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| National motto: Pravda vítězí (Truth prevails) | ||||
| Official languages | Czech and Slovak | |||
| Capital | Prague | |||
| Area (1991) | 127,900 km˛ | |||
| Population (1991) | 15,600,000 Czechs 54.1%, Slovaks 31%, Moravians 8.7%, Hungarians 3.8%, Gypsies 0.7% | |||
| Currency | Czechoslovak koruna (Kcs) = 100 halers | |||
| Time zone | UTC+1 | |||
| National anthem | Kde domov muj + Nad Tatrou sa blýska | |||
| ISO 3166-1 | CS | |||
See also: Czech Republic and Slovakia
Form of state:
Basic Characteristics
Neighbors: Germany (1945-1990:West Germany and East Germany), Poland, Soviet Union (1992:Ukraine), Romania (till 1939), Hungary, Austria
Topography: Generally irregular terrain. Western area part of north-central European uplands. Eastern region made up of northern reaches of Carpathian Mountains and Danube Basin lands.
Climate: Predominantly continental but varied from moderate temperatures of Western Europe to more severe weather systems affecting Eastern Europe and the western Soviet Union
Official Names
History
Main article: History of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia arose in October 1918 as one of the succession states of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I. It consisted of the present-day territories of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and (till 1939) Carpatho-Ukraine (Ruthenia). It was the most industrialized part of the former Austria-Hungary, was a democratic republic throughout the pre-World War II period, but was characterized by ethnic problems. The ethnic problems were due to the fact that the second and third largest ethnic groups (Germans and Slovaks, respectively) were not fully satisfied with the dominance of the Czechs, and that the Germans and Hungarians of Czechoslovakia have never really accepted the creation of the new state.
Czechoslovakia was to become Hitler's target. After the Munich Agreement of 1938, Hitler‘s troops invaded the ethnic-German border regions of Bohemia and Moravia, Hungary received southern Slovakia, and Slovakia and Ruthenia received an autonomous status for a while. Finally Czechoslovakia ceased to exist in March 1939, when Hitler occupied whole Czechia and (the remaining) Slovakia was forced to declare independence.
After World War II, the pre-war Czechoslovakia was reestablished, the Germans were expelled from the country and Ruthenia was given to the Soviet Union. Three years later the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seized power (1948-1989) and the country got under the influence of the Soviet Union. Except for a short period in the late 1960’s (Prague Spring) the country was characterized by missing democracy, promotion of ateism, and relative economic backwardness compared to Western Europe. In 1969, Czechoslovakia was turned into a federation of Czechia and Slovakia.
In 1989, the country became a democratic country again through the Velvet revolution. In 1992, the federal parliament decided to split the country in the Czech Republic and Slovakia as of January 1 1993.
Regents
International Agreements and Membership
After WWII, active participant in Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon), Warsaw Pact, United Nations and its specialized agencies, and Movement of Nonaligned Nations; signatory of conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Administrative Divisions
Population and Ethnic Groups
Main article: Population and Ethnic Groups of Czechoslovakia
Religion
Main article: Religion in Communist Czechoslovakia
In 1991: Roman Catholics 46.4%, Evangelic Lutheran 5. 3%, Ateist 29. 5%, n/a 16. 7%, but there were huge differences between the 2 constituent republics – see Czech Republic and Slovakia
Health, Social Welfare and Housing
Main article: Health and Social Welfare in Communist Czechoslovakia
After WWII, free health care available to all citizens. National health planning emphasized preventive medicine; factory and local health-care centers supplement hospitals and other inpatient institutions. Substantial improvement in rural health care in 1960s and 1970s.
Politics
Main articles: Czechoslovakia: 1918 - 1938 and Politics of Communist Czechoslovakia
After WWII, monopoly on politics held by Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Gustav Husak elected first secretary of KSC 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 KSC. All political parties, as well as numerous mass organizations, grouped under umbrella of National Front of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Human rights activists and religious activists severely repressed
Government (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary)
Main article: Government structure of Communist Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia had the following constitutions throughout its history (1918 – 1992):
Constitutional Development
Society and social groups
Main article: Society of Communist Czechoslovakia
Education
Main article: Education in Czechoslovakia
Education free at all levels and compulsory from age six to sixteen. Vast majority of population literate. Highly developed system of apprenticeship training and vocational schools supplemented general secondary schools and institutions of higher education
Resource base
Main article: Resource base of Communist Czechoslovakia
After WWII, country energy short, relying on imported crude oil and natural gas from Soviet Union, domestic brown coal, and nuclear and hydroelectric energy. Energy constraints a major factor in 1980s.
Economy, Foreign Trade, Financial System
Main articles: Economy of Communist Czechoslovakia and Economic History of Communist Czechoslovakia
After WWII, economy centrally planned with command links controlled by communist party, similar to Soviet Union. Large metallurgical industry but dependent on imports for iron and nonferrous ores.
Mass Media
Main article: Mass media in Communist Czechoslovakia
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