Czechoslovakia: Map & History
Czechoslovakia was a country in Central Europe.
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Czechoslovakia was a country in Central Europe. The country was bordered by Austria and Hungary to the south, Germany to the west and northwest, Poland to the northeast, and Ukraine to the southeast. Czechoslovakia had a hilly and mostly mountainous landscape that covered an area of 127,906 square kilometers (49,385 sq mi) with a mostly temperate continental and oceanic climate. The capital and largest city was Prague; other major cities and urban areas include Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Liberec, Bratislava and Košice.
Modern Countries Once Part of Czechoslovakia
At its mapped extent, Czechoslovakia covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Czechoslovakia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Czechoslovakia in Depth
History
The area was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until it collapsed at the end of World War I. The new state was founded by Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who served as its first president from 14 November 1918 to 14 December 1935. He was succeeded by his close ally Edvard Beneš (1884–1948).
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 people. Nationalism became a mass movement in the second half of the 19th century.
Government and politics
After World War II, a political monopoly was held by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ). The leader of the KSČ was de facto the most powerful person in the country during this period. Gustáv Husák was elected first secretary of the KSČ in 1969 (changed to general secretary in 1971) and president of Czechoslovakia in 1975. Other parties and organizations existed but functioned in subordinate roles to the KSČ. All political parties, as well as numerous mass organizations, were grouped under umbrella of the National Front. Human rights activists and religious activists were severely repressed.
In the 1930s, the nation formed a military alliance with France, which collapsed in the Munich Agreement of 1938.
Economy
Before World War II, the economy was about the fourth in all industrial countries in Europe.The state was based on strong economy, manufacturing cars (Škoda, Tatra), trams, aircraft (Aero, Avia), ships, ship engines (Škoda), cannons, shoes (Baťa), turbines, guns (Zbrojovka Brno). It was the industrial workshop for the Austro-Hungarian empire. The Slovak lands relied more heavily on agriculture than the Czech lands.
After World War II, the economy was centrally planned, with command links controlled by the communist party, similarly to the Soviet Union. The large metallurgical industry was dependent on imports of iron and non-ferrous ores.
Industry: Extractive industry and manufacturing dominated the sector, including machinery, chemicals, food processing, metallurgy, and textiles.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Czechoslovakia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Czechoslovakia: Key Facts
| Capital | Prague |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Czech, Slovak |
| Form of government | republic |
| Currency | Czechoslovak koruna |
| Founded | 28 October 1918 |
| Dissolved | 31 December 1992 |
Preceded by
Facts from Wikidata Q33946 (CC0).
Interactive map
Czechoslovakia on the World War II map →
See Czechoslovakia’s territory change day by day from 1 September 1939, with every battle it fought.
Czechoslovakia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 145,016 km² in 1928 CE.
Czechoslovakia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Czechoslovakia exist?
Czechoslovakia is dated to 1919 CE – 1991 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Czechoslovakia?
The capital of Czechoslovakia was Prague.
How large was Czechoslovakia at its peak?
At its peak in 1928 Czechoslovakia covered about 145,016 km².
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