1940 Wanted poster for Smudek Casanova

Bilingual 2-sheet 1940 WANTED poster for Elusive Jan Smudek for the murder of Nazi officials. 47x32.5cm. Two sheets. Smudek became involved in the resistance movement following the German occupation in 1939. He was particularly known for his role in the assassination of a German officer in Kladno in 1939. This act led to a massive Nazi manhunt, forcing him to flee Czechoslovakia. Smudek's escape route took him through Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and France. He eventually made his way to the United Kingdom, where he joined the Czechoslovak government-in-exile and later served in the Free Czechoslovak Forces. Two films have had characters based on Smudek's life: "Elusive Jan" (Neulovimyy Yan) – a Soviet film made in 1943, directly inspired by Smudek's exploits. The title references his nickname, "Nepolapitelný Jan" (The Elusive Jan). The character of Victor Laszlo in Casablanca is also believed to have been inspired by Smudek’s story. Like Smudek, Laszlo was a Czech resistance fighter who escaped from Nazi-occupied Europe and played a key role in the fight against fascism. 1940 stamp of the Kojetín City Council on verso. 8 paperpunch holes in each side.