Masaryk's last secret: envelope is opened after 90 years!

Masaryk's last secret: envelope is opened after 90 years!

On September 19, 2025, a long-awaited sealed envelope will be opened at Lány Castle, which is said to contain the last words of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia. The envelope is marked "Pečeť do r. 2025" ("Sealed until 2025") and was handed over to the National Archives in 2005 by Antonín Sum, who was closely associated with Jan Masaryk, the son of Tomáš Masaryk. The contents of the envelope remain unknown and have sparked much speculation about the nature of the message that the people of the Czech Republic might expect. Whether it is a political will or a personal message remains unclear.

The sealed envelope was brought to London with Jan Masaryk during the Second World War before traveling via Scotland to France and finally returning to Prague after 1989. This return is part of another popular repatriation of the Masaryk archive. According to vienna.at, the opening of the envelope will be broadcast live on Czech Radio, which will only increase public interest.

The historical background

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, born on March 7, 1850, grew up in humble circumstances as the son of a Slovak coachman and a farmer's daughter. He identified throughout his life as Czech, Moravian and Slovak and was an influential academic and politician. Masaryk was elected President of Czechoslovakia three times and played a central role in the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic, which he proclaimed on October 28, 1918. He was elected the first president on November 14, 1918 and led his country until 1935, when he resigned for reasons of age and health.

In his final years, Masaryk suffered from health problems, particularly after suffering several strokes. He died on September 14, 1937 in Lány Castle, leaving behind a significant legacy that is still relevant today. Historians debate that the letter may have been written between September 3 and September 11, 1937, a time when Masaryk was in poor health. [Radio.cz].

Opening the envelope and speculation

The opening of the envelope is not only a personal event, but also a significant cultural highlight for the Czech Republic. The population hopes for a meaningful legacy that underlines Masaryk's role as a symbol of democracy and morality. The topic is already being covered in class to promote conversations about responsibility and civic values. Three people knew the contents of the envelope, including Anna and Herberta Masaryková and Antonín Sum. There are also speculations about possible connections between Masaryk and Emperor Franz Joseph, which, however, could not be verified by a DNA comparison in 2017.

The website tajemnaobalka.cz provides additional background information and documents the discussions and speculation surrounding the contents of the envelope. Historians such as Jiří Křesťan express concerns that the news may not be encouraging, increasing both anticipation and concern about the opening of the envelope.