Jan Opletal (January 1, 1915–November 11, 1939) was a student of the Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague, who was killed in an anti-Nazi demonstration during the German occupation.

On October 28, 1939 (anniversary of the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic) there were anti-Nazi demonstrations and riots in Prague, which were suppressed by Nazi forces. Jan Opletal was seriously wounded, and died later on November 11. His funeral on November 15, attended by several thousands of students, turned into another anti-Nazi demonstration; as a result, Reichsprotektor Konstantin von Neurath closed all Czech universities and colleges, over 1000 students were sent into concentration camps, and nine students were executed on November 17. To commemorate these events, November 17 was declared the International Students' Day by the International Union of Students .