Baťa to demand compensation for lost family property

Ivan Kytka, Jan Čada, Adam Junek
22. 11. 2007 1:10
Shoe empire heir adresses the post-war confiscation

Prague - Tomáš Baťa is preparing legal steps against the Czech state in order to get compensated for his family's wealth, confiscated after the Second World War on a pretext of a war-time collaboration with the Nazi occupiers.

The heir of a global shoe empire, started by his father and uncle in the Moravian city of Zlín between the two world wars,  currently lives in Toronto.

Only last week the Prague City Court annulled the 1947 sentence against Jan Antonín Baťa, uncle of Tomáš, clearing both his name and the way to claim back the family property.

READ MORE: No longer a traitor. J. A. Baťa cleared after 60 years

Tomáš Baťa confirmed he wants a full reparation. In an interview for Aktualne.cz earlier this week, he explained that he wants satisfaction not only for himself, but for all people affected this way.

"It's not just something marginal, it's a crucial principle concerning many people. Be it a single-family house, be it a hennery, be it a nice enterprise - the law applies for everyone," he said.

Tomáš Baťa reminded he has been working on the issue for many years. "Of course I am satisfied, for it is my achievement as well," he said. 

A matter of principle
A matter of principle | Foto: Ivan Kytka

According to the information available to Aktuálně.cz, the Baťa family is to seek a financial redress, rather than fighting for the return of the functionalist buildings which make the city of Zlín an atraction for architecture-buffs.

The famous building 21, one of the fisrt skyscrapers built in Central Europe, will thus likely remain a seat of the local authorities. Altogether, the property´s worth is estimated at billions of Czech crowns  

Asked about the relations between himself and his uncle, allegedly problematic, he answered slyly: "Have you ever heard of a problem-free family?" Then he explained that in their case, they eventually reached an agreement, making him the universal heir to the family business. 

Recently, Tomáš Baťa was awarded with the Responsible Capitalism Award by the British Ministry of Finance in London.

On that occasion, he expressed his belief that honesty and ethics should always be part of business. "It is fair, proper, and ethical entrepreneurship that serves the public," he said.

Also, he expressed an overall satisfaction with the present situation of business in the Czech Republic, but pointed out there is still room for improvement 18 years after the fall of the communist regime.

 

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