English Translation

P a l a c k ý s and the corresponding state philosophy M a s a r y k's. The teachers of the "right of the small nations", in particular the duty to maintain their self-esteem, were the focus of their educational work. In the establishment of the independent Czechoslovak state they saw the fulfilment of Czech history, in its preservation its essential task. This fundamental attitude was not affected by the fact that the individual body-education associations, especially under the Benesch system, were increasingly getting into democratic, humanitarian and Masonic waters. Characteristic of this attitude and goal of the Czech body education associations is a consideration of the largest organization of this area of life, the "Sokol": The first Czech Sokol community was founded in the year 19862 in Prague on the model and on the basis of J a h n'scher thought processes. Very soon it grew beyond the scope and importance of a pure gymnastics organization and became a political power factor not to be underestimated within the Czech people. The Sokol experienced a purely numerical upswing, especially after the Kriebe, and reached a membership of almost 8oo ooo before the assignment of the Sudeten German territories. After a separate publication from 1936, the Sokol owned about 2 o58 rented gymnasiums and 948 avoided gyms alone l lo7 own gyms, as well as l 132 own gymns. It also owns a large part of the Czech Könos. Its total capacity of movable and immovable eigtum is estimated at l6o o0o ooo crowns. As a pronounced popular organisation, he is a member of almost all Czech intelligence. According to the statistics mentioned above, he alone comprises 53% of teachers and professors in Bohemia and 59% in Moravia/Silesia. With the dissolution of the Czechoslovak Republic, the Sokol may have experienced a reduction of about 2 % in its membership. However, it is still regarded as a living expression of Czech peculiarity and strength in the Czech people today. -4-