Brno’s Zbrojovka was one of the most important manufacturing companies in Czechoslovakia at the time. In the second half of the 1920s it became one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world. It exported arms to Venezuela, Ecuador and Brazil, Argentina, China, Iran and Ethiopia. In Europe, for example, to Great Britain, which fell in love with its light machine gun. During World War II it was occupied by the Germans, producing weapons for the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. Although cars, telephones and railway equipment were being repaired at Zbrojovka right from the beginning, military production dominated the company until the end of the war. In the 1950s it was phased out, and Zbrojovka gave life to the Zetor tractor brand. It also switched to the production of typewriters, among the better known ones was Remington. Now its production assortment ranged from office and computer technology to rifles and shotguns.
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At the peak of its success there were 10,000 people employed at the plant. Almost everyone in Brno knew someone who worked in Zbrojovka. It’s these men and women who built up a phenomenal business with an international reputation, and the first part of the Zbrojovka Phenomenon project is dedicated to them. This project is currently collecting their testimonies to convey the story of the “old” Zbrojovka as authentically as possible. We would like to encourage all Zbrojovka’s ex-employees and those who were connected with the firm at some point, to speak up and become part of this important oral history of an amazing place. The testimonies will also be a great inspiration for us and an opportunity to carry the historical spirit of Zbrojovka forward.
“The Nová Zbrojovka project has many visions. One of them is not to forget the historical value of this place, but instead to commemorate it and show that Zbrojovka was, is and will always be phenomenal. We take the Nová Zbrojovka project as our own and its legacy is like that of a family we value. That is why we were happy to support the realisation of this book. At the same time, we want to continue to honour this place and fill it with life once again.”
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In addition to testimonies, you can look forward to the publication of a photobook and exhibition mapping the history, present and future of Zbrojovka. The basis of the project is Zbrojovka’s photo archive, containing several thousand negatives and photographs, belonging to photographer Roman Franc. As he says himself, he has not even seen all the photographs, but the most valuable for him are those that capture ordinary life in the Brno area. And for us, too. Together with other partners of the project, such as the Brno City Museum and TIC Brno, we’re looking forward to the day that The Zbrojovka Phenomenon sees the light.
