Museum of Communist Terror

03/08/2026

The groundwork for the collapse of communism was already there. The economic failure was obvious. But one other element was necessary. What was it?
Václav Bartuška, the Czech Ambassador in the U.K., was a student leader in the Velvet Revolution which overthrew communist rule in Czechoslovakia.
See here for the full interview: https://youtu.be/jlA0GLumiB4

27/07/2026

Toilet paper and bananas - what part did they play in the fall of communism? Václav Bartuška, currently Czech Ambassador in the U.K., says economic failure was a key reason why communism collapsed in Czechoslovakia. Full interview here: https://youtu.be/jlA0GLumiB4

20/07/2026

20/07/2026

📍 UPDATE ON THE MEMORIAL 🇪🇺✨
As many of you know, the Pan-European Memorial for the Victims of Totalitarianism will be situated at the iconic Esplanade Solidarność 1980, right in front of the European Parliament, the most important place in the European Quarter in Brussels.
But the Esplanade is vast... where exactly will our common monument stand? Today, we are thrilled to share new details! 📢
📍 Located in the Southern Part, Right Next to Gare de Luxembourg
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The Memorial will be positioned in the southern section of the Esplanade, right next to the entrance of Gare de Luxembourg.
Here is why this spot is the ideal location for our initial common monument for all Europeans:
🏛️ This area is already a recognised hub of remembrance and serves important commemorative functions, making it a natural home for a monument honouring our collective history.
🚶‍♂️Thousands of Europeans pass through this bustling station and Esplanade every single day; it is truly in the heart of daily European life.
🌿 This location allows for a dignified commemoration while ensuring the Memorial stays vibrant and full of life—surrounded by tourists, workers, and visitors.
🤝 Placing our monument here creates a continuous reminder of the cost of freedom right at the doorstep of European democracy; it will be a shared landmark for democratic values.
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👇 Join us in honouring the past and strengthening Europe's future!
Learn more about the Memorial project and follow our updates at 👉 memorialbrussels.eu

20/07/2026

Václav Bartuška, currently the Czech Ambassador in the U.K., was arrested and imprisoned under communism in Czechoslovakia. Here he makes a plea for valuing and keeping democratic rule. In the full interview, he gives his view on why communism in Europe collapsed: https://youtu.be/jlA0GLumiB4

01/07/2026

Václav Bartuška was there. He was beaten, arrested, interrogated at length. He was a student leader in the Velvet Revolution in Prague, 1989. He was on a committee that dismissed thousands of secret police agents. His story.

Václav Bartuška was a student leader in the thick of the Velvet Rev...

23/06/2026

For anyone interested in the history of communist China, this interview with Professor Frank Dikotter is essential viewing.

Hoover Institution senior fellow Frank Dikötter dismantles decades ...

09/06/2026

The killing of nine men at this mine in 1981 was an important step on the road to the fall of the communist regime in Poland. 800,000 out of 2.5m members of the United Workers Party showed their disgust by tearing up their party cards. The killings galvanised support for the clandestine operations of the banned Solidarity Trade Union. Protests and commemorative actions took place across Poland. You can visit the museum about the strike and communism in Poland in the nearby Silesian Freedom and Solidarity Centre.

03/06/2026

Our director, James Bartholomew, took part in a panel session at this conference in Poland.

20/05/2026

Communist regimes have usually despised and persecuted religions and yet they have been similar to religions themselves. The preservation of the bodily remains of their "saints" is a prime example.