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[[image:Czechoslovakia7.jpg‎|right|290px|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, Česko-slovensko) was a country 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]].  

Its capital was [[Prague]].

Its capital was [[Prague]].

The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, when philologists and educators, influenced by [[Romanticism]], promoted 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>   

The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, when philologists and educators, influenced by [[Romanticism]], promoted 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 realized they were too small to go it alone, so they joined to create 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 realized they were too small to go it alone, so they joined to create the new country.   

While the Czechs were second only to the Germans of the Habsburg Empire in social, economic, and cultural development, they were second class subjects and had little voice. Bohemian Germans (later called Sudeten Germans) opposed Czech and Slovak nationalism and looked to Imperial Germany for leadership. Pan-Slavism emerged, as some Czechs and Slovaks turned to Russia, but most preferred the easy-going Catholic Habsburgs in Vienna to the autocratic Orthodox Romanovs in St. Petersburg. No revolution was in the making when World War I broke out in 1914. Nationalism came under the leadership of Thomas G. Masaryk and his supporters in France and the United States. The Allies only reluctantly promised an independent new nation in 1917 after failing to sever the Habsburg Empire from its powerful ally, Germany.  

While the Czechs were second only to the Germans of the Habsburg Empire in social, economic, and cultural development, they were second class subjects and had little voice. Bohemian Germans (later called Sudeten Germans) opposed Czech and Slovak nationalism and looked to Imperial Germany for leadership. Pan-Slavism emerged, as some Czechs and Slovaks turned to Russia, but most preferred the easy-going Catholic Habsburgs in Vienna to the autocratic Orthodox Romanovs in St. Petersburg. No revolution was in the making when World War I broke out in 1914. Nationalism came under the leadership of Thomas G. Masaryk and his supporters in France and the United States. The Allies only reluctantly promised an independent new nation in 1917 after failing to sever the Habsburg Empire from its powerful ally, Germany.  

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.  

===Communist takeover in 1948===

===Communist takeover in 1948===

Benes, the pre-occupation president who had led the Czechoslovak government in exhile from London resumed his position as president, 1945-48. The Germans were all expelled and went to West Germany--which proved their escape from Communism.  After a three-year struggle with the Communists, who had control of the media and national police, Benes again capitulated in order to avoid a bloodbath.  Soviet influence was exerted through the Red Army; Stalin refused to allow the country to join the [[Marshall Plan]]. Stalin had his own plan, In Feb. 1948 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.  They kept filled 422 prisons and concentration camps with dissidents.  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>  

Benes, the pre-occupation president who had led the Czechoslovak government in exile from London resumed his position as president, 1945-48. The Germans were all expelled and went to West Germany--which proved their escape from Communism.  After a three-year struggle with the Communists, who had control of the media and national police, Benes again capitulated in order to avoid a bloodbath.  Soviet influence was exerted through the Red Army; Stalin refused to allow the country to join the [[Marshall Plan]]. Stalin had his own plan, In Feb. 1948 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.  They kept filled 422 prisons and concentration camps with dissidents.  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>  

The Reds followed the Soviet model for their economy, which marked a step backward. No other East European country was to be so nationalized in agriculture and industry. Trade patterns changed; 70% of the trade was with the Soviet bloc and only 19% was with the West. The economic reforms of the Prague Spring of 1968 were thoroughly dismantled after the Soviet intervention.

The Reds followed the Soviet model for their economy, which marked a step backward. No other East European country was to be so nationalized in agriculture and industry. Trade patterns changed; 70% of the trade was with the Soviet bloc and only 19% was with the West. The economic reforms of the Prague Spring of 1968 were thoroughly dismantled after the Soviet intervention.