The 64th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen

The Pilsen Liberation Festival commemorates the final days of World War II and the liberation of Pilsen by American forces.

On 4 May 1945 General Patton gave the order to resume the offensive in West Bohemia, and the 2nd and 97th Infantry Divisions and the 16th Armored Division pushed forward in the direction of Plzeň. American tanks appeared on the streets of Pilsen about 8:00 am on Sunday 6 May, to be greeted with immense enthusiasm by local inhabitants.

Since 1990 the tradition has grown up of organizing an annual Liberation Festival in May. People come to the city from all over the world to celebrate the liberation with music and dance, to meet American veterans and their friends and relatives, and of course to drink Pilsner beer..

Date of the event:
May 2, 2009 - May 6, 2009