Pavel Landovsky: Confessions of a Child Killer
Pavel Landovský: A Life Marked by War Trauma and Dissidence
Actor Pavel Landovský carried a profound secret for decades: at age nine, he fired a machine gun at retreating SS soldiers during the final days of World War II, an event that haunted him throughout his life. This revelation, shared with journalist Karel Hvížďala in the book Soukromá vzpoura (Private Revolt), underscores a life defined by both trauma and courageous opposition to totalitarian regimes.
The Incident in 1945
In 1945, Landovský recounted to Hvížďala being invited by a Russian soldier into a machine gun nest. Speaking Russian surprised the soldier,leading to an invitation to join him. As Landovský described it, a group of approximately fifteen SS soldiers emerged from the woods. The soldier handed him the machine gun and instructed him to fire. Landovský, a child at the time, participated in the shooting, later realizing he had likely killed several people. He confessed to Hvížďala, “I was nine years old.It wasn’t until I was about fifteen that it dawned on me that I had probably killed several of those people there, that I was probably a murderer too.”
A Trauma Never Fully Addressed
the event became a deeply buried trauma for landovský, one he largely avoided discussing. according to Hvížďala, writing for idnes.cz,hvížďala was struck by Landovský’s silence after initially revealing the story,and friends later confirmed he consistently deflected any attempts to revisit the experience. This suggests a lasting sense of guilt and psychological distress stemming from the wartime incident, despite his young age at the time.
Landovský’s Opposition to Communism and Exile
As an adult, Pavel Landovský became a prominent figure in the fight against the communist regime in czechoslovakia. He was a signatory of Charter 77,a human rights initiative,and a close friend of Václav Havel,with whom he collaborated in the theater. His involvement in the dissident movement led to professional bans, interrogations, and physical assaults by the StB, the czechoslovak secret police.
Brutal Assault by the StB
Shortly before 1980, Landovský suffered a severe leg injury during a brutal attack by a member of the StB. He described the sound of his leg breaking like a twig.The injury never fully healed, leaving him with a pronounced limp for the rest of his life. Following this incident, Landovský emigrated to Austria, where he continued his acting career and where the interview Soukromá vzpoura took place in 1986, offering a candid account of his wartime trauma.
Continued Civic Engagement
After returning to Czechoslovakia following the Velvet Revolution, Landovský resumed his work in film and theater, appearing in productions like Černé barony (Black Barons) and Vratné lahve (Returnable Bottles). He remained actively engaged in public debate, offering critical commentary on political and social issues, and frequently voiced his disapproval of President Miloš Zeman, lamenting what he perceived as a lack of courage and humor in Czech society.
Pavel Landovský: A Life Marked by War Trauma and Dissidence
Actor Pavel Landovský carried a profound secret and a lasting trauma from childhood: at age nine, during World War II, he fired a machine gun at advancing soldiers, believing them to be enemies. This event, revealed in a shocking confession to journalist Karel Hvížďala, haunted him throughout his life and shaped his outspoken opposition to authoritarianism.
The Weight of a Childhood Act
Landovský recounted to Hvížďala how a Russian soldier invited him to operate a machine gun in 1945. He described a group of approximately fifteen soldiers approaching from the woods, who he later identified as members of the SS. According to Landovský’s account, as detailed in the book Soukromá vzpoura (Private Revolt), he fired upon them at the soldier’s instruction. He later grappled with the realization that he had likely killed people,confessing,”I was nine years old. Only around the age of fifteen did it dawn on me that I probably killed several of those people there, that I was, therefore, probably also a murderer.”
A Trauma Kept Hidden
Hvížďala reported that he was stunned by Landovský’s revelation and found himself unable to immediately respond. According to iDnes.cz, Landovský quickly changed the subject and never revisited the topic during their conversation. Friends later confirmed that he consistently avoided discussing the incident, even in private.
Brutal Assault by the StB
In the years before 1980, Landovský suffered a severe leg injury during a brutal attack by a member of the Czechoslovak State Security (StB). He described the sensation as a snapping sound, similar to a breaking branch. the injury never fully healed, leaving him with a pronounced limp for the rest of his life. This attack occurred amidst his active opposition to the communist regime.
Exile, Charter 77, and Friendship with Havel
Landovský became a prominent voice against the communist regime, signing Charter 77, a human rights initiative, and forming a close friendship with Václav Havel. His involvement in the dissident movement led to professional bans, interrogations, and physical assaults. Following emigration to austria, he continued his acting career and openly addressed his wartime trauma in the 1986 interview published as Soukromá vzpoura, wich became a significant document of the exile experience.
Continued Civic Engagement
After returning from exile, Landovský resumed his work in film and theater, appearing in productions like Černé barony (Black Barons) and Vratné lahve (Returnable Bottles). Though he appeared less frequently on camera in his later years, he remained active in public debates, offering sharp commentary on political and social issues. He was a vocal critic of President Miloš Zeman, repeatedly expressing his belief that Czech society lacked courage and humor.