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Jiri HanzelkaCzech traveller, journalist, writer.
Date of Birth: 24.12.1920
Country:  Czech |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- World War II and University Education
- Expeditions with Miroslav Zikmund
- Asia and Beyond (1959-1964):
- Later Career and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Miroslav Hanzálek, a Czech explorer, journalist, and writer, was born in 1920. After completing high school in 1938, he attended a business college where he met Miroslav Zikmund. Together, they conceived a plan to travel across five continents.
World War II and University Education
During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, universities were closed. Hanzálek worked as a farmhand and clerk. After the war, he completed his university studies and graduated with an engineering degree in 1946.
Expeditions with Miroslav Zikmund
Across Three Continents (1947-1950):Hanzálek and Zikmund embarked on an epic journey in a Tatra 87 car, traversing Africa, South America, and Central America. Their experiences gave rise to numerous reports, books, photographs, and documentaries. They encountered prominent figures and ventured into remote areas where they became the first foreigners some locals had ever seen.
Asia and Beyond (1959-1964):
In a Tatra 805, they undertook another extensive expedition across the Middle East, Asia, and the Soviet Union. Hanzálek played an active role in the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (CPC) at this time.
Later Career and Legacy
Despite his political affiliations, Hanzálek was expelled from the Union of Czechoslovak Writers and lost his job due to the events of the Prague Spring. He worked as a gardener and signed the dissident "Charter 77" in 1976.
After the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia, some of Hanzálek's works were republished. He passed away in 2003, leaving behind a lasting legacy as an intrepid explorer and storyteller.
