In the context of the upcoming Easter holiday, today’s broadcast revisits the story of a unique initiative once observed in Czechoslovakia - the Easter Truce. Originally proposed by Alice Garrigue Masaryková in 1921, the truce encouraged public kindness, respectful dialogue, and civic reflection during the Easter period.
Romana Grajcarová explored the life and legacy of Alice Garrigue Masaryková in conversation with historian Dagmar Hájková and the President of the Czech Red Cross, Marek Jukl.
Alice Masarykova
Máte problém s prehrávaním? Nahláste nám chybu v prehrávači.
Alice Garrigue Masaryková was born on May 3, 1879, in Vienna, then part of Austria-Hungary, as the daughter of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who would later become the first president of Czechoslovakia.
Dagmar Hájková: Alice Masaryková grew up in a family where public service was a natural part of life. Her mother had a strong sense of social responsibility, and her father was deeply engaged in politics and public affairs. So, the interest in civic life and helping others was simply part of the family atmosphere. During her time in Slovakia, Alice encountered extreme poverty, which initially led her to study medicine. However, she left the programme after a short period—partly due to her nearsightedness, and partly because she didn’t feel welcome among her mostly male classmates, who often treated her with a sense of superiority.
Eventually, she turned to philosophy and history—much like her father—but her interest in social issues never faded. In 1906, when she was 27, she travelled to the United States and spent over a year in Chicago, working with an organisation that helped immigrants from Eastern Europe integrate into society. There, she became acquainted with modern approaches to social work in America, and later applied these skills—particularly after 1918—back in Czechoslovakia.
Dagmar Hájková: When World War I began in 1914, Alice spent her summers assisting the wounded, which shows just how committed she was to helping people. But the most important chapter came after the war, when President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk appointed her chairwoman of the Czechoslovak Red Cross.
Marek Jukl: Alice Garrigue Masaryková played a key role in establishing the Czechoslovak Red Cross. This was no small task, as it came at a time shortly after the collapse of Austria-Hungary and the creation of Czechoslovakia. The consequences of the First World War were still strongly felt, particularly in healthcare and social services.
You could hear the voice of Czech Red Cross president Marek Jukl explaining that before WWI, Slovakia had been part of the Kingdom of Hungary, where the government had paid minimal attention to health and social issues—far less than in the part of the monarchy that is now the Czech Republic. That’s why setting up a unified organization like the Czechoslovak Red Cross was both highly important and extremely difficult.
Marek Jukl: The Red Cross was organized into three divisions: Czech, Slovak, and Moravian-Silesian. These were further broken down into local branches. Much of their work focused on prevention—stopping the spread of infectious diseases such as typhoid, which were still common in Slovakia in the early 20th century. The Red Cross operated a medical train, which could respond directly to epidemic outbreaks. There was also a large network of public health counselling centers that people could visit, especially those who couldn’t afford regular medical care. At that time, only wealthier citizens had access to doctors, so this system made healthcare more accessible. Interestingly, the Red Cross also used mobile cinemas to show educational films about hygiene and health.
Dagmar Hájková: Slovakia held a deep emotional significance for Alice Masaryková. Her father was born near the Moravian-Slovak border, so her connection to the country felt entirely natural. A key moment in her life came in the late 1880s, when her family began spending holidays in the Slovak town of Martin. It was there that she became acquainted with members of the Slovak intellectual elite, including Elena Maróthy Šoltésová, chair of Živena.
Živena was the oldest women's rights organization in Slovakia and Elena Maróthy Šoltésová was its chair at the beginning of 20. century. Together with Alice Masaryková, both women played a pivotal role in establishing the Milan Rastislav Štefánik Institute in Martin. The building was constructed to serve as the headquarters of Živena’s women's schools, and was financially supported by the Czechoslovak Red Cross and the League of American Slovaks. These schools trained professionals in the fields of healthcare and social work, laying the foundation for medical education in Slovakia.
Dagmar Hájková: Alice Masaryková actively supported Živena’s initiatives, particularly by advocating for women's rights and assisting them in various areas of life. Živena’s mission closely aligned with that of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, so the two organizations often worked in synergy to promote social welfare and education.
Marek Jukl: Masaryková was also actively involved in the international temperance movement, even before founding the Red Cross. At that time, alcohol abuse was a serious social issue, especially among working-class people. Her activism wasn’t limited to Czechoslovakia—she participated in international initiatives as well. Under her leadership, the Red Cross included alcohol prevention in its educational programmes, highlighting both health and social risks. She even managed to persuade the Ministry of Education in Austria to include basic anti-alcohol education in school curricula.
One of Masaryková’s most lasting contributions is the Czechoslovak Red Cross Truce, known as Veľkonočný mier or Easter truce.
Dagmar Hájková: In 1921, Alice Masaryková proposed the idea of declaring three days of peace, during which people would treat one another with kindness, and journalists would refrain from publishing attacks or divisive content. Instead, they were encouraged to focus on constructive and positive topics that could help move the newly established state forward.
The entire Masaryk family was religious, and Easter carried strong symbolic meaning for them. For Alice Masaryková, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ held particular significance. This is likely one of the reasons she chose to link her peace initiative to the Easter period, drawing on its themes of renewal, compassion, and hope.
Dagmar Hájková: This initiative developed into a meaningful tradition known as the Easter Truce. Initially, it was commemorated through official events, such as performances at the National Theatre. Over time, the tradition expanded and gradually took on a more political dimension, becoming part of the broader public and civic discourse.
Marek Jukl: The initiative culminated each year on Holy Saturday, with speeches in the Czechoslovak Parliament attended by top officials, including Presidents Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and later Edvard Beneš. Leading up to the event, there were local gatherings, newspaper coverage, and radio programmes focused on the annual theme—whether it was honoring war victims or promoting compassion and decency in society.
As part of this three-day initiative, various lectures and activities for children were organized.
Dagmar Hájková: The idea was very constructive—to highlight the positive aspects of the new state and invite citizens to contribute to its development on all levels. It was also about promoting hygiene, proper nutrition, and moral values. All of these themes were included, as the Czechoslovak Red Cross at the time had a very broad and comprehensive agenda.
The international Red Cross took notice. In the 1930s, a special committee of the Red Cross League began discussing Masaryková’s idea. In 1938, just before WWII, the League recommended that national Red Cross societies adopt similar practices. The war interrupted these efforts, but after 1945 the tradition was revived.
Marek Jukl: Eventually, the International Red Cross Conference chose a date that would be observed globally as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day—May 8th, the birthday of Red Cross founder Henri Dunant. This date is not tied to any religious holiday, which made it more universally acceptable. It also gained significance as the day WWII ended in Europe. Since 1948, May 8 has been observed worldwide as World Red Cross Day, and the tradition continues to this day. This year’s theme is “Keeping Humanity Alive.”
As Easter approaches — a time that commemorates resurrection and renewal — we’ve explored how Alice Garrigue Masaryková sought to channel these very values into civic life. Through initiatives like the Easter Truce, she promoted public cooperation, social responsibility, and humanitarian ideals. Values whose importance remains just as relevant today as in the past.
