Czechoslovak Socialist Republic

Coordinates: 50°05′N 14°25′E / 50.083°N 14.417°E / 50.083; 14.417
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Fourth Czechoslovak Republic
)

Czechoslovak Republic
(1948–1960)
Československá republika
Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
(1960–1990)
Československá socialistická republika
Czechoslovak Federative Republic
(1990)
Československá federativní republika (Czech)
Česko-slovenská federatívna republika (Slovak)
1948–1990
Motto: 
Pravda vítězí / Pravda víťazí
"Truth prevails"
Anthem: Kde domov můj (Czech)
’Where my home is’

Nad Tatrou sa blýska (Slovak)
’Lightning Over the Tatras’
The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in 1989
The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in 1989
StatusWarsaw Pact and Comecon member
Capital
and largest city
Prague
50°05′N 14°25′E / 50.083°N 14.417°E / 50.083; 14.417
Official languages
Religion
Government
General Secretary 
• 1948–1953
Klement Gottwald
• 1953–1968
Antonín Novotný
• 1968–1969
Alexander Dubček
• 1969–1987
Gustáv Husák
• 1987–1989
Miloš Jakeš
• 1989
Karel Urbánek
• 1989–1990
Ladislav Adamec
President
 
• 1948–1953 (first)
Klement Gottwald
• 1989–1990 (last)
Václav Havel
Prime Minister
 
• 1948–1953 (first)
Antonín Zápotocký
• 1989–1990 (last)
Marián Čalfa
Historical eraCold War
25 February 1948
9 May 1948
11 July 1960
21 August 1968
1 January 1969
24 November 1989
23 April 1990
• End of the Government of National Understanding
27 June 1990
Area
• Total
127,900 km2 (49,400 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate
15,600,000
HDI (1990)Steady 0.931[1]
very high
CurrencyCzechoslovak koruna
Calling code42
Internet TLD.cs
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Third Czechoslovak Republic
Czech and Slovak Federative Republic
Today part of
  • a.
    except Romania, were "European colonies".[2]

The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic,

sphere of interest.[3]

Following the

socialist republic when the Ninth-of-May Constitution became effective. The traditional name Československá republika (Czechoslovak Republic), along with several other state symbols, were changed on 11 July 1960 following the implementation of the 1960 Constitution of Czechoslovakia as a symbol of the "final victory of socialism
" in the country.

In April 1990, shortly after the Velvet Revolution of November 1989, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was renamed to the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic. On 27 June 1990, the National Government of Understanding established by Ladislav Adamec which replaced his own government and was established for the designation of the Czechoslovak Federal Government. It was established in 10 December 1989 and until 1990, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia was in power of the government and held a large majority until the new elections in February 1990 when the Civic Forum claimed victory and led the government until its end. The government was replaced by the Government of National Sacrifice led by Marián Čalfa.

Name

The official name of the country was the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Conventional wisdom suggested that it would be known as simply the "Czechoslovak Republic"—its official name from 1920 to 1938 and from 1945 to 1960. However, Slovak politicians felt this diminished Slovakia's equal stature, and demanded that the country's name be spelled with a hyphen (i.e. "Czecho-Slovak Republic"), as it was spelled from Czechoslovak independence in 1918 until 1920, and again in 1938 and 1939. President Havel then changed his proposal to "Republic of Czecho-Slovakia"—a proposal that did not sit well with Czech politicians who saw reminders of the 1938 Munich Agreement, in which Nazi Germany annexed a part of that territory. The name also means "Land of the Czechs and Slovaks" while Latinised from the country's original name – "the Czechoslovak Nation"[4] – upon independence in 1918, from the Czech endonym Češi – via its Polish orthography[5]

The name "Czech" derives from the

Čech who led the tribe into Bohemia. Modern theories consider it an obscure derivative, e.g. from četa, a medieval military unit.[6] Meanwhile, the name "Slovak" was taken from the Slovaks
. During the state's existence, it was simply referred to "Czechoslovakia", or sometimes the "ČSSR" and "ČSR" for short.

History

Background

Before the

Prague Offensive in 1945, Edvard Beneš, the Czechoslovak leader, agreed to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's demands for unconditional agreement with Soviet foreign policy and the Beneš decrees.[7] While Beneš was not a Moscow cadre and several domestic reforms of other Eastern Bloc countries were not part of Beneš's plan, Stalin did not object because the plan included property expropriation and he was satisfied with the relative strength of communists in Czechoslovakia compared to other Eastern Bloc countries.[7]

In April 1945, the Third Republic was formed, led by a

1946 elections, taking a total of 114 seats (they ran a separate list in Slovakia). Thereafter, the Soviet Union was disappointed that the government failed to eliminate "bourgeois" influence in the army, expropriate industrialists and large landowners and eliminate parties outside of the "National Front".[9] Hope in Moscow was waning for a Communist victory in the 1948 elections following a May 1947 Kremlin report concluding that "reactionary elements" praising Western democracy had strengthened.[10]

Following Czechoslovakia's brief consideration of taking

communist coup d'état, followed by the occupation of non-Communist ministers' ministries, while the army was confined to barracks.[13]

Pro-Communist demonstrations before the coup d'état in 1948

On 25 February 1948, Beneš, fearful of

fellow traveler, was found dead two weeks later.[17]
On 30 May, a single list of candidates from the National Front, which became an organization dominated by the Communist Party, was elected to the National Assembly.

Czechoslovak Republic (1948–1960)

After passage of the

People's Republic until 1960. Although it was not a completely Communist document, it was close enough to the Soviet model that Beneš refused to sign it. He had resigned a week before it was finally ratified, and died in September. The Ninth-of-May Constitution confirmed that the KSČ possessed absolute power, as other Communist parties had in the Eastern Bloc. On 11 July 1960, the 1960 Constitution of Czechoslovakia
was promulgated, changing the name of the country from the "Czechoslovak Republic" to the "Czechoslovak Socialist Republic".

1968–1990

Czechoslovakia in 1969

In 20–21 August 1968 the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was jointly invaded by the Soviet Union and

Warsaw Pact
. The invasion stopped Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring liberalisation reforms and strengthened the authoritarian wing of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ).

Except the Prague Spring in the late-1960s, Czechoslovakia was characterized by the absence of democracy and competitiveness of its Western European counterparts as part of the Cold War. In 1969, the country became a federative republic comprising the Czech Socialist Republic and Slovak Socialist Republic.

Under the

federalization
.

The 1970s saw the rise of the dissident movement in Czechoslovakia, represented (among others) by Václav Havel. The movement sought greater political participation and expression in the face of official disapproval, making itself felt by limits on work activities (up to a ban on any professional employment and refusal of higher education to the dissident's children), police harassment and even prison time.

In late 1989, the country became a

break up the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia
on 1 January 1993.

Geography

The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was bounded on the west by West Germany and East Germany, on the north by Poland, on the east by the Soviet Union (via the Ukrainian SSR) and on the south by Hungary and Austria.

Politics

The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) led initially by First Secretary Klement Gottwald, held a monopoly on politics. Following the 1948 Tito–Stalin split, increased party purges occurred throughout the Eastern Bloc, including a purge of 550,000 party members of the KSČ, 30% of its members.[18][19]

The evolution of the resulting harshness of purges in Czechoslovakia, like much of its history after 1948, was a function of the late takeover by the communists, with many of the purges focusing on the sizable numbers of party members with prior memberships in other parties.

show trials, after which they were executed and their ashes were mixed with material being used to fill roads on the outskirts of Prague.[18]

General Secretary
in 1971) and president of Czechoslovakia in 1975. Other parties and organizations existed but functioned in subordinate roles to KSČ. All political parties, as well as numerous mass organizations, were grouped under the umbrella of National Front of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Human rights activists and religious activists were severely repressed.

In terms of political appointments, the KSČ maintained cadre and nomenklatura lists, with the latter containing every post that was important to the smooth application of party policy, including military posts, administrative positions, directors of local enterprises, social organization administrators, newspapers, etc.[21] The KSČ's nomenklatura lists were thought to contain 100,000 post listings.[21] The names of those that the party considered to be trustworthy enough to secure a nomenklatura post were compiled on the cadre list.[21]

Leaders of the Communist Party

Name Photo Title In office
Antonín Novotny
First Secretary 14 March 1953 – 5 January 1968
Alexander Dubček First Secretary 5 January 1968 – 17 April 1969
Gustáv Husák Portrait of Gustáv Husák wearing a suit, tie and spectacles First Secretary /

General Secretary

17 April 1969 – 17 December 1987

as First Secretary 1969–1971
as General Secretary 1971–1987

Miloš Jakeš Portrait of Milos Jakes wearing a hat, tie and coat General Secretary 17 December 1987 – 24 November 1989
Karel Urbánek General Secretary 24 November 1989 – 20 December 1989
Ladislav Adamec Chairman 21 December 1989 – 1 September 1990

Heads of state and government

Foreign relations

Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia was an active participant in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (

conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
.

Administrative divisions

Economy

The CSSR's economy was a

consumer goods, and as a result consumer goods were lacking in quantity and quality. This resulted in a shortage economy.[22][23] Economic growth rates lagged well behind Czechoslovakia's western European counterparts.[24]
Investments made in industry did not yield the results expected, and consumption of energy and raw materials was excessive. Czechoslovak leaders themselves decried the economy's failure to modernize with sufficient speed.

In the 1950s, Czechoslovakia experienced high economic growth (averaging 7% per year), which allowed for a substantial increase in wages and living standards, thus promoting the stability of the regime.[25]

  • Industry: extractive and manufacturing industries dominated this sector. Major branches included
    communist countries
    .
  • Agriculture
    : minor sector but supplied bulk of domestic food needs. Dependent on large imports of grains (mainly for livestock feed) in years of adverse weather. Meat production constrained by shortage of feed, but high per capita consumption of meat.
  • Foreign Trade: exports estimated at US$17.8 billion in 1985, of which 55% was machinery, 14% fuels and materials, and 16% manufactured consumer goods. Imports at estimated US$17.9 billion in 1985, of which 41% was fuels and materials, 33% machinery, and 12% agricultural and forestry products. In 1986, about 80% of foreign trade was with communist countries.
  • Exchange Rate: the official, or commercial, rate was Kcs 5.4 per US$1 in 1987; whereas the tourist, or noncommercial, rate was Kcs 10.5 per US$1. Neither rate reflected purchasing power. The exchange rate on the black market was around Kcs 30 per US$1, and this rate would become official once the currency became convertible in the early 1990s.
  • Fiscal Year: calendar year.
  • Fiscal Policy: state almost exclusive owner of means of production. Revenues from state enterprises primary source of revenues followed by turnover tax. Large budget expenditures on social programs, subsidies, and investments. Budget usually balanced or small surplus.

Resource base

After World War II, the country was short on energy, relying on imported

hydroelectric energy
. Energy constraints were a major factor in 1980s.

Demographics

Society and social groups

Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1962.[26]

Religion

Religion was oppressed and attacked in communist-era Czechoslovakia.[27] In 1991, 46.4% of Czechoslovaks were Roman Catholics, 29.5% were atheists, 5.3% were Evangelical Lutherans, and 16.7% were n/a, but there were huge differences between the 2 constituent republics – see Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Culture and society

Health, social welfare and housing

After World War II, free health care was available to all citizens. National health planning emphasized preventive medicine; factory and local health-care centers supplemented hospitals and other inpatient institutions. Substantial improvement in rural health care in 1960s and 1970s.

Mass media

The mass media in Czechoslovakia was controlled by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ). Private ownership of any publication or agency of the mass media was generally forbidden, although churches and other organizations published small periodicals and newspapers. Even with this informational monopoly in the hands of organizations under KSČ control, all publications were reviewed by the government's Office for Press and Information.

Military

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Czech and Slovak: Československá socialistická republika, ČSSR
  2. ^ Czech and Slovak: Československá republika

Sources

  1. ^ "Human Development Report 1990" (PDF). Human Development Reports.
  2. ^ Vladimir Tismaneanu, Marius Stan, Cambridge University Press, 17 May, 2018, Romania Confronts Its Communist Past: Democracy, Memory, and Moral Justice, p. 132
  3. ^ Rao, B. V. (2006), History of Modern Europe Ad 1789–2002: A.D. 1789–2002, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
  4. . 1918.
  5. ^ a b Czech. CollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  6. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary. "Czech". Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  7. ^ a b Wettig 2008, p. 45
  8. ^ Wettig 2008, p. 86
  9. ^ Wettig 2008, p. 152
  10. ^ Wettig 2008, p. 110
  11. ^ Wettig 2008, p. 138
  12. ^ Grogin 2001, p. 134
  13. ^ Grenville 2005, p. 371
  14. ^ Grenville 2005, pp. 370–371
  15. ^ Grogin 2001, pp. 134–135
  16. ^ Saxonberg 2001, p. 15
  17. ^ Grogin 2001, p. 135
  18. ^ a b c Crampton 1997, p. 262
  19. ^ Bideleux & Jeffries 2007, p. 477
  20. ^ Crampton 1997, p. 270
  21. ^ a b c Crampton 1997, p. 249
  22. ^ Dale 2005, p. 85
  23. ^ Bideleux & Jeffries 2007, p. 474
  24. ^ Hardt & Kaufman 1995, p. 17
  25. ^ Chris Harman, A People's History of the World, 1999, p 625
  26. ^ "Vers la décriminalisation de l'homosexualité sous le communisme". February 2017.
  27. ^ Catholics in Communist Czechoslovakia: A Story of Persecution and Perseverance

References

External links