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[[image:Czechoslovakia7.jpg‎|right|thumb| Map of Czechoslovakia]]

[[image:Czechoslovakia7.jpg‎|right|290px|thumb| Map of Czechoslovakia]]

'''Czechoslovakia''' (Czech and Slovak: Československo) was a nation bordering [[East Germany|East]] and [[West Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Austria]] and [[Hungary]].  

'''Czechoslovakia''' (Czech and Slovak: Československo) was a nation bordering [[East Germany|East]] and [[West Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Austria]] and [[Hungary]].  

It was later divided into the [[Czech Republic]] and the [[Slovak Republic]] of central/eastern [[Europe]].  

It was later divided into the [[Czech Republic]] and the [[Slovak Republic]] of central/eastern [[Europe]].  

==History==

==History==

The area was long part of the [[Austro Hungarian Empire]] until the Empire collapsed at the end of World War I and the new state was born.

The area was long part of the [[Austro Hungarian Empire]] until the Empire collapsed at the end of World War I and the new state was born with Tomáš Masaryk (1850-1937) the first president, serving 1918-1935. He was succeeded by his close ally Eduard Benes (1884-1948).

The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, when philologists and educators, influenced by [[Romanticism]], promoted of the Czech language and pride in the Czech nation.  Nationalism became a mass movement in the last half of the 19th century.  Taking advantage of the opportunities for limited participation in political life available under Austrian rule, Czech leaders such as Frantisek Palacky founded numerous patriotic, self-help organizations that provided a chance for many of their compatriots to participate in communal life even prior to independence.  

The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, when philologists and educators, influenced by [[Romanticism]], promoted of the Czech language and pride in the Czech nation.  Nationalism became a mass movement in the last half of the 19th century.  Taking advantage of the opportunities for limited participation in political life available under Austrian rule, Czech leaders such as historian František Palacký  (1798-1878), founded numerous patriotic, self-help organizations that provided a chance for many of their compatriots to participate in communal life even prior to independence. At first Palacky supported Austro-Slavism and worked for a reorganized, federalized, and Slavic-dominated Austrian Empire to protect Slavs against Russian and German threats. The failure of the Revolution of 1848, however, crushed his hopes for Austro-Slavism. Palacky then turned gradually toward Russia and Russian-led Pan-Slavism. An advocate of democratic reform and Czech autonomy within Austria-Hungary, Masaryk was twice elected (1891, 1907) to the Austrian parliament.  In 1900 he founded the Progressive (or Realist) party.  With the outbreak of World War I, however, Masaryk began working for Czech independence in union with Slovakia.  With colleagues Eduard Benes and Milan Stefanik, he visited several Western nations and won support from influential publicists.<ref>  Z. A. B. Zeman,  ''The Masaryks:  The Making of Czechoslovakia'' (1976)</ref> 

Bohemia and Moravia, under Austrian rule, were Czech-speaking major industrial centers, while Slovakia, which was part of Hungary, was an undeveloped agrarian region.  Conditions were much better for the development of a mass national movement in the Czech lands than in Slovakia. Nevertheless the two movements and created the new nation.   

Bohemia and Moravia, under Austrian rule, were Czech-speaking major industrial centers, while Slovakia, which was part of Hungary, was an undeveloped agrarian region.  Conditions were much better for the development of a mass national movement in the Czech lands than in Slovakia. Nevertheless the two movements and created the new nation.   

The period between the two world wars saw the flowering of democracy in Czechoslovakia.  Of all the new states established in central Europe after 1918, only Czechoslovakia preserved a democratic government until it was ended by outside forces. The persistence of democracy in part reflected the fact that the preconditions for maintaining democracy were better in Czechoslovakia than elsewhere in the region.  Thus, despite regional disparities, its level of development was much higher than that of neighboring states.  The population was by and large literate, and contained fewer alienated groups.  The impact of these conditions was augmented by political values of Czechoslovakia's leaders and the policies they adopted.  Under [[Tomas Masaryk]] Czech and Slovak politicians promoted progressive social and economic conditions that served to diffuse discontent.

The period between the two world wars saw the flowering of democracy in Czechoslovakia.  Of all the new states established in central Europe after 1918, only Czechoslovakia preserved a democratic government until it was ended by outside forces. The persistence of democracy in part reflected the fact that the preconditions for maintaining democracy were better in Czechoslovakia than elsewhere in the region.  Thus, despite regional disparities, its level of development was much higher than that of neighboring states.  The population was by and large literate, and contained fewer alienated groups.  The impact of these conditions was augmented by political values of Czechoslovakia's leaders and the policies they adopted.  Under [[Tomas Masaryk]] Czech and Slovak politicians promoted progressive social and economic conditions that served to diffuse discontent.

By a major blunder in 1919 the nation included "Sudetenland" an outer fringe region that comprised 3 million Germans, who wanted no part in the new country and who were treated as second class citizens by the new government in Prague. The original idea was that the Sudetenland had hilly areas that made feasible a military defense; far more dangerous was the German element, which after 1933 became allied with the Nazis in Germany.  In 1938 Hitler demanded control of the Sudetenland, and the major powers at the Munich Conference gave it to them, ignoring the military alliance Czechoslovakia had with France.  In 1939 the Nazis took over the rest of the the country, split it apart, and ruled cruelly during World War II.  Growing Slovak inferiority complex hostile to the more numerous Czech population weakened Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s.  Many Slovaks supported an extreme nationalist movement and welcomed the puppet Slovak state set up under Hitler's control in 1939.

 

Foreign minister Benes became the prime architect of the Czechoslovak-Romanian-Yugoslav alliance (the "Little Entente", 1921-38) directed against Hungarian attempts to reclaim lost areas with Hungarian majorities. Benes worked closely with France.  By a major blunder in 1918 the nation included "Sudetenland" an outer fringe region that comprised 3 million Germans, who wanted no part in the new country and who were treated as second class citizens by the new government in Prague. The original idea was that the Sudetenland had hilly areas that made feasible a military defense; far more dangerous was the German element, which after 1933 became allied with the Nazis in Germany.  In 1938 Hitler demanded control of the Sudetenland, and the major powers at the Munich Conference gave it to them, ignoring the military alliance Czechoslovakia had with France.  In 1939 the Nazis took over the rest of the the country, split it apart, and ruled cruelly during World War II.  Growing Slovak inferiority complex hostile to the more numerous Czech population weakened Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s.  Many Slovaks supported an extreme nationalist movement and welcomed the puppet Slovak state set up under Hitler's control in 1939.

With no army, the area became an industrial and agricultural resource for the Nazis; relatively few civilians were killed in the war, but the sense of bitterness  over the betrayal at Munich persisted.  

With no army, the area became an industrial and agricultural resource for the Nazis; relatively few civilians were killed in the war, but the sense of bitterness  over the betrayal at Munich persisted.  

[[Eduard Benes]], the prewar president who had led the Czechoslovak liberation movement from London resumed his position as head of state.  Soviet influence was exerted through the Red Army; Stalin refused to allow the country to join the [[Marshall Plan]]. he had his own plan, and in Feb. 1948 Benes died mysteriously and the local Communists seized control. The old elite was exiled, imprisoned or killed and the country became a satellite of the Soviet Union.  The Communist takeover was a major factor that caused the [[Cold War]].  

Benes, the prewar president who had led the Czechoslovak liberation movement from London resumed his position as president, 1945-48.  Soviet influence was exerted through the Red Army; Stalin refused to allow the country to join the [[Marshall Plan]]. he had his own plan, In Feb. the local Communists seized control. The old elite was exiled, imprisoned or killed the patriots and turned the country into a powerless satellite of the Soviet Union.  Western outrage as the Communist takeover was a major factor that caused the [[Cold War]].<ref>Karel Kaplan, ''The Short March: The Communist Take-Over of Power in Czechoslovakia, 1945-48'' (1986)</ref>

* Heimann, Mary. ''Czechoslovakia: The State That Failed'' (2009). the best scholarly history in English, but with a negative tone stressing maltreatment of minorities.  

* Heimann, Mary. ''Czechoslovakia: The State That Failed'' (2009). the best scholarly history in English, but with a negative tone stressing maltreatment of minorities.  

* Leff, Carol Skalnick. ''National Conflict in Czechoslovakia: The Making and Remaking of a State, 1918-87'' (1988)

* Leff, Carol Skalnick. ''National Conflict in Czechoslovakia: The Making and Remaking of a State, 1918-87'' (1988)

* Naimark, Norman, and Leonid Gibianskii, eds. ''The Establishment of Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe, 1944-1949'' (1997) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-establishment-of-communist-regimes-in-eastern-europe-1944-1949-by-leonid-gibianskii-norman-naimark.jsp online edition]

* Naimark, Norman, and Leonid Gibianskii, eds. ''The Establishment of Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe, 1944-1949'' (1997) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-establishment-of-communist-regimes-in-eastern-europe-1944-1949-by-leonid-gibianskii-norman-naimark.jsp online edition]

*  Paul, David.  ''Czechoslovakia: Profile of a Socialist Republic at the Crossroads of Europe'' (1990)

*  Paul, David.  ''Czechoslovakia: Profile of a Socialist Republic at the Crossroads of Europe'' (1990)

* Wheaton, Bernard; Zdenek Kavav.  "The Velvet Revolution: Czechoslovakia, 1988-1991".  (1992).

* Wheaton, Bernard; Zdenek Kavav.  "The Velvet Revolution: Czechoslovakia, 1988-1991".  (1992).

*  Wolchik, Sharon L. ''Czechoslovakia: Politics, Society, and Economics'' (1990)

*  Wolchik, Sharon L. ''Czechoslovakia: Politics, Society, and Economics'' (1990)

* [http://www.questia.com/library/history/european-history/eastern-europe/czechoslovakian-history.jsp online books and articles]

* [http://www.questia.com/library/history/european-history/eastern-europe/czechoslovakian-history.jsp online books and articles]

[http://www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/czech/ Soviet Invasion of 1968]

[http://www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/czech/ Soviet Invasion of 1968]