“My immediate experience came later on. In the autumn. Yes, in autumn when everything was already harvested and a clover lining had risen up around the cowshed so beautifully. Wonderfully, really impressively. It was a wonderful surprise. And one day when I went to work I was unhappily surprised because an entire convoy had planted itself there, an army convoy. I don’t know what it was, it didn’t have any cannons or whatever, some sort of transport vehicles. The whole place was rutty. And I ended up getting in some conflict with the regional secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia who was trying to smooth things over somehow, because I firmly demanded reimbursement. They promised that we would get seed from them so we would be able to sow again. So, there was a conflict, but it nothing was to come of it.”
“So it was really then the only way, the system of the scheduling of supplies. Or, the scheduling of the plan. Thus, when a region was required to grow flax, they scheduled it at every association, regardless, I might sound a bit excited here, regardless if anyone had even considered if flax would grow there in the first place. Here that cadastre or agricultural district of the JZD (United Agricultural Association) is on a relatively big slope. So planting sugar beets there was a big problem. You could do it, but it had to be connected to a ton of manual labor. It wasn’t even easy to harvest cereals there. It was a combine harvest, and it was only on selected plots where those combine drivers had the guts to go to, because at that time combines were really rare machines. They were those Soviet SK3s, and then came the SK4s. Compared to the colossuses of today I would say that they were quite funny machines. Yeah, but they helped a lot. Anyway, we also harvested often with self-binders.”
“My exit-exams went really well. Actually, I was one the best in the year from the four classes they tested. But I was told immediately that university studies were not for me. No university.”
“Did they inform you of this in some document?”
“Well, I don’t exactly know if I have it at home. But, in any case, I have a letter at home which the entire exam commission signed, including the director of the school, where, I would say that they had probably put in a good word for me to the regional national committee that decided on the matter. Well, it didn’t help at all. So, I was told that I would have to get to know the working class.”
Ladislav Šupka was born on 15 August 1940 in Uherské Hradiště to the family of the builder Ladislav Šupka and the schoolteacher Květoslava Šupková. When he was five years old, Soviet artillery units struck his house with a shell during liberation. The Šupka family lived on the very edge of the city and they had poplar trees planted around there garden, which the liberators later used for hiding artillery batteries underneath. Then the soldiers stayed with the family for some time. After the Victorious February in 1948, his father’s construction company was nationalized. During his studies at the Eleven-Year Secondary School of Uherské Hradiště, Ladislav Šupka had to part with two friends who in 1956 criticized the bloody Soviet crackdown on the Hungarian Revolution. Due to his class background he was not accepted to study medicine. However, he did receive the opportunity to study at the Economic Department of Mendel University in Brno. When he wanted to apply for a position in the student government body there, the party commission reacted assuring him in a statement that he should be grateful that they had not expelled him from the school. After military service, he entered work in 1965 at the United Agricultural Association (JZD) in Újezdec u Luhačovic as an agronomist. Here he met with the absurdity of the regime in practice, one which in order to fulfill their plan sowed seeds in places where there were not suitable conditions for growing. Despite all of the bad experiences, he joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1965. He was captivated by the reform ideas of the nineteen-sixties and he looked forward to being able to change the party from within. Soon came the day of 21 August 1968. While taking part in the screenings that followed, Ladislav Šupka expressed his disagreement with the Soviet occupation, and thus was kicked out of the party. In 1971 he transferred to Bystřice, where he successfully contributed to the preparation of the sowing plan during the merging of smaller agricultural associations. The management informed him however that as soon as they found a better suited expert, he would have to give up the position. He decided to quit himself and starting in 1975 he worked for the Agrochemical Company of Staré Město by Uherské Hradiště, where he stayed until 1990. During the Velvet Revolution he became involved in the activities of the Civic Forum of Uherské Hradiště and during some changes in the personnel of the city’s National Committee he was offered to join as vice chairman. In 1990 he became the mayor of Uherské Hradiště. He served in this function for two years, and spent the rest of his years till retirement in the municipal-level government.
One of the last Corpus Christi processions (1954). In the photograph are pictured Ladislav Šupka a Petr Hrobař with the censer Karel Barták (later to be persecuted in his spheres of activity to come).
One of the last Corpus Christi processions (1954). In the photograph are pictured Ladislav Šupka a Petr Hrobař with the censer Karel Barták (later to be persecuted in his spheres of activity to come).
Ladislav Šupka in the laboratory of the Institute of Soil Science and Climatology of the VŠZ (University of Agriculture), where he assisted with scientific work for four years.
Ladislav Šupka in the laboratory of the Institute of Soil Science and Climatology of the VŠZ (University of Agriculture), where he assisted with scientific work for four years.
In 1975–1989 he took part in the Car-orienteering contests as a navigator. Here as the champion of the South Moravian Region along with Ladislav Indra, later with František Martinák, of the second, and for one season the first, performance class.
In 1975–1989 he took part in the Car-orienteering contests as a navigator. Here as the champion of the South Moravian Region along with Ladislav Indra, later with František Martinák, of the second, and for one season the first, performance class.
Motorsport Club Staré Město organized regular Car-orienteering in Chřiby. For many years the witness was the author of itineraries. In the photograph he is a participant in a children’s competition with his son Tomáš.
Motorsport Club Staré Město organized regular Car-orienteering in Chřiby. For many years the witness was the author of itineraries. In the photograph he is a participant in a children’s competition with his son Tomáš.
In the 1980s Ladislav Šupka served as the director of the Department of Specialized Services of the Agrochemical Company in Uherské Hradiště – Staré Město (an agricultural lab technician, consultancy in the nutrition of plants and animals, in the conservation of plants, the organization of Comprehensive Land Surveys).
In the 1980s Ladislav Šupka served as the director of the Department of Specialized Services of the Agrochemical Company in Uherské Hradiště – Staré Město (an agricultural lab technician, consultancy in the nutrition of plants and animals, in the conservation of plants, the organization of Comprehensive Land Surveys).
Home in the garden – in the back row from the left is his sister Aranka, mother Květoslava, Ladislav Šupka himself, and his father Ladislav, his wife Marcela, uncle Bohumil Šupka; in front is his mother-in-law Irma Harnachová with her daughter Kateřina and his aunt Emile Šupková (1980).
Home in the garden – in the back row from the left is his sister Aranka, mother Květoslava, Ladislav Šupka himself, and his father Ladislav, his wife Marcela, uncle Bohumil Šupka; in front is his mother-in-law Irma Harnachová with her daughter Kateřina and his aunt Emile Šupková (1980).
In 1991 the Academic Pipe Club was formed in Uh. Hradiště. Here the founding members after the opening of the exhibition entitled Vášeň zvaná dýmka (Passion called the Pipe): PhDr. Svatopluk Bimka, the director of the cultural department at the regional office, PhDr. Ivo Frolec, the director of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia, Ladislav Šupka, the mayor JUDr. Ivan Gavanda, a notary in Uh. Hradiště.
In 1991 the Academic Pipe Club was formed in Uh. Hradiště. Here the founding members after the opening of the exhibition entitled Vášeň zvaná dýmka (Passion called the Pipe): PhDr. Svatopluk Bimka, the director of the cultural department at the regional office, PhDr. Ivo Frolec, the director of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia, Ladislav Šupka, the mayor JUDr. Ivan Gavanda, a notary in Uh. Hradiště.
In June 1993 the city of UH awarded the world-class pianist Rudolf Firkušný honorable citizenship. He received an artwork by Ida Vaculková (pictured), an excellent ceramicist from Uherské Hradiště.
In June 1993 the city of UH awarded the world-class pianist Rudolf Firkušný honorable citizenship. He received an artwork by Ida Vaculková (pictured), an excellent ceramicist from Uherské Hradiště.
The witness’s contact with the city Mayen (Rheinland-Pfalz, MKD) dates back to 1992. In 1994 a contract was signed together with the city mayor Günter Laux on partnership at the town hall in Mayen.
The witness’s contact with the city Mayen (Rheinland-Pfalz, MKD) dates back to 1992. In 1994 a contract was signed together with the city mayor Günter Laux on partnership at the town hall in Mayen.
Senate President Petr Pithart at the town hall in UH in October 1997 during deliberations concerning flood damages. On the left is Ing. Jaroslav Hrabec, director of the department of the environment of the Regional Office of in Uherské Hradiště.
Senate President Petr Pithart at the town hall in UH in October 1997 during deliberations concerning flood damages. On the left is Ing. Jaroslav Hrabec, director of the department of the environment of the Regional Office of in Uherské Hradiště.
Visit of President Václav Havel on 29 September 1999 in Uherské Hradiště on the occasion of the international scientific congress Velká Morava mezi východem a západem (Great Moravia between the East and West). The president had a reception on Masaryk Square, followed by a walk through the city to the Gallery of Fine Art of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia.
Visit of President Václav Havel on 29 September 1999 in Uherské Hradiště on the occasion of the international scientific congress Velká Morava mezi východem a západem (Great Moravia between the East and West). The president had a reception on Masaryk Square, followed by a walk through the city to the Gallery of Fine Art of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia.
Ladislav Šupka in the Spanish Hall in the year 2000. On the occasion of the International Memorial Day he received an honorable recognition for his care of the city’s historic area. Deputy of the Ministry of Culture, Ing. Zdeněk Novák, is holding the microphone.
Ladislav Šupka in the Spanish Hall in the year 2000. On the occasion of the International Memorial Day he received an honorable recognition for his care of the city’s historic area. Deputy of the Ministry of Culture, Ing. Zdeněk Novák, is holding the microphone.
The grand opening of the city’s athletic stadium on 20 September 2002, with the participation of Dana Zátopková. On the left is the Deputy Mayor, Květoslav Tichavský.
The grand opening of the city’s athletic stadium on 20 September 2002, with the participation of Dana Zátopková. On the left is the Deputy Mayor, Květoslav Tichavský.
From 2002 to 2014 he organized the yearly bike trips of the Academic Pipe Club – the so-called Fajkatour (Pipe-Tour). Here before the start of one in 2009.
From 2002 to 2014 he organized the yearly bike trips of the Academic Pipe Club – the so-called Fajkatour (Pipe-Tour). Here before the start of one in 2009.
In 2005 Ladislav Šupka, along with some his friends, founded the Museum Society in Uherské Hradiště. The picture is from a plenary session in 2010, behind the table are members of the presidium: Ing. Jiří Deml, emeritus mayor of Kunovice, Ing. Hana Zemanová, Ing. Jan Slezák, an employee of the Memorial Institute, PhDr. Blanka Rašticová, a historian from the Museum of Moravian Slovakia.
In 2005 Ladislav Šupka, along with some his friends, founded the Museum Society in Uherské Hradiště. The picture is from a plenary session in 2010, behind the table are members of the presidium: Ing. Jiří Deml, emeritus mayor of Kunovice, Ing. Hana Zemanová, Ing. Jan Slezák, an employee of the Memorial Institute, PhDr. Blanka Rašticová, a historian from the Museum of Moravian Slovakia.
Hrdinové 20. století odcházejí. Nesmíme zapomenout. Dokumentujeme a vyprávíme jejich příběhy. Záleží vám na odkazu minulých generací, na občanských postojích, demokracii a vzdělávání? Pomozte nám!
