Postwar Europe

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Film on Slánský trial: "The Confession" (French: "L'Aveu")


"The Confession (French: L'Aveu) is a 1970 French-Italian film directed by Costa Gavras and stars Yves Montand and Simone Signoret. It is based on the true story of the Czechoslovak communist Artur London, a defendant in the Slánský trial. Artur London, (1 February 1915 -- 8 November 1986), was a Czechoslovak communist politician and co-defendant in the Slánský Trial. He was born in Ostrava, Austria-Hungary to a Jewish family.In 1937, London went to fight in the Spanish Civil War as member of the International Brigade. He moved to France after the defeat of the Republicans and, during World War II, was arrested by the Nazis and sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp. After the war he lived in Switzerland but soon moved with family to Prague, where he became a leading figure in the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, and was eventually nominated deputy minister of foreign affairs in 1948. In 1951 he was arrested and became a co-defendant in the Slánský trial alongside Rudolf Slánský. London was accused of being a Zionist, Trotskyite and Titoist and was sentenced to life in prison."
Posted by admin at 26.10.11
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Newer Post Older Post Home
  • Home
  • Course description
  • Oral History bibliography

Contact:

email krysiulek at gmail dot com

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2011 (21)
    • ►  November (6)
    • ▼  October (11)
      • Assignment 7
      • Film on Slánský trial: "The Confession" (French: "...
      • Further reading: Stalinism
      • SME: "Štát sa vzdal vojnového zločinca Ladislava N...
      • Paul Robeson: Soviet anthem in English
      • Hitler in "Pravda", 19.10.2011 - new book
      • Churchill's "Iron Curtain Speech"
      • Assignment 6
      • Retribution in the news: NPR, 9 October 2011
      • Assignment 5
      • Assignment 4
    • ►  September (4)
Watermark theme. Powered by Blogger.