List of Presidents of Czechoslovakia

The President of Czechoslovakia was the head of state of Czechoslovakia, from the creation of the First Czechoslovak Republic in 1918 until the dissolution of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic in 1992.

In periods when the presidency was vacant, most presidential duties were assumed by the Prime Minister. However, the Czechoslovak Constitutions never defined anything like a post of acting president.

The second section lists the General Secretaries of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) in 1945–1989. After the 1948 coup d'état, the General Secretary was the country's de facto chief executive. However, three general secretaries—Klement Gottwald, Antonín Novotný and Gustáv Husák—also served as president at some point in their tenures.

The last living former President of Czechoslovakia, Václav Havel, died in 2011.

There are currently two living former General Secretaries of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia—Miloš Jakeš and Karel Urbánek.

Presidents of Czechoslovakia (1918–1992)

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia/ˌtʃɛkoʊsloʊˈvækiə, -kə-, -slə-, -ˈvɑː-/ (Czech and Slovak: Československo, Česko-Slovensko) was a sovereign state in Central Europe that existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on 1 January 1993.

From 1939 to 1945, following its forced division and partial incorporation into Nazi Germany, the state did not de facto exist but its government-in-exile continued to operate.

From 1948 to 1990 Czechoslovakia was part of the Marxist–Leninist Warsaw Pact, which was formed in May 1955, and had a command or planned economy. A period of political liberalization in 1968, known as the Prague Spring, was forcibly ended when several other Warsaw Pact countries invaded. In 1989, as Marxist–Leninist governments and communism were ending all over Europe, Czechoslovaks peacefully deposed their government in the Velvet Revolution; state price controls were removed after a period of preparation. In 1993 Czechoslovakia divided into two sovereign states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Czechoslovak Republic (1945–48)

During World War II, Czechoslovakia disappeared from the map of Europe. The re-emergence of Czechoslovakia as a sovereign state was not only the result of the policies of the victorious Western allies, France, Britain and the United States, but also an indication of the strength of the Czechoslovak ideal embodied in the First Czechoslovak Republic. However, at the conclusion of World War II, Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence, and this circumstance dominated any plans or strategies for postwar reconstruction. Consequently, the political and economic organisation of Czechoslovakia became largely a matter of negotiations between Edvard Beneš and Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) exiles living in Moscow.

In February 1948, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seized full power in a coup d'état. Although the country's official name remained the Czechoslovak Republic until 1960, when it was changed to the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, February 1948 is considered the end of the Third Republic.

Czechoslovakia (band)

Czechoslovakia is a Norwegian duo based in Stavanger, Norway. Their musical style is described as dreamy, electronica pop with emphasis on moods.

History

Czechoslovakia consists of singer and composer Tore Meberg and producer Edvard Brygfjeld. Musically they come from very different backgrounds. Tore is also front man in the group The Love Revolt, but also has experience as singer, guitar and keyboard player from band such as Watershed. Edvard has been involved in several other projects, f.ex. Butti49 and Elak.

Members

Discography

Other works

Awards

Notes

External links