Mock death notice for Austria-Hungary, Prague, 28 October 1918
A black-bordered Czech death notice (parte) announcing, in the voice of 'rejoicing citizens', the death of 'Austria-Hungary', hated by all nations, which expired with the proclamation of the Czechoslovak state on 28 October 1918 after 300 years of its 'claws'. Above the title sits the double-headed eagle; a footer says the sheet is 'in aid of the Czechoslovak Legions'. The tell is the borrowed funeral form used to ridicule the fallen state.
- Date
- October 28, 1918
- Period
- Interwar
- Made by
- Unnamed Prague printers' sheet signed 'Plesající občané' (Rejoicing citizens), sold for the Czechoslovak Legions
- Country
- Czechoslovakia
- Medium
- Leaflet
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- Leader
- Karel Kramar
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Commemorate
- Techniques
- Name-calling
- Source
- Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
- Source
- National Museum, Prague (Historical Museum), via eSbírky.cz and Europeana, retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (published 1918, anonymous); museum also states CC BY 4.0
National Museum, Prague (Historical Museum), eSbírky.cz record 3514613. Published 28 October 1918 (before 1931), anonymous; the museum additionally states CC BY 4.0 for the digital record.
Text on the object
Poslední [illegible; printed beside the eagle] [double-headed eagle] [illegible] radostí jati oznamujeme všem českým občanům, že zalíbilo se všemohoucí spravedlnosti světské k nemístnému žalu všech [illegible] a přívrženců československého národa, povolati k sobě všemi národy nenáviděné Rakousko-Uhersko Dokonalo vyhlášením československého státu v pondělí 28. října 1918 k velké radosti nás všech, kteří jsme úpěli po 300 let pod jeho pařáty. Pohřbeno bylo slavnostně i se všemi znaky svými a orly, které ze svých sídel odstraněny byly a budou sníti o své pošlé slávě. Děkovné projevy následovati budou, až se ustálejí naše mysle. V PRAZE 1. den československé republiky, t. j. 28. října 1918. Plesající občané. Soustrastné projevy »věrných« spojenců se s díky odmítají. Ve prospěch Československých legií.
Last [illegible; printed beside the eagle] [double-headed eagle] [illegible] joy seized, we announce to all Czech citizens that it pleased all-powerful worldly justice, to the improper grief of all [illegible] and adherents of the Czechoslovak nation, to call to itself, hated by all nations, Austria-Hungary It expired with the proclamation of the Czechoslovak state on Monday 28 October 1918, to the great joy of all of us who had groaned for 300 years under its claws. It was buried solemnly, with all its emblems and eagles, which were removed from their seats and will dream of their lost glory. Thanks will follow once our minds have settled. IN PRAGUE, 1st day of the Czechoslovak Republic, i.e. 28 October 1918. Rejoicing citizens. Condolences from the 'faithful' allies are declined with thanks. In aid of the Czechoslovak Legions.
Read from a 3x enlargement of the 400 px image; the large type is clear, the small type partly. The opening words of the first paragraph, one noun in its second line and the words beside the eagle are not legible and are marked. From 'Rakousko-Uhersko dokonalo' onward the text agrees with the quotation in the museum's catalogue description. The printer's imprint at the left edge is omitted.
