Otakar Batlička

Lore & Background

Batlička was born in Vinohrady, Prague. In his early adult years, he traveled around the world, probably from 1914 to 1920. After returning to Prague, he was active in many areas: in the 1920s he took part in motorcycle races and experimented with electricity. In 1932 he registered as an amateur radio operator and constructed his own transmitter, which he presented at exhibitions and lectures while working for the Prague tram network.

After the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, Batlička joined Obrana Národa. As a radio operator, he communicated with Moscow. At the same time, he began writing semi-autobiographical adventure stories for young people for the magazine Mladý hlasatel (Young Announcer), based on his travels. He wrote more than 150 stories, supplementing his own experiences with stories of people he met.

He was arrested by the Gestapo on 14 October 1941, interrogated in the Petschek Palace, and transferred to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, eventually ending in Mauthausen-Gusen. He died there on 13 February 1942, probably killed by Eduard Krebsbach. After the war, he was awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 in memoriam.

Reader's Guide

Batlička's significance lies in his dual role as a ham radio operator and resistance communicator during the Nazi occupation. His amateur radio skills allowed him to establish contact with Moscow for Obrana Národa, making him a vital link in the Czech resistance. His legacy also includes his prolific writing: over 150 semi-autobiographical adventure stories published in Mladý hlasatel, which drew on his world travels and encounters. These stories reached a young audience and preserved elements of his experiences. After his death in Mauthausen-Gusen, he was honored with the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 in memoriam. His life and work have been promoted by the mystificator Petr Sadecký, creator of Octobriana, who is responsible for many myths surrounding Batlička. This mythologizing has sometimes obscured the factual record, but his contributions as a radio operator and storyteller remain documented.

Did You Know?

• Batlička constructed his own amateur radio transmitter and presented it at exhibitions and lectures.
• He wrote more than 150 semi-autobiographical adventure stories for the magazine Mladý hlasatel.
• He was arrested by the Gestapo on 14 October 1941 and died in Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp.
• His life and work were later promoted by Petr Sadecký, the creator of Octobriana, who generated many myths about him.