Abstract
This work is based on the description of the prince Josef Windischgrätz's life an individual time (courte durée) on the background of economic, political and social changes of the first half of the 20th century. Josef Windischgrätz was born in 1895, thus in time when being an aristocrat was a privilege which put the person high on a social ladder, especially if he belonged to the Windischgrätz family which was close to Austrian emperors.
The Czechs know Josef Windischgrätz's great-grandfather Alfred who, in 1848, broke up insurrection in Prague. Young Josef Windischgrätz grew up in time when nationalistic tendencies were rising and multi-national empire started to crumble.
Its definitive end was brought by the World War I, which Windischgrätz was also part of. War finally burried monarchy along with aristocratic privileges.
After war, former prince Josef Windischgrätz graduated in law and trade, nevertheless Austria was completely economically destroyed and this was reflected in Windischgrätz's troubles with finding a good job. Change came in the 30s when Germany overcame its economic problems caused by World War I, the subsequent reparations and the Great Depression and thus Windischgrätz found a job there.
At the end of the 30s, Windischgrätz inherited a manor farm estate in the west of Czechoslovakia which he reconstructed during World War II despite his bad financial conditions and not obliging approach of the Nazi authorities. Renovation was thwarted by the presidential decree which confiscated Windischgrätz's property.
Windischgrätz fought the confiscation with official complaints and legal actions. Nevertheless, the time of the limited democracy was not inclined to his efforts.
In the end, in 1950, former prince left Czechoslovakia and started to build a new career in Austria and eventually died there. In life of Josef Windischgrätz, a complicated development of the Central Europe states in the first half of the 20th century is mirrored.