In honour of yesterday’s International Students’ Day, we’re looking back on those in Cumbria and their lives and achievements.

Graphic Design students Lucie Wilkes-Green, Jasmine Macleod and Luke Harding at the Phono+Graphic exhibitionGraphic Design students Lucie Wilkes-Green, Jasmine Macleod and Luke Harding at the Phono+Graphic exhibition (Image: David Hollins)
The day remembers the Czech universities which were stormed by Nazis in 1939 and the students who were subsequently killed and sent to concentration camps. It is marked by a number of universities including those in the UK, sometimes on a day other than November 17.

Marie-Claire Pennington,19, from Dentonholme said Bake Off helped students with cookingMarie-Claire Pennington,19, from Dentonholme said Bake Off helped students with cooking (Image: Newsquest)
The Nazis stormed the University of Prague after demonstrations against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia and the killings of Jan Opletal and worker Václav Sedláček.

Keswick School student Sam Kirkpatrick was making a name for himself in the world of motorsportKeswick School student Sam Kirkpatrick was making a name for himself in the world of motorsport (Image: Newsquest)

They rounded up the students, murdered nine student leaders and sent more than 1,200 students to concentration camps, subsequently closing all Czech universities and colleges.

Patricia Hayhurst, who won the National Hairdressing Federation students' Border Open Championship with her model Beverley Toland Patricia Hayhurst, who won the National Hairdressing Federation students' Border Open Championship with her model Beverley Toland (Image: Newsquest)
In late 1939 the Nazi authorities in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia suppressed a demonstration in Prague held by students of the Medical Faculty of Charles University. This was to commemorate the anniversary of the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918.

Cherry Tingle, Energy Coast UTC principal, with students Jessica Murray and Connor WilliamsCherry Tingle, Energy Coast UTC principal, with students Jessica Murray and Connor Williams (Image: Newsquest)

During the demonstration, the student Jan Opletal was shot, and later died from his injuries. On November 15, his body was supposed to be transported from Prague to his home in Moravia. His funeral procession consisted of thousands of students, who turned the event into an anti-Nazi demonstration.

Actor James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films, talks to performing arts students at the University of CumbriaActor James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films, talks to performing arts students at the University of Cumbria (Image: Newsquest)

Historians speculate that the Nazis granted permission for the funeral procession already expecting a violent outcome in order to use that as a pretext for closing down universities and purging anti-Nazi dissidents.

Students at Whitehaven Academy won Best Overall Project and Most Innovative Project at a Bright Sparks event with NuGen (Image: Newsquest)
The precursor to International Students’ Day took place in 1941 at the International Students’ Council in London, where students decided to introduce the observance every November 17.
Since then, many organisations and international student groups have continued to mark it, commemorating those who fought for national pride and the right to higher education.

Students sign up for courses on their first day at the University of Cumbria Students sign up for courses on their first day at the University of Cumbria (Image: Newsquest)

The day is a public holiday in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is formally called the “Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day.”