Democracy is a lovely thing, but you have to know how to live in it.
Vladimír Hyhlík was born on the 12th of August 1925 in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. His parents were Czechs. His father worked at the financial directorate in Slovakia, his mother cared for the family home. Vladimír grew up together with his elder brother Josef, who later became one of the top representatives of the Intelligence Brigade. They both started studying grammar school in Slovakia, but they graduated in Prague, where they moved to after the declaration of an independent Slovak state toward the end of March 1939. Vladimír started with grammar school, but in 1941 he switched to a graphic arts school, to study photography. However, the Nazis closed the school down in 1943 and Vladimír was drafted into forced labour at a factory in Smíchov (Prague). At that time, he joined in the resistance activities of the Intelligence Brigade, which he got in touch with through his elder brother. From the end of 1944, he was in command of a whole troop, which he led in intelligence assignments and in training. He helped safeguard the meeting of the Czech National Council and the broadcast from radio tower Anna in the spring of 1945. He took part in combat in Radlice, Smíchov and Petřín Hill during the Prague Revolt. After liberation, he was dispatched to the border region together with the other members of the IB, specifically to Nejdek. After his return he continued his studies at the graphic arts school, finding employment at a photometric institute, later in cultural heritage care. He still lives in Prague.