The liberation of Klatovy

On 5 May, 1945, an anti-German uprising broke out in Klatovy. František Wiendl became involved in it and he and his friends disarmed the German garrison on the hill “Hůrka.” The Wehrmacht soldiers didn't put up a fight anymore – they let the insurgents disarm them and awaited the arrival of the Americans to whom they handed over the official surrender note. A rather more dramatic situation took place in the city center when German fanatics opened fire from the NSDAP headquarters and killed several people. Ironically, they were pacified by the Wehrmacht. At the time of the arrival of the Americans in Klatovy, there was no more fighting taking place in the city. It was a moment for the negotiations on the surrender of the Germans. The first American tanks rolled into the main square on May 5 around 9 p.m., greeted by the enthusiastic citizens of Klatovy. Wiendl first met with the U.S. Army at the Klatovy Scout building: “Behind every tank, there marched a unit of Americans. The street was full of people. The lilacs were in full blossom that day and so the people were throwing them on the American soldiers. It was a wonderful, wonderful moment that you never forget.”