Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia (Czech: ?eskoslovensko, Slovak: ?esko-Slovensko/before 1990 ?eskoslovensko, German: Tschechoslowakei) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1992 (except for the World War II period). On January 1, 1993, it peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in what was known as the Velvet Divorce, by analogy with the Velvet Revolution.

Basic characteristics

Form of state:

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• 1918–1968 (except for 1938–1945): a centralized country;
• 1969–1992: a federal republic consisting of the Czech Socialist Republic (1990–1992: Czech Republic) and the Slovak Socialist Republic (1990–1992: Slovak Republic);
• 1918–1939 and 1945–1948 and 1990–1992: a democratic republic
• 1939–1945: split into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the Slovak Republic (WWII)
• 1948–1989: a Communist country with a centrally planned economy

Neighbors: Germany (1945–1990: West Germany and East Germany), Poland, Soviet Union (1992: Ukraine), Romania (until 1939), Hungary, Austria

Related Topics:
Germany - West Germany - East Germany - Poland - Soviet Union - Ukraine - Romania - Hungary - Austria

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Topography: Generally irregular terrain. Western area is part of north-central European uplands. Eastern region is composed of northern reaches of Carpathian Mountains and Danube Basin lands.

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Climate: Predominantly continental but varied from moderate temperatures of Western Europe in the west to more severe weather systems affecting Eastern Europe and the western Soviet Union in the east.

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