The Culture and Education of the Czechs in Eastern (Soviet) Volhynia in the Years 1921 –1941

Abstract

The implementation of the “socialist cultural revolution” was part of the Bolshevik monopoly of power. This “revolution” was intended to elevate the overall cultural standard of the population, particularly in the countryside. The Bolshevik regime established a Czechoslovak section at the Governorate Department of People’s Education in Žytomyr to manage cultural work among the Volhynia Czechs, which established a reading room where the Bolshevik press and Marxist literature could be studied, as well as singing, drama, natural science and atheistic groups. The Czechs endeavoured to revive their cultural activities that had been interrupted by the events of war at their settlements. The best results were achieved by amateur dramatics.