challenges national myths and digs deep into Central European history, this episode is for you.
Link to the podcast you can find here.