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<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"/> <title>Czechia - RationalWiki</title> <script>document.documentElement.className="client-js";RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":!1,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy","wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"Z74Lr6foUKFP-LADYpKjXAAAABg","wgCSPNonce":!1,"wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":!1,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Czechia","wgTitle":"Czechia","wgCurRevisionId":2674683,"wgRevisionId":2674683,"wgArticleId":75019,"wgIsArticle":!0,"wgIsRedirect":!1,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["Czechia","European countries","Member states of the European Union","NATO member states"],"wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Czechia","wgRelevantArticleId":75019,"wgIsProbablyEditable":!0,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":!0,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[], "wgMediaViewerOnClick":!0,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":!0};RLSTATE={"site.styles":"ready","noscript":"ready","user.styles":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.cite.styles":"ready","mediawiki.page.gallery.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles.legacy":"ready","mediawiki.toc.styles":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["ext.cite.ux-enhancements","site","mediawiki.page.startup","mediawiki.page.ready","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.legacy.js","ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","mmv.head","mmv.bootstrap.autostart"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.implement("user.options@1hzgi",function($,jQuery,require,module){/*@nomin*/mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); });});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cmediawiki.page.gallery.styles%7Cmediawiki.toc.styles%7Cskins.vector.styles.legacy&only=styles&skin=vector"/> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector"/> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.35.6"/> <meta name="description" content="Czechia (Czech: Česko), officially the shortened version of its formal name, the Czech Republic&#91;2&#93; (Czech: Česká republika), is a landlocked country in Central Europe and a member of the European Union. Like other places in Central Europe, it is notable for its exceptionally violent history, having been sandwiched by geography between Germany and Poland. Today, though, it's a democratic republic more remembered abroad for hot women and beer than it is for warfare. Its capital is Prague (Czech: Praha), and some 80% of its citizens are either undeclared or unaffiliated with any religion. In the 2021 Czech census, 21,023 people amusingly stated "Jediism" as their religion, as in the Jedi Knights from Star Wars.&#91;3&#93;&#91;4&#93; Given some of the awful shit that's gone down in Czechia over its long history, it's not surprising that many Czechs don't put much stock in God."/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit" href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit"/> <link rel="edit" title="Edit" href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"/> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/opensearch_desc.php" title="RationalWiki (en)"/> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"/> <link rel="license" href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Copyrights"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="RationalWiki Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="RationalWiki"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Czechia"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Czechia (Czech: Česko), officially the shortened version of its formal name, the Czech Republic&#91;2&#93; (Czech: Česká republika), is a landlocked country in Central Europe and a member of the European Union. Like other places in Central Europe, it is notable for its exceptionally violent history, having been sandwiched by geography between Germany and Poland. Today, though, it's a democratic republic more remembered abroad for hot women and beer than it is for warfare. Its capital is Prague (Czech: Praha), and some 80% of its citizens are either undeclared or unaffiliated with any religion. In the 2021 Czech census, 21,023 people amusingly stated "Jediism" as their religion, as in the Jedi Knights from Star Wars.&#91;3&#93;&#91;4&#93; Given some of the awful shit that's gone down in Czechia over its long history, it's not surprising that many Czechs don't put much stock in God."/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Czechia"/>  </head> <body class="mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Czechia rootpage-Czechia skin-vector action-view minerva--history-page-action-enabled skin-vector-legacy"> <div id="mw-page-base" class="noprint"></div> <div id="mw-head-base" class="noprint"></div> <div id="content" class="mw-body" role="main"> <a id="top"></a> <div id="siteNotice" class="mw-body-content"><div id="localNotice" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div id="2025_RationalWiki_.27Oregon_Plan.27_Fundraiser"> <table role="presentation" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; width: 100%;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 60%; text-align: left;"><big><center><b><a href="/wiki/RationalWiki:Fundraiser" title="RationalWiki:Fundraiser">2025 RationalWiki 'Oregon Plan' Fundraiser</a></b></center></big> <p><b>There is no RationalWiki without you.</b> We are a small non-profit with no staff—we are hundreds of volunteers who document pseudoscience and crankery around the world every day. 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Usually it is when the beer runs out or somebody suffers a black eye. In Prague, the party ended when… Jan Hus started preaching… He believed that people did not need the Church to abolish their bad behavior. People could save themselves. Grab a <a href="/wiki/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a>, look up to the sky, and make your wish — no church required. This is the same message <a href="/wiki/Martin_Luther" title="Martin Luther">Martin Luther</a>, with the help of the printing press, made famous a hundred years later. Not surprisingly, the Church did not react kindly to Hus's message and his band of rowdy brothers. They asked him to come for a pleasant sit-down and discuss the matter. He arrived for tea, but before the sugar dissolved, they burned him at the stake. This started the Hussite Wars, which lasted for over 20 years.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—Roman Jelinek, Prague historian.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="navbox" style="float: right; clear:right; border: 2px solid silver; margin: 0 0 .5em .5em; width: 200px;"> <div style="background-color: #e7ece6; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; padding: .3em;"><b>Czechia</b> <b></b></div> <center><a href="/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg" class="image"><img alt="Flag of the Czech Republic.svg" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg/195px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg.png" decoding="async" width="195" height="130" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg/293px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg/390px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></a></center> <table style="width: 200px;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: #e8e7f2;"><b>Demographics</b> </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population" class="extiw" title="wp:List of countries by population" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: List of countries by population">Population</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>10,707,839 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)" class="extiw" title="wp:List of countries by GDP (nominal)" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: List of countries by GDP (nominal)">GDP (million)</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>241,975 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita" class="extiw" title="wp:List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita">GDP p/cap.</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>22,627 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy" class="extiw" title="wp:List of countries by life expectancy" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: List of countries by life expectancy">Life expectancy</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>79.2 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index" class="extiw" title="wp:List of countries by Human Development Index" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: List of countries by Human Development Index">Development Index</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>0.900 </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="width: 200px;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: #e8e7f2;"><b>Government</b> </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index" class="extiw" title="wp:Democracy Index" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Democracy Index">Democracy Index</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>7.69 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index" class="extiw" title="wp:Corruption Perceptions Index" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Corruption Perceptions Index">Corruption Index</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>56 </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="width: 200px;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: #e8e7f2;"><b>More</b> </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Index" class="extiw" title="wp:Education Index" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Education Index">Education Index</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>0.878 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Importance_of_religion_by_country" class="extiw" title="wp:Importance of religion by country" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Importance of religion by country">Religiosity</span></a>:<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> </td> <td>21 </td></tr></tbody></table> </div> <p><b>Czechia</b> (Czech: <i>Česko</i>), officially the shortened version of its formal name, the <b>Czech Republic</b><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> (Czech: <i>Česká republika</i>), is a landlocked country in Central <a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe">Europe</a> and a member of the <a href="/wiki/European_Union" title="European Union">European Union</a>. Like other places in Central Europe, it is notable for its exceptionally violent history, having been sandwiched by geography between <a href="/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a> and <a href="/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a>. Today, though, it's a <a href="/wiki/Democratic" class="mw-redirect" title="Democratic">democratic</a> <a href="/wiki/Republic" title="Republic">republic</a> more remembered abroad for hot women and <a href="/wiki/Beer" title="Beer">beer</a> than it is for warfare. Its capital is Prague (Czech: <i>Praha</i>), and some 80% of its citizens are either undeclared or unaffiliated with any <a href="/wiki/Religion" title="Religion">religion</a>. In the 2021 Czech census, 21,023 people amusingly stated "Jediism" as their religion, as in the Jedi Knights from <i><a href="/wiki/Star_Wars" class="mw-redirect" title="Star Wars">Star Wars</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> Given some of the awful shit that's gone down in Czechia over its long history, it's not surprising that many Czechs don't put much stock in <a href="/wiki/God" title="God">God</a>. </p><p>Czechia started off as a Slavic region, but in the early <a href="/wiki/Middle_Ages" title="Middle Ages">Middle Ages</a>, it shaped up into the Duchy of <b>Bohemia</b> (Czech: <i>České knížectví</i>) and became a <a href="/wiki/Catholic" class="mw-redirect" title="Catholic">Catholic</a>-majority region. Bohemia came under the rule of the <a href="/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire" title="Holy Roman Empire">Holy Roman Empire</a> and became a kingdom in 1212 CE. During that time, ethnic Germans started to settle across its periphery areas. During the late 1300s, <a href="/wiki/Theologian" class="mw-redirect" title="Theologian">theologian</a> Jan Hus called for reforms in the Catholic Church, and the church retaliated by declaring him a <a href="/wiki/Heretic" class="mw-redirect" title="Heretic">heretic</a> and having him burned at the stake. His followers rose up in the violent Hussite Wars between 1419 and 1434, greatly weakening the Bohemian state. This weakness paved the way for <a href="/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a>'s Hapsburg dynasty to seize control, and the Hapsburgs proved to be even more zealous Catholics than those who had come before. </p><p>Lingering resentment from the Hussite fiasco made Bohemia fertile ground for the <a href="/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" title="Protestant Reformation">Protestant Reformation</a>. As the Hapsburgs cracked down against <a href="/wiki/Protestants" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestants">Protestants</a> with increasing intensity, tensions there escalated, resulting in the <a href="/wiki/Thirty_Years_War" title="Thirty Years War">Thirty Years War</a> in 1618 when the Protestants rose. After decades of hideous bloodbath and destruction, the Hapsburgs regained control, expelled vast numbers of Czech Protestants, and killed many others. This period saw Bohemia go from the political center of the empire to a wasteland. Still, the Hapsburgs maintained their power there despite rising Czech resentment, and Bohemia remained an integral part of Austria's empire until <a href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>. </p><p>After the Austrian Empire collapsed in 1918, the Czechs joined the victors' table and managed to be officially recognized as the newly-created <a href="/wiki/Czechoslovakia" class="mw-redirect" title="Czechoslovakia">Czechoslovakia</a>, incorporating Slovakia into their territory. Czechoslovakia might have gone somewhere, but in 1938, <a href="/wiki/Adolf_Hitler" title="Adolf Hitler">Adolf Hitler</a> made a fuss over the ethnic Germans living in the Czech mountains and used that as a pretext to annex Czechia into <a href="/wiki/Nazi_Germany" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a>. Under <i>Generalplan Ost</i>, the Germans hoped to commit total <a href="/wiki/Genocide" title="Genocide">genocide</a> against most Czechs. German brutality sparked Czech resistance, and Czech fighters heroically assassinated the evil bastard <a href="/wiki/Reinhard_Heydrich" title="Reinhard Heydrich">Reinhard Heydrich</a>. </p><p>Unfortunately, things <i>still</i> didn't get better for the poor Czechs. The <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> steamrolled in from the east in 1945 and used its occupation forces to transform Czechoslovakia into a <a href="/wiki/Communist" class="mw-redirect" title="Communist">communist</a> satellite regime within the <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Bloc" title="Eastern Bloc">Eastern Bloc</a>. The heavy blanket of <a href="/wiki/Dictatorship" title="Dictatorship">dictatorship</a> lifted briefly under the Prague Spring reforms of Alexander Dubček, but the <a href="/wiki/Warsaw_Pact" class="mw-redirect" title="Warsaw Pact">Warsaw Pact</a> put that to a violent end by invading in 1968. True liberalization wasn't realized until 1989, when the Velvet Revolution peacefully caused a transition of power, and <a href="/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev" title="Mikhail Gorbachev">Mikhail Gorbachev</a> declined to intervene. </p><p>Now a democracy, Czechoslovakia peacefully split up in 1993 due to Slovakian aspirations for independence. Czechia is today a highly developed <a href="/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> and <a href="/wiki/EU" class="mw-redirect" title="EU">EU</a> member. Things seem to be going fairly well in Prague, but Czechia's history shows that the good times only last for so long. </p> <div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#History"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">History</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="#Slavic_settlement"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Slavic settlement</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="#Kingdom_of_Bohemia"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Kingdom of Bohemia</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-4"><a href="#Rising_influence"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Rising influence</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-5"><a href="#Hussite_Wars"><span class="tocnumber">1.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Hussite Wars</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#Hapsburg_rule"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Hapsburg rule</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-7"><a href="#More_religious_war"><span class="tocnumber">1.3.1</span> <span class="toctext">More religious war</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-8"><a href="#Going_for_Baroque"><span class="tocnumber">1.3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Going for Baroque</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-9"><a href="#Rising_nationalism"><span class="tocnumber">1.3.3</span> <span class="toctext">Rising nationalism</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-10"><a href="#World_War_I"><span class="tocnumber">1.3.4</span> <span class="toctext">World War I</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="#Czechoslovakia"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Czechoslovakia</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-12"><a href="#First_republic"><span class="tocnumber">1.4.1</span> <span class="toctext">First republic</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-13"><a href="#The_Sudetenland_problem"><span class="tocnumber">1.4.2</span> <span class="toctext">The Sudetenland problem</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-14"><a href="#Under_Nazi_German_misrule"><span class="tocnumber">1.4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Under Nazi German misrule</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="#Communist_rule"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">Communist rule</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-16"><a href="#Stalinization"><span class="tocnumber">1.5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Stalinization</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-17"><a href="#Prague_Spring"><span class="tocnumber">1.5.2</span> <span class="toctext">Prague Spring</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-18"><a href="#Warsaw_Pact_invasion"><span class="tocnumber">1.5.3</span> <span class="toctext">Warsaw Pact invasion</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-19"><a href="#A_prolonged_political_winter"><span class="tocnumber">1.5.4</span> <span class="toctext">A prolonged political winter</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-20"><a href="#Velvet_Revolution"><span class="tocnumber">1.5.5</span> <span class="toctext">Velvet Revolution</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-21"><a href="#Dissolution"><span class="tocnumber">1.5.6</span> <span class="toctext">Dissolution</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-22"><a href="#Modern_republic"><span class="tocnumber">1.6</span> <span class="toctext">Modern republic</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23"><a href="#Government_and_politics"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Government and politics</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-24"><a href="#Structure"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25"><a href="#Corruption"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Corruption</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-26"><a href="#Discrimination_against_Roma"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Discrimination against Roma</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-27"><a href="#Famous_Czech_mates"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Famous Czech mates</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-28"><a href="#Other_Czech_things"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Other Czech things</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"><a href="#Gallery"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Gallery</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><a href="#Notes"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Notes</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:227px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg/225px-Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg/338px-Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg/450px-Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="532" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Kopcany_st._margaret_3.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>An ancient Czech church.</div></div></div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Slavic_settlement">Slavic settlement</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Slavic settlement">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Slavic peoples started showing up around the 5th century CE, forming a settled agricultural lifestyle. This was disturbed by the invasion of Avar nomads from further east, who eventually settled in what is now <a href="/wiki/Hungary" title="Hungary">Hungary</a>. The Czech Slavs allied with <a href="/wiki/Charlemagne" title="Charlemagne">Charlemagne</a> to destroy the Avar state in 796 CE, and their subsequent alliance allowed the Czechs to solidify into an actual <a href="/wiki/Medieval" class="mw-redirect" title="Medieval">Medieval</a> state (called Great Moravia).<sup id="cite_ref-earl_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-earl-5">[5]</a></sup> Caught between their Slavic brethren and the mighty German lands to the west, the Czechs struggled to maintain their Slavic culture while also adopting <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholicism" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholicism">Roman Catholicism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-earl_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-earl-5">[5]</a></sup> After myriad power struggles in the region, the Czechs eventually became quite distinct from the other Slavic groups and fell into the German sphere of influence. This was, after all, back when the different Christian offshoots hated each other. </p><p>The Czechs were smashed again by eastern nomads in 907 CE, this time by the Magyars (who would eventually also settle in Hungary).<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup> This event had some long-term ramifications, as it caused the dissolution of Great Moravia and thus prompted the rise of its successor, the Kingdom of Bohemia. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Kingdom_of_Bohemia">Kingdom of Bohemia</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Kingdom of Bohemia">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:352px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Sedlec_Ossuary_03(js).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Sedlec_Ossuary_03%28js%29.jpg/350px-Sedlec_Ossuary_03%28js%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="350" height="233" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Sedlec_Ossuary_03%28js%29.jpg/525px-Sedlec_Ossuary_03%28js%29.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Sedlec_Ossuary_03%28js%29.jpg/700px-Sedlec_Ossuary_03%28js%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5472" data-file-height="3648" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Sedlec_Ossuary_03(js).jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Interior of the infamous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary" class="extiw" title="wp:Sedlec Ossuary" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Sedlec Ossuary">Sedlec Ossuary</span></a><sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup>, established 1278 and gradually filled with victims of Czechia's violent history.</div></div></div> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Rising_influence">Rising influence</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Rising influence">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:227px;"><a href="/wiki/File:CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg/225px-CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="146" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg/338px-CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg/450px-CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1415" data-file-height="917" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:CrownJewelsBohemia1.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Bohemian Crown Jewels.</div></div></div> <p>Bohemia became a Medieval powerhouse after its rise to influence. Long existing in the shadow of the <a href="/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire" title="Holy Roman Empire">Holy Roman Empire</a>, Bohemia became a part of that realm in 950 when the <a href="/wiki/Imperialist" class="mw-redirect" title="Imperialist">imperialist</a> Germans arrived with an army to demand tribute.<sup id="cite_ref-boh_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-boh-7">[7]</a></sup> Even this event didn't put a damper on things for long, though, as the Germans rewarded the Bohemians' peaceful capitulation with great political influence within the empire. The ruling Přemyslid dynasty also cheerfully used their new German allies as a hammer by which they were able to crush uncooperative nobles, thus eliminating a major flaw that plagued other European <a href="/wiki/Feudal" class="mw-redirect" title="Feudal">feudal</a> realms.<sup id="cite_ref-boh_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-boh-7">[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8">[note 1]</a></sup> </p><p>While most of the population suffered under the usual Medieval standard of living, the privileged classes enjoyed an era of prosperity and construction in the Czech capital of Prague. Notable landmarks erected during this period included the Saint Vitus Cathedral and the Prague Castle, which would go on to be the seat of power of many Bohemian kings as well as the Holy Roman Emperors.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9">[8]</a></sup> Today, these buildings give tourists some cool shit to look at. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Přemyslid dynasty encouraged German immigration into the frontier regions of Bohemia to further weaken the traditional power bases of their own Czech nobility.<sup id="cite_ref-boh_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-boh-7">[7]</a></sup> You can probably see what historic events we're foreshadowing here. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Hussite_Wars">Hussite Wars</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Hussite Wars">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg/200px-Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="215" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg/300px-Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg/400px-Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2302" data-file-height="2478" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiezer_Chronik_Jan_Hus_1485.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Jan Hus burned at the stake for heresy.</div></div></div> <p>Like other European realms, Bohemia was not free from religious shenanigans. Around 1380 CE, the theologian Jan Hus began raising a stink over the Catholic Church's corruption and that no less than three <a href="/wiki/Antipope" title="Antipope">antipopes</a> were struggling for power within it.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10">[9]</a></sup> The Church authorities solemnly took Hus' criticism to heart and resolved to better itself. Ha, who are we kidding? No, the Medieval Church responded to criticism the way it always did by branding Hus a <a href="/wiki/Heretic" class="mw-redirect" title="Heretic">heretic</a> and then having his ass burnt at the stake in 1415.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11">[10]</a></sup> </p><p>Hus proved to be even more troublesome dead than alive. After his execution, many Bohemian knights and nobles published a formal protest and then kicked off the Hussite movement, which evolved into a different branch of Christianity.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[11]</a></sup> Many of their beliefs probably sound familiar to those familiar with the Protestant Reformation, such as the rejection of selling <a href="/wiki/Indulgences" class="mw-redirect" title="Indulgences">indulgences</a>, belief in <a href="/wiki/Biblical" class="mw-redirect" title="Biblical">Biblical</a> primacy over Church officials, and the belief in lay peoples' right to read the scriptures for themselves.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13">[12]</a></sup> Then, as later, the Church shat a brick at this show of opposition. Church efforts to suppress the Hussite movement created an atmosphere of religious crisis, culminating in an outright religious <a href="/wiki/Coup" class="mw-redirect" title="Coup">coup</a> by the Hussites in 1419.<sup id="cite_ref-huss_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-huss-14">[13]</a></sup> Amid repression, the Hussite movement branched out even further, leading to the rise of the Táborites. The Táborites were a peasant <a href="/wiki/Sect" title="Sect">sect</a> that sought to eliminate hierarchy, private property, debts, and the <a href="/wiki/Antichrist" title="Antichrist">Antichrist</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-tabor_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-tabor-15">[14]</a></sup> They were Christ's <a href="/wiki/Communists" class="mw-redirect" title="Communists">communists</a>. </p><p>As the Hussite Wars began against the Catholics, the moderate Hussites also turned against the Táborites, crushing them in 1434.<sup id="cite_ref-tabor_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-tabor-15">[14]</a></sup> Shortly after that, the moderates compromised with the Catholic Church to win certain religious <a href="/wiki/Freedom" class="mw-redirect" title="Freedom">freedoms</a> in exchange for acknowledging the broader authority of the church and the Bohemian crown.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[15]</a></sup> </p><p>After being weakened horribly by religious crap, Bohemia was promptly plunged back into the religious crap by <a href="/wiki/Pope" title="Pope">Pope</a> Pius II, who declared the agreement that ended the Hussite Wars invalid.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[16]</a></sup> War continued for decades afterward until the conclusion of the Peace of Kutná Hora, which reestablished the religious compromise in 1485 and was made legal by the Holy Roman Empire.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18">[17]</a></sup> What a stupid clusterfuck. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Hapsburg_rule">Hapsburg rule</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Hapsburg rule">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:302px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg/300px-Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="225" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg/450px-Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg/600px-Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Historic_Centre_of_Prague-111720.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Prague Castle, seat of the Hapsburg emperors.</div></div></div> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="More_religious_war">More religious war</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: More religious war">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>With things sorted out at home, King Vladislaus of Bohemia decided in 1526 to join the East European effort to halt the expansion of the <a href="/wiki/Ottoman_Empire" class="mw-redirect" title="Ottoman Empire">Ottoman Empire</a> at the fateful Battle of Mohács.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19">[18]</a></sup> Despite being a crushing Christian defeat, the battle proved to be one of the greatest things that ever happened to Austria's ruling Hapsburg dynasty. Killed in action by the Turks, Bohemia's ruling dynasty was extinguished, allowing the Hapsburgs to claim the thrones of Bohemia and neighboring Hungary. </p> <div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg/250px-Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="188" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg/375px-Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg/500px-Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="2592" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Burg_Karlstein_-_Karl%C5%A1tejn_-_panoramio.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Karlštejn Castle, built 1348 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV to safeguard imperial treasures.</div></div></div> <p>Austrian rule unsurprisingly proved burdensome to the Czechs, who tried to resist the centralization and <a href="/wiki/Authoritarianism" title="Authoritarianism">authoritarianism</a> of the foreign rulers. Hapsburg rulers gutted and divided Bohemian institutions and then declared themselves to be the permanent hereditary dynasty of Bohemia. The prolonged struggle between the Austrians and the Czech nobility/people re-inflamed religious tensions between the zealous Catholic Hapsburgs and the unorthodox Catholics of Bohemia.<sup id="cite_ref-hat_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hat-20">[19]</a></sup> Of course. Bohemia's history made it fertile ground for the Protestant Reformation and easily swayed many Czechs into becoming Protestants, who were now even more furiously opposed to the Catholics. </p> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG/275px-Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG" decoding="async" width="275" height="196" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG/413px-Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG/550px-Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1140" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Hinrichtung_auf_dem_Altst%C3%A4dter_Ring.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Hapsburg authorities behead Bohemian Protestants.</div></div></div> <p>Armed conflict exploded for the first time in 1547, resulting in an easy Hapsburg victory. In retaliation, the Hapsburgs confiscated Hussite property, rescinded the religious compromise, and had a bunch of people executed.<sup id="cite_ref-hat_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hat-20">[19]</a></sup> This predictably did nothing to win the loyalty of the Czech people. Things reached a head once more with the rise of the famously intolerant Hapsburg emperor Ferdinand II, who was already hated by Protestants for his previous career as a Hapsburg inquisitor.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[20]</a></sup> In 1618, Ferdinand II sent some goons into Prague to shut down Protestant churches, resulting in some goons being tossed out of a tower window.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22">[21]</a></sup> Matters quickly escalated into outright warfare, beginning the horrific bloodbath that was the <a href="/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Thirty Years' War">Thirty Years' War</a>. </p><p>Bohemia declared itself independent, invited a German Protestant king to lead it, and then mobilized armies for its defense.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[22]</a></sup> They were promptly destroyed at the Battle of White Mountain.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[23]</a></sup> The Hapsburg victory ushered in a period of catastrophe for the Bohemian Protestants, who were either mass executed or forced into exile throughout the 1620s and the Bohemian education system was placed under total Catholic <a href="/wiki/Theocratic" class="mw-redirect" title="Theocratic">theocratic</a> control.<sup id="cite_ref-thirt_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thirt-25">[24]</a></sup> Catholic oppression provoked and prolonged the next phases of the Thirty Years War as other Protestant German princes rose up to defend their rights alongside foreign support from <a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Denmark" title="Denmark">Denmark</a>. Bohemia slipped into a dark age, at which point their population declined by a third due to Hapsburg reprisals, warfare and slaughter, and the usual scourges of <a href="/wiki/Disease" title="Disease">disease</a> and famine.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[25]</a></sup> Attempting to offset this and bolster their own rule, the Hapsburgs encouraged mass immigration into Bohemia by German Catholics, who took over from the exiled Czech Protestants and became the new ruling class.<sup id="cite_ref-thirt_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thirt-25">[24]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Going_for_Baroque">Going for Baroque</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Going for Baroque">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:267px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Vranov_nad_Dyji03(js)_crop.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Vranov_nad_Dyji03%28js%29_crop.jpg/265px-Vranov_nad_Dyji03%28js%29_crop.jpg" decoding="async" width="265" height="199" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Vranov_nad_Dyji03%28js%29_crop.jpg/398px-Vranov_nad_Dyji03%28js%29_crop.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Vranov_nad_Dyji03%28js%29_crop.jpg/530px-Vranov_nad_Dyji03%28js%29_crop.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4018" data-file-height="3018" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Vranov_nad_Dyji03(js)_crop.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Baroque-style Vranov nad Dyjí Castle. Pretty sweet.</div></div></div> <p>After the long reconstruction process, the Hapsburg pseudo-empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II spent the 1700s implementing <a href="/wiki/Enlightenment" class="mw-redirect" title="Enlightenment">Enlightenment</a>-era policies by abolishing <a href="/wiki/Serfdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Serfdom">serfdom</a> and de-emphasizing religion while simultaneously tightening the screws on political opposition.<sup id="cite_ref-bbq_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbq-27">[26]</a></sup> During this time, the Czech lands underwent the Baroque architectural period, which was encouraged by Catholic authorities in opposition to Protestant and <a href="/wiki/Calvinist" class="mw-redirect" title="Calvinist">Calvinist</a> austerity.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28">[27]</a></sup> Baroque architecture turned Czechia into the uniquely picturesque tourist haven it is today.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[28]</a></sup> On the more negative side, the German state of Prussia used Maria Theresa's ascension as a <a href="/wiki/Sexist" class="mw-redirect" title="Sexist">sexist</a> excuse to attack Austria and steal the historically Bohemian territory of Silesia in the War of the Austrian Succession.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30">[29]</a></sup> </p><p>This period of modernization saw Bohemia become an industrial haven thanks to its <a href="/wiki/Coal" title="Coal">coal</a> deposits and glass industry. With serfdom abolished, Czech peasants increasingly moved into the cities, mingling and competing with the German ruling class.<sup id="cite_ref-bbq_27-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbq-27">[26]</a></sup> The Germans didn't appreciate this much (the ruling class never appreciates equality), and tensions between the two groups defined Bohemian politics and the region's relationship with its Austrian overlords for the following centuries. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Rising_nationalism">Rising nationalism</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Rising nationalism">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:227px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg/225px-Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="133" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg/338px-Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg/450px-Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2960" data-file-height="1748" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Praha_N%C3%A1rodn%C3%AD_muzeum_2.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Czechia's national museum, established 1818.</div></div></div> <p>Thanks to the freedoms granted to the Czechs, an intellectual Czech movement grew in the shadow of the traditional German-led order. In one of those universal patterns you see followed everywhere (some variant of "rising nationalism" is a subtitle in many of our country articles), this resulted in said intellectual class becoming <a href="/wiki/Nationalist" class="mw-redirect" title="Nationalist">nationalistic</a>. Czech scholars created organizations to revive their native language, long cast aside in favor of German.<sup id="cite_ref-nati_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nati-31">[30]</a></sup> Their biggest challenge was crafting the Czech language into a literary medium, as it had survived only in peasant agrarian communities. </p> <div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Clementinum_library2.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Clementinum_library2.jpg/250px-Clementinum_library2.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="177" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Clementinum_library2.jpg/375px-Clementinum_library2.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Clementinum_library2.jpg/500px-Clementinum_library2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1023" data-file-height="725" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Clementinum_library2.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Czech National Library hall.</div></div></div> <p>The greatest achievement of the nationalists was in establishing the Museum of the Bohemian Kingdom in 1818, having forced authorities to acknowledge that Czechs <i>had</i> a <a href="/wiki/History" title="History">history</a> and that said history should be recognized.<sup id="cite_ref-nati_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nati-31">[30]</a></sup> In 1827, the museum began a periodical publication, one of the first Czech-language nationalist pamphlets circulated amongst the public. </p><p>Nationalism manifested most violently in the 1848 revolutions across the German-speaking world.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[31]</a></sup> Germans and Czechs were united in their opposition to Austrian tyranny, but the Germans vehemently opposed any efforts to remove Bohemia from German rule.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33">[32]</a></sup> The movement ultimately collapsed into infighting, with Czechs and Germans blaming each other for the failure. Some version of that story is also a universal historical pattern. </p><p>Further German dominance in Czechia made the nationalists increasingly determined to break free. The later 1800s saw Czechs and Germans furiously compete for authority over Bohemian institutions, causing inter-ethnic relations to deteriorate into hatred.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[33]</a></sup> Obstructionism by both sides ground Bohemia to a halt, stagnating things until 1918. </p><p>The most important development was the good contact between the Czechs, who felt oppressed by the Germans, and the Slovaks, who felt oppressed by the Hungarians. Considering that the Czechs and Slovaks had a fairly similar history, closely-related languages, and notable cultural contacts, a Czecho-Slovak cooperation framework became an increasingly favored concept.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[34]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="World_War_I">World War I</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: World War I">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Czech_Troops.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Czech_Troops.jpg/250px-Czech_Troops.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="126" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Czech_Troops.jpg/375px-Czech_Troops.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Czech_Troops.jpg/500px-Czech_Troops.jpg 2x" data-file-width="700" data-file-height="353" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Czech_Troops.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Czechoslovak Legion fighting for Russia.</div></div></div> <div role="note" class="hatnote">See the main article on this topic: <a href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a></div> <p>Czechs and Slovaks were very unhappy with the idea of dying for the Austrian Empire, and many of them went so far as to defect and fight for <a href="/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a> instead.<sup id="cite_ref-wwi_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wwi-36">[35]</a></sup> The Czechs played all sides during the war with different personalities, some going to Western Europe to advocate the dismembering of the lumbering Austrian beast and others remaining loyal in the hopes of winning autonomy. Czech intellectual Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk teamed up with his Slovak allies to create the Czechoslovak exile legions to fight for the Entente and advocate for an independent Czech and Slovak state.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[36]</a></sup> During the negotiations and double-dealing, "Czecho-Slovakia" went from being a cooperation framework to an actual entity when the Entente recognized it as a future nation. Horrified by this idea, Germans in the border regions (the Sudetenland) attempted to remain with Austria or form their own state, but the newly-formed Czechoslovak military swiftly occupied it.<sup id="cite_ref-wwi_36-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wwi-36">[35]</a></sup> Again, this is foreshadowing. After scuffling with Hungary over the fate of Slovakia, Czechoslovakia formalized its existence in October of 1918. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Czechoslovakia">Czechoslovakia</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Czechoslovakia">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:327px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg/325px-Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg.png" decoding="async" width="325" height="197" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg/488px-Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg/650px-Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1281" data-file-height="778" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Czechoslovakia_1930_linguistic_map_-_en.svg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Linguistic map of Czechoslovakia in 1930.</div></div></div> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="First_republic">First republic</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: First republic">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Being a hastily-assembled construct of various ethnic groups, including a not-insignificant chunk of Slovakia that was mostly populated by <a href="/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukrainians</a>, Czechoslovakia wasn't exactly the most stable postwar state. To appease the Germans, Czechoslovakia signed a treaty that guaranteed the rights of its minorities under the <a href="/wiki/League_of_Nations" title="League of Nations">League of Nations</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-firstrep_38-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-firstrep-38">[37]</a></sup> Elections for the new republican government had to be conducted based on the old Austrian census because of the rapid circumstances of its creation. On the plus side, though, the new nation had inherited some 80% of the old Austrian Empire's industry, making it an instant forefront industrial power while the Austrians and Hungarians entered a mental and economic depression.<sup id="cite_ref-firstrep_38-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-firstrep-38">[37]</a></sup> The bad part was that much of this industry was in Sudetenland and was controlled by the Germans, who were still disloyal and hoping to secede. Surely that wouldn't cause any problems. </p><p>In 1920, Czechoslovakia became a parliamentary democracy, but there were still some problems thanks to the government being quite centralized around Prague and Czechia.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39">[38]</a></sup> National minorities had guaranteed freedoms, but their participation in the highest levels of government was fairly limited. Again, we're sure that wouldn't cause any problems. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="The_Sudetenland_problem">The Sudetenland problem</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: The Sudetenland problem">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>The Germans proved to be the republic's downfall, which you probably already guessed. Germans were heavily impacted by government efforts to combat social inequality; they were further affected by economic problems in neighboring <a href="/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a> and heavily influenced by the eventual rise of <a href="/wiki/Adolf_Hitler" title="Adolf Hitler">Adolf Hitler</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Nazi_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="Nazi Party">Nazi Party</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[39]</a></sup> The Czech government entered a stiff conflict with the Nazis, attempting to dissolve the Sudeten Nazi party only to have it reform under different names (Nazis can be annoying like that). The successor parties made no secret of their agreement with Hitler's pan-German agenda. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Under_Nazi_German_misrule">Under Nazi German misrule</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Under Nazi German misrule">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg/250px-N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="196" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg/375px-N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg 2x" data-file-width="460" data-file-height="361" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:N%C4%9Bmeck%C3%A9_tanky_v_Praze.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>German tanks enter Prague, 1939.</div></div></div> <p>After Hitler took Austria in 1938, he started screeching about reuniting with the Sudeten Germans. In May 1938, it became known to the international community that Hitler was drawing up plans to invade Czechoslovakia, which was a major problem since Czechoslovak independence was theoretically guaranteed by the <a href="/wiki/British" class="mw-redirect" title="British">British</a> and <a href="/wiki/French" class="mw-redirect" title="French">French</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41">[40]</a></sup> We said <i>theoretically.</i> In reality, British and French leaders considered any capitulation preferable to a repeat of the Great War. Thus, with no input from the Czechoslovak government, the Allies agreed at the so-called Munich Conference that all Czech provinces with more than 50% German population would be handed off to Germany with a plebiscite to be held in the rest.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42">[41]</a></sup> The Munich Agreement was celebrated by Europe, as it seemingly prevented another continental war.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43">[42]</a></sup> It did not. </p> <div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg/250px-Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="184" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg/375px-Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg/500px-Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg 2x" data-file-width="652" data-file-height="479" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Praha_%C4%8Desk%C3%BD_rozhlas_5.5.1945.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Prague citizens shot by German occupiers.</div></div></div> <p>As you might expect, the loss of the resource- and industry-rich Sudetenland catastrophically weakened Czechoslovakia. As you also might expect, the two-faced Hitler promptly broke the Munich Agreement and sent the German army to occupy the rest of Czechoslovakia, which had no way of resisting.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44">[43]</a></sup> Czechoslovakia was then carved up between Germany, which took Bohemia-Moravia, the "Slovak Republic", a German puppet, and Poland, which annexed the Polish-majority region called Zaolzie.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[44]</a></sup> </p><p>During <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>, Czech and Slovak partisans violently resisted German occupation. The Germans retaliated with their typical brutality, most infamously in a 1942 massacre of 340 civilians in the village of Lidice.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46">[45]</a></sup> The German government also carried out the <a href="/wiki/Holocaust" title="Holocaust">Holocaust</a> in Czech territory, implementing discriminatory laws at first but then building the Theresienstadt Ghetto to the north of Prague and using it as a transit facility to begin holding <a href="/wiki/Jews" class="mw-redirect" title="Jews">Jews</a> before shipping them into death camps.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[46]</a></sup> After Czech partisans heroically killed the monstrous Reinhard Heydrich, German crackdowns became even harsher and more murderous. Some 80,000 Jews were murdered by the German authorities.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48">[47]</a></sup> </p><p>In the war's final days, the Czech resistance rose up in Prague, fighting the <a href="/wiki/Waffen-SS" class="mw-redirect" title="Waffen-SS">Waffen-SS</a> and hoping to weaken German rule ahead of the incoming <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>'s armies. The German retaliation was severe, with tanks and artillery guns running people over and blowing them up while German air forces bombed the city.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49">[48]</a></sup> The uprising ended inconclusively, but Soviet troops arrived just a day later. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Communist_rule">Communist rule</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Communist rule">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg/275px-Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg" decoding="async" width="275" height="183" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg/413px-Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg/550px-Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg 2x" data-file-width="720" data-file-height="480" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Gottwald_%26_Stalin.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Portraits of Czech leader Klement Gottwald alongside Joseph Stalin.</div></div></div> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Stalinization">Stalinization</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Stalinization">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>Sadly, Czechoslovakia had been "liberated" by the Soviet Union (who also took the <a href="/wiki/Ukrainian" class="mw-redirect" title="Ukrainian">Ukrainian</a> chunk of Slovakia as a war prize<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50">[49]</a></sup>). Since communist forces aligned with <a href="/wiki/Joseph_Stalin" title="Joseph Stalin">Joseph Stalin</a> were pretty powerful in Czechoslovakia, the Soviets didn't feel the need to clamp down as urgently as they had done elsewhere.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[50]</a></sup> Sure enough, the communists won big in the 1946 elections and then launched a coup two years later to seize total control of government and eliminate the minority democratic opposition.<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52">[51]</a></sup> Czechoslovakia became a <a href="/wiki/Dictatorship" title="Dictatorship">dictatorship</a> aligned with the <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Bloc" title="Eastern Bloc">Eastern Bloc</a> with the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC) in total control. </p><p>Political participation became subject to KSC approval, the legislature became a simple rubber stamp for the dictatorship, and Czechoslovak interests were subordinated to the interests of the Soviet Union.<sup id="cite_ref-ksc_53-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ksc-53">[52]</a></sup> Stalin was the top dog in Czechoslovakia, and his natural <a href="/wiki/Paranoia" title="Paranoia">paranoia</a> and shittiness translated into an era of mass purges and show trials. Over six years, from 1949 to 1954, thousands of military leaders, Catholics, Jews, and democratic politicians went before a series of <a href="/wiki/Kangaroo_court" title="Kangaroo court">kangaroo courts</a>, and 180 were ultimately sentenced to the <a href="/wiki/Death_penalty" class="mw-redirect" title="Death penalty">death penalty</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54">[53]</a></sup> The defendants had been declared guilty before the trials began and were ordered to rehearse their testimonies. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Censorship" title="Censorship">Censorship</a> became ubiquitous as independent publications were shut down and state-run media filled the air with <a href="/wiki/Bullshit" title="Bullshit">bullshit</a>. Dissidents and religious clergy were persecuted and often executed. On the other hand, previously poor working-class people were given quality housing and a decent pension, and loyal people even got paid vacations to resort towns elsewhere in the Eastern Bloc.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55">[54]</a></sup> Those benefits still came at a steep price, though, as the communist cult of productivity led to long hours and long workweeks to meet production quotas.<sup id="cite_ref-ksc_53-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ksc-53">[52]</a></sup> The land was collectivized, and wealthy farmers had their estates turned into state farms. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Prague_Spring">Prague Spring</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Prague Spring">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:227px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m,_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m%2C_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg/225px-Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m%2C_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="149" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m%2C_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg/338px-Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m%2C_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m%2C_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg/450px-Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m%2C_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3682" data-file-height="2446" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Praag._Straatbeeld_met_een_groep_geuniformeerde_kleuters_met_twee_leidsters_en_m,_Bestanddeelnr_920-1505.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div><s>Teletubbies on parade</s><br />Leading children in Prague, 1967.</div></div></div> <p>This <a href="/wiki/Totalitarian" class="mw-redirect" title="Totalitarian">totalitarian</a> model persisted even after Stalin's death, as the KSČ leadership remained unchanged and committed to suppressing the Czech people.<sup id="cite_ref-czref_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-czref-56">[55]</a></sup> Despite efforts to increase production, the Czechoslovak economy stagnated, and the whole country became reliant on food imports from elsewhere in the Eastern Bloc. In response to the growing unrest this caused (economic problems <i>always</i> cause political problems), the Czechoslovak regime started to explore the possibility of following the semi-liberalization that was taking hold elsewhere in the Eastern Bloc. </p><p>In 1968, this resulted in the rise of Alexander Dubček, who got support for economic reforms and then implemented policies that gave greater freedom to Czechoslovak media and reviewed the show trials to rehabilitate those who had been unfairly sentenced.<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57">[56]</a></sup> Instead of being a simple reformist like the KSČ and their Soviet minders expected, Dubček said, "fuck y'all", and revealed that he was actually a full-on <a href="/wiki/Democratic_socialist" class="mw-redirect" title="Democratic socialist">democratic socialist</a>. He revealed plans to federalize and democratize Czechoslovakia and allowed the media to shit-talk the Soviet Union while social democrats made plans to split from the KSČ and form their own party.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58">[57]</a></sup> These sweeping changes made the <a href="/wiki/Conservative" class="mw-redirect" title="Conservative">conservatives</a> shit a brick. The Soviet leadership also shit a brick and declared that Dubček was a counter-revolutionary. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Warsaw_Pact_invasion">Warsaw Pact invasion</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Warsaw Pact invasion">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:252px;"><a href="/wiki/File:10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg/250px-10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="168" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg/375px-10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg/500px-10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4048" data-file-height="2720" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:10_Soviet_Invasion_of_Czechoslovakia_-_Flickr_-_The_Central_Intelligence_Agency.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Czech resistance to the invasion.</div></div></div> <p>Determined to stop the dangers of free speech and thought, the Soviets got the Warsaw Pact together and launched an invasion of Czechoslovakia aimed at deposing Dubček and restoring the communist conservatives to power. They moved troops from Hungary, <a href="/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a>, <a href="/wiki/East_Germany" title="East Germany">East Germany</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a> near the Czechoslovak border under the guise that they were simply performing exercises; at the Soviet command, the forces struck quickly.<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59">[58]</a></sup> Warsaw Pact forces seized control of Prague and major cities and then shut down communications throughout the country. </p><p>108 Czech and Slovak civilians were killed during the first four months of the invasion, many run over by tanks and trucks while trying to negotiate or figure out why the fuck they were being invaded by their 'allies'.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60">[59]</a></sup> Those who survived and didn't flee the country were faced with publicly denouncing Dubček's program or being totally ostracized from society. Dubček was hauled off to Moscow in handcuffs and eventually demoted to a minor forestry official.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61">[60]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="A_prolonged_political_winter">A prolonged political winter</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: A prolonged political winter">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <p>The Czechoslovak people were understandably not too happy with their socialist comrades at this point. Soviet troops remained stationed throughout Czechoslovakia throughout the 1970s to suppress dissent and ensure the reformists could be easily disposed of.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62">[61]</a></sup> The brief experiment with a less-shitty government was replaced with all the shit. Full censorship, total centralization, you name it. Everything went back to how it was before Dubček ruined it all by not being a piece of shit. </p><p>Gustáv Husák took power as the new communist leader of Czechoslovakia. Husák stressed conformity with his own rules and those of the Soviet Union, and he set about crushing the humanities, <a href="/wiki/Social_science" title="Social science">social sciences</a>, and ultimately the pure <a href="/wiki/Science" title="Science">sciences</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-husak_63-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-husak-63">[62]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Art" title="Art">Art</a> had to adhere to a rigid socialist-realist formula based on the Soviet example. The new/old government also returned the country to the crusty old command economy, setting the stage for more economic problems further down the road. The <a href="/wiki/Oil" title="Oil">oil</a> crisis of 1973-74, caused by shenanigans in the <a href="/wiki/Middle_East" title="Middle East">Middle East</a>, gave their economy the push it needed to go into free-fall.<sup id="cite_ref-husak_63-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-husak-63">[62]</a></sup> Living standards crumbled. Instead of changing course, Husák doubled down on the idea that maintaining ties with the Soviet Union would, somehow and at some point, make things better again. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Velvet_Revolution">Velvet Revolution</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Velvet Revolution">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:337px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg/335px-Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg" decoding="async" width="335" height="184" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg/503px-Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg/670px-Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg 2x" data-file-width="727" data-file-height="399" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Prague_November89_-_Wenceslas_Monument.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Protesters in Prague, November 1989.</div></div></div> <p>It turned out that deriving all political legitimacy from another country wasn't a very good policy. In 1989, Soviet leader <a href="/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev" title="Mikhail Gorbachev">Mikhail Gorbachev</a> outlined the amusingly termed "Sinatra Doctrine", which explained that the Soviet Union was no longer interested in violating the sovereignty of its fellow Warsaw Pact members.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64">[63]</a></sup> In other words, no more violent acts like the invasion that ended the Prague Spring. </p><p>The Sinatra Doctrine basically spelled doom for the Eastern Bloc, as one by one, the communist regimes found themselves absent Soviet aid and thus forced to peacefully negotiate a democratic transition. Late that year, a state-ordered commemoration of a <a href="/wiki/Martyr" title="Martyr">martyr</a> killed by the Nazis transformed into a mass protest movement that swept Prague.<sup id="cite_ref-vlvnv_65-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vlvnv-65">[64]</a></sup> Riot <a href="/wiki/Police" class="mw-redirect" title="Police">police</a> promptly beat the shit out of the protesters, although this only dumped gas on the flames of public resentment. Police violence tends to do that. </p><p>Unable to take to the streets without violence, much of the Czechoslovak workforce went on strike, finally demonstrating the depth of the political opposition and convincing the Politburo to resign.<sup id="cite_ref-vlvnv_65-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vlvnv-65">[64]</a></sup> A compromise government quickly appeared, and a democratic transition could begin. The country held its first democratic elections in 1990. Soviet forces withdrew from Czechoslovakia at the new government's request. Frankly, the Russians had bigger problems to deal with. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Dissolution">Dissolution</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Dissolution">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h4> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:302px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg/300px-Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="190" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg/450px-Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="317" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Presidential_Visit_at_NCSML.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Three presidents in <a href="/wiki/Iowa" class="mw-redirect" title="Iowa">Iowa</a> (l. to r.): Michal Kováč of Slovakia, <a href="/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a> of the <a href="/wiki/US" class="mw-redirect" title="US">US</a>, and Václav Havel of Czechia. 1995.</div></div></div> <p>Czechoslovakia, a hastily-constructed experiment, was basically on its last legs at this point. When democratic government resumed, the Czechs and Slovaks abruptly realized that they had a wide variety of differences in their ideas of governance.<sup id="cite_ref-vlvdiv_66-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vlvdiv-66">[65]</a></sup> The Czechs thought that the Slovaks were overrepresented based on their respective populations, and the dysfunctional government left behind by the communists meant an integrated political system was impossible.<sup id="cite_ref-vlvdiv_66-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-vlvdiv-66">[65]</a></sup> </p><p>Thus, the so-called "Velvet Divorce", where Czechoslovakia split in two on December 31<sup>st</sup>, 1992. Ultimately, the move seemed to be the best option for stability, as it allowed the Czechs and Slovaks to avoid what would have been years of fighting over how to rework the government. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Modern_republic">Modern republic</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Modern republic">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>The Czech Republic underwent a rapid transition from command economics to market <a href="/wiki/Capitalism" title="Capitalism">capitalism</a>, broadly considered a success based on the country's modern economic indicators.<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67">[66]</a></sup> Closer to the ground, it's apparent that deep scars remain. Despite a fairly comprehensive <a href="/wiki/Welfare_state" title="Welfare state">welfare state</a>, Czechs are plagued by low wages, ridiculously long work hours, and a shortage of jobs.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68">[67]</a></sup> People who have shitty jobs are just glad to have jobs. </p><p>The Czech Republic joined <a href="/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> in 1999 and joined the <a href="/wiki/EU" class="mw-redirect" title="EU">EU</a> in 2004. Czechia ranks quite highly on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index" class="extiw" title="wp:Global Peace Index" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Global Peace Index">Global Peace Index</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> just below <a href="/wiki/Switzerland" title="Switzerland">Switzerland</a>. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Government_and_politics">Government and politics</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Government and politics">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:317px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Garden_of_Straka_Academy,_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Garden_of_Straka_Academy%2C_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg/315px-Garden_of_Straka_Academy%2C_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg" decoding="async" width="315" height="242" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Garden_of_Straka_Academy%2C_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg/473px-Garden_of_Straka_Academy%2C_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Garden_of_Straka_Academy%2C_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg/630px-Garden_of_Straka_Academy%2C_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2135" data-file-height="1643" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Garden_of_Straka_Academy,_Prague_Mal%C3%A1_Strana.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Straka Academy building, seat of the Czech government.</div></div></div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Structure">Structure</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Structure">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Czechia is a parliamentary democracy<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69">[68]</a></sup> with a <a href="/wiki/Constitution" title="Constitution">constitution</a> that guarantees rights outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70">[69]</a></sup> Its parliament is bicameral, split between the Chamber of Deputies (elected on a proportional basis for four-year terms) and the Senate (elected on a district basis for six-year terms). The Czech president is directly elected by popular vote to a five-year term and appoints the prime minister to run the government, who needs to get a vote of confidence from the Chamber of Deputies. </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Corruption">Corruption</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Corruption">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <p>Corruption is a huge problem in the Czech Republic, constantly stymying the European Union's efforts to help them get their shit together. In 2019, Czechia came <i>last</i> in meeting anti-corruption recommendations according to an evaluation of 42 countries by the Council of Europe's anti-corruption unit.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71">[70]</a></sup> Damn. Former prime minister Andrej Babiš was accused by the European Parliament of funneling state funds into one of his companies; he retaliated by calling them "insane".<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72">[71]</a></sup> </p><p>Unfortunately, corruption is quite pervasive in the Czech judicial system. Bribes and irregular payments for favorable judicial decisions are common, and political influence on the judiciary is high.<sup id="cite_ref-gan_73-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-gan-73">[72]</a></sup> Police also often expect bribes in exchange for protection, and bribes are often necessary to get access to quality public services.<sup id="cite_ref-gan_73-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-gan-73">[72]</a></sup> </p><p>In 2020, a Prague court bizarrely ruled that PM Andrej Babiš had the right to lie about his political opposition in a case that targeted the anti-corruption group Transparency International.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74">[73]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Discrimination_against_Roma">Discrimination against Roma</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Discrimination against Roma">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:277px;"><a href="/wiki/File:%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG/275px-%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG" decoding="async" width="275" height="183" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG/413px-%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG/550px-%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG 2x" data-file-width="4272" data-file-height="2848" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice_29-6-2013_01.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Roma activists in České Budějovice.</div></div></div> <table style="margin: auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td><div style="padding:4px 50px;position:relative;"><span style="position:absolute;left:10px;top:-6px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">“</span><span style="position:absolute;right:10px;bottom:-20px;z-index:1;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;color:#B2B7F2;font-size:36px">”</span>The widespread <a href="/wiki/Segregation" title="Segregation">segregation</a> of Romani children is a horrifying example of systematic prejudice, with schools introducing children to bitter <a href="/wiki/Discrimination" title="Discrimination">discrimination</a> at an early age. By failing to properly address this issue for years the Czech government is not only breaching European Union and <a href="/wiki/Human_rights" title="Human rights">human rights</a> law but is restricting the life chances of tens of thousands of Czech citizens. Let's call this what it is: <a href="/wiki/Racism" title="Racism">racism</a>, pure and simple.</div> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="padding:4px 10px 8px;font-size:smaller;line-height:1.6em;text-align:right;"><cite style="font-style:normal;position:relative;z-index:2">—Salil Shetty, Amnesty International Secretary General.<sup id="cite_ref-romsch_75-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-romsch-75">[74]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Typically for Central Europe, the <a href="/wiki/Roma" title="Roma">Roma</a> people face extensive discrimination in Czechia. According to <a href="/wiki/Amnesty_International" title="Amnesty International">Amnesty International</a>, "Romani children face daily discrimination and <a href="/wiki/Segregation" title="Segregation">segregation</a> in schools due to the Czech government’s longstanding failure to address deeply ingrained prejudice within the education system".<sup id="cite_ref-romsch_75-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-romsch-75">[74]</a></sup> Roma children are placed in separate classes, buildings, and schools and are often placed in schools for pupils with "mild mental disabilities".<sup id="cite_ref-romsch_75-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-romsch-75">[74]</a></sup> Romani children who are placed in regular schools face racist <a href="/wiki/Bullying" title="Bullying">bullying</a>. Amnesty International interviewed a young Romani boy named Petr, who stated that "They call me names because I’m Roma. The teacher doesn't deal with it and when I tell her, she accuses me of starting it. She treats us differently".<sup id="cite_ref-romsch_75-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-romsch-75">[74]</a></sup> </p><p>Even Romani who are lucky enough to graduate from university and get good jobs still face discrimination in housing and personal economics, forcing them onto society's outskirts and into debt.<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76">[75]</a></sup> Racism sometimes escalates into violence, most horrifically demonstrated in 2009 when <a href="/wiki/Far-right" class="mw-redirect" title="Far-right">far-right</a> fuckwits fire-bombed a Romani house and burned a three-year-old girl nearly to death, permanently disfiguring her.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77">[76]</a></sup> </p><p>A 2019 Pew Research poll found that 66% of Czechs have strongly negative views toward Romani people.<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78">[77]</a></sup> Romani children in orphanages are rarely adopted due to the racist belief that they will inevitably become thieves and lazy.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79">[78]</a></sup> </p><p>High-level government officials also frequently direct their scorn towards Romani. Czech President Milos Zeman caused a stir in 2018 when he stated that one of the things he missed about the old communist regime was the fact that they "made the Roma people work."<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80">[79]</a></sup> Upon criticism, he doubled down and stated without evidence that 90% of Romani refused to work. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Famous_Czech_mates">Famous Czech mates</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Famous Czech mates">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas">Good King Wenceslas</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka" class="extiw" title="wp:Franz Kafka" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Franz Kafka">Franz Kafka</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> (German-speaking Jew)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sigmund_Freud" title="Sigmund Freud">Sigmund Freud</a>, great <a href="/wiki/Psychologist" class="mw-redirect" title="Psychologist">psychologist</a> even if he wasn't really Czech even if he was born there (German-speaking ethnic Jew)</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_%C4%8Capek" class="extiw" title="wp:Karel Čapek" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Karel Čapek">Karel Čapek</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> an author who gave us the word "robot"</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Mahler" class="extiw" title="wp:Gustav Mahler" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Gustav Mahler">Gustav Mahler</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> a great composer or the worst who ever put music onto a score, depending upon one's view… largely honored in the Czech Republic even if culturally German.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Steinitz" class="extiw" title="wp:Wilhelm Steinitz" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Wilhelm Steinitz">Wilhelm Steinitz</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> World Chess Champion (1886-1896), was born in Prague, but became a <a href="/wiki/US" class="mw-redirect" title="US">US</a> citizen shortly after winning the title</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed%C5%99ich_Smetana" class="extiw" title="wp:Bedřich Smetana" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Bedřich Smetana">Bedřich Smetana</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> composer of <i>Má vlast</i> ("My Fatherland")</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo%C5%A1_Forman" class="extiw" title="wp:Miloš Forman" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Miloš Forman">Miloš Forman</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> director of <i>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</i>.</li></ul> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:152px;"><a href="/wiki/File:Budvar-mug.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Budvar-mug.JPG/150px-Budvar-mug.JPG" decoding="async" width="150" height="205" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Budvar-mug.JPG/225px-Budvar-mug.JPG 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Budvar-mug.JPG/300px-Budvar-mug.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1560" data-file-height="2131" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Budvar-mug.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>A mug of Budweiser pale lager.</div></div></div> <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivana_Trump" class="extiw" title="wp:Ivana Trump" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Ivana Trump">Ivana Trump</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> first ex-wife of <a href="/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Havel" class="extiw" title="wp:Václav Havel" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Václav Havel">Václav Havel</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> playwright, leader of the Velvet Revolution, and first Czech Republic president.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Herzigov%C3%A1" class="extiw" title="wp:Eva Herzigová" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Eva Herzigová">Eva Herzigová</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> supermodel and actress</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_V%C3%A1vra" class="extiw" title="wp:Daniel Vávra" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Daniel Vávra">Daniel Vávra</span></a>,<sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> video game writer best known for the <i>Mafia</i> and <i>Kingdom Come</i> franchises, and <a href="/wiki/Far-right" class="mw-redirect" title="Far-right">far-right</a> Eurosceptic</li></ul> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Other_Czech_things">Other Czech things</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Other Czech things">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3> <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.R." class="extiw" title="wp:R.U.R." rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: R.U.R.">Robots!</span></a><sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup></li> <li>The Golem of Prague (a Jewish<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-81">[80]</a></sup> robot made of clay. Or something…)</li> <li>Budweiser and Pilsner beer — the proper one,<sup>[<i>citation NOT needed</i>]</sup> not the shitty American stuff.</li> <li>Škoda — the <a href="/wiki/Car" class="mw-redirect" title="Car">car</a> that became the butt of <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://skoda-jokes.blogspot.com/">a thousand jokes</a> — Now bought up by VW and basically the same car as the equivalent VW for half the price (outside of Czech Republic at least; inside, the company prices their product as high as people's sense of nationalism allows).</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/wsg/index.htm">The White Shorthair</a> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/brownshorthair/index.htm">Brown Shorthair</a> <a href="/wiki/Goat" title="Goat">goats</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/534383.stm">The Gypsy wall</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semtex" class="extiw" title="wp:Semtex" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#477979 !important;" title="Wikipedia: Semtex">Semtex</span></a><sup><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/12px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="12" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/18px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wikipedia%27s_W.svg/24px-Wikipedia%27s_W.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></sup> — the 2<sup>nd</sup> word Czech(oslovakia) gave to the world.</li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Gallery">Gallery</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Gallery">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <center><ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:52.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Prague_skyline_view.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Prague_skyline_view.jpg/225px-Prague_skyline_view.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Prague_skyline_view.jpg/338px-Prague_skyline_view.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Prague_skyline_view.jpg/450px-Prague_skyline_view.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2200" data-file-height="1467" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Historic bridges of Prague. </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:43px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna,_Prague.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna%2C_Prague.jpg/225px-Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna%2C_Prague.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="169" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna%2C_Prague.jpg/338px-Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna%2C_Prague.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna%2C_Prague.jpg/450px-Meat_selection_dish_at_restaurant_Kolkovna%2C_Prague.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3648" data-file-height="2736" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Bohemian meat platter. </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:52.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg/225px-Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg/338px-Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg/450px-Mala_morava_vojtiskov_morava_valley.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2500" data-file-height="1667" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Landscape of northern Czechia. </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:52.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg/225px-Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg/338px-Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg/450px-Individu%C3%A1ln%C3%AD-filantropie3.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5722" data-file-height="3820" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Czech philanthropy award ceremony. </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:43px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg/225px-Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="169" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg/338px-Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg/450px-Katedr%C3%A1la_sv._V%C3%A1clava_Olomouc_-_panoramio.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4288" data-file-height="3216" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Saint Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc. </p> </div> </div></li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 260px"><div style="width: 260px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 255px;"><div style="margin:52.5px auto;"><a href="/wiki/File:Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg/225px-Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="150" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg/338px-Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg/450px-Are%C3%A1l_%C4%8Ds._opevn%C4%9Bn%C3%AD_v_Darkovi%C4%8Dk%C3%A1ch_-_akce.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="856" /></a></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>A modernized T-72 belonging to the Czech Armed Forces. </p> </div> </div></li> </ul></center> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: References">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2; font-size:80%;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pragueczechtravel.com/information/prague-history-story.php">Prague History: A Story Of Bad Times And Good Times</a>. <i>Travel Prague: your Prague guide by someone who lives here</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-2">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36048186">Czech Republic to be known as 'Czechia'</a>. <i>BBC News</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-3">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://cne.news/article/588-census-of-czech-republic-shows-growth-of-jediism-as-a-religion">Census of Czech Republic shows growth of Jediism as a ‘religion’</a>. <i>Christian Network Europe.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-4">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://praguemorning.cz/number-of-jedi-knights-in-czech-republic-increase/">Number of Jedi Knights in Czech Republic Increase</a>. <i>Prague Morning.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-earl-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-earl_5-0">5.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-earl_5-1">5.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/4.htm">Czech Republic: Early History</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-6">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/5.htm">Czech Republic: Magyar Invasion</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-boh-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-boh_7-0">7.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-boh_7-1">7.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-boh_7-2">7.2</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/6.htm">Czech Republic: Bohemian Kingdom</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-9">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Castle" class="extiw" title="wp:Prague Castle" rel="nofollow">Prague Castle</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-10">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jan-Hus">Jan Hus</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-11">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus" class="extiw" title="wp:Jan Hus" rel="nofollow">Jan Hus</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-12">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hussite">Hussite</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-13">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/margin/hussites.htm">The Hussites</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-huss-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-huss_14-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/christianity/protestant-denominations/hussites">Hussites</a>. <i>Encyclopedia.com</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-tabor-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-tabor_15-0">14.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-tabor_15-1">14.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/tom-holland-taborites-who-religious-sect-challenged-holy-roman-empire/">Christ’s communists: the radical religious sect that challenged the Holy Roman Empire</a>. <i>History Extra.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-16">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussite_Wars" class="extiw" title="wp:Hussite Wars" rel="nofollow">Hussite Wars</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-17">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemia#Hussite_Bohemia" class="extiw" title="wp:Bohemia" rel="nofollow">Bohemia § Hussite Bohemia</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-18">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_peace_of_Kutn%C3%A1_Hora" class="extiw" title="wp:Religious peace of Kutná Hora" rel="nofollow">Religious peace of Kutná Hora</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-19">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Moh%C3%A1cs" class="extiw" title="wp:Battle of Mohács" rel="nofollow">Battle of Mohács</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-hat-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-hat_20-0">19.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-hat_20-1">19.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/9.htm">Hapsburg Absolutism and the Bohemian Estates</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-21">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.habsburger.net/en/chapter/persecutor-protestants-ferdinand-ii?language=en">Persecutor of the Protestants: Ferdinand II</a> <i>World of the Habsburgs</i>. ND.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-22">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Defenestration-of-Prague-1618">The Defenestration of Prague</a> <i>Britannica</i> ND.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-23">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-thirty-years-war/bohemia/">Bohemia</a> <i>Britannica</i>. ND.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-24">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.private-prague-guide.com/article/battle-of-white-mountain/">Battle of White Mountain</a> Erin Naillon, <i>Private Prague Guide</i> Nd.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-thirt-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-thirt_25-0">24.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-thirt_25-1">24.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/11.htm">Czech Republic: Consequences of Czech Defeat</a>. <i>Thirty Years War</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-26">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Oskar Krejčí, Martin C. Styan, Ústav politických vied SAV. (2005). <i>Geopolitics of the Central European region: the view from Prague and Bratislava</i>. p.293. ISBN 80-224-0852-2</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-bbq-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-bbq_27-0">26.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-bbq_27-1">26.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/12.htm">Czech Republic: Enlightened Absolutism</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-28">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque" class="extiw" title="wp:Baroque" rel="nofollow">Baroque</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-29">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/2017/09/czech-republic-baroque-through-all-senses">Czech Republic: Baroque through all the senses</a>. <i>National Geographic.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-30">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Austrian_Succession" class="extiw" title="wp:War of the Austrian Succession" rel="nofollow">War of the Austrian Succession</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-nati-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-nati_31-0">30.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-nati_31-1">30.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/13.htm">Czech Republic: National Revival</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-32">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutions_of_1848_in_the_Austrian_Empire" class="extiw" title="wp:Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire" rel="nofollow">Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-33">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/14.htm">Czech Republic: Revolutions of 1848</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-34">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/16.htm">Czech Republic: Austria and the Czechs</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-35">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/18.htm">Czech Republic: The Czechoslovak Idea</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-wwi-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-wwi_36-0">35.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-wwi_36-1">35.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/19.htm">Czech Republic: World War I</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-37">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.europeana.eu/en/blog/czechs-and-slovaks-fighting-for-independence-during-world-war-one">Czechs and Slovaks fighting for independence during World War One</a>. <i>Europeana.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-firstrep-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-firstrep_38-0">37.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-firstrep_38-1">37.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/21.htm">Czech Republic: Features of the New State</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-39">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/22.htm">Czechoslovak Democracy</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-40">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/26.htm">Sudetenland</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-41">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Munich-Agreement">Munich Agreement</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-42">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.historytoday.com/archive/munich-conference">The Munich Conference</a>. <i>History Today.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-43">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement" class="extiw" title="wp:Munich Agreement" rel="nofollow">Munich Agreement</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-44">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Czechoslovakia" class="extiw" title="wp:German occupation of Czechoslovakia" rel="nofollow">German occupation of Czechoslovakia</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-45">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaolzie" class="extiw" title="wp:Zaolzie" rel="nofollow">Zaolzie</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-46">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story-lidice-massacre-180970242/">The Lost Children of the Lidice Massacre</a>. <i>Smithsonian Magazine.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-47">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/life-in-nazi-occupied-europe/occupation-case-studies/czechoslovakia/">Czechoslovakia</a>. <i>The Holocaust Explained.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-48">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust_in_Bohemia_and_Moravia" class="extiw" title="wp:The Holocaust in Bohemia and Moravia" rel="nofollow">The Holocaust in Bohemia and Moravia</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-49">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/prague-uprising-1945">Calling All Czechs! The Prague Uprising of 1945</a>. <i>National WWII Museum.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-50">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpathian_Ruthenia" class="extiw" title="wp:Carpathian Ruthenia" rel="nofollow">Carpathian Ruthenia</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-51">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Wettig, Gerhard (2008), <i>Stalin and the Cold War in Europe</i>, Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 0-7425-5542-9 p. 45</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-52">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Czechoslovak_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" class="extiw" title="wp:1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état" rel="nofollow">1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ksc-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-ksc_53-0">52.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-ksc_53-1">52.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/38.htm">Czech Republic: Stalinization</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-54">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.private-prague-guide.com/article/communism-in-czechoslovakia/">Communism in Czechoslovakia</a>. <i>Private Prague Guide.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-55">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.private-prague-guide.com/article/life-during-the-communist-era-in-czechoslovakia/">Life during the Communist era in Czechoslovakia</a>. <i>Private Prague Guide.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-czref-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-czref_56-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/39.htm">Czech Republic: Reform Movement</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-57">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Dubcek">Alexander Dubček</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-58">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/40.htm">The Prague Spring, 1968</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-59">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/soviet-invasion-czechoslavkia">Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia, 1968</a>. US State Department.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-60">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45168062">Soviet 1968 invasion: Czechs still feel Cold War shivers</a>. <i>BBC News.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-61">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Dub%C4%8Dek" class="extiw" title="wp:Alexander Dubček" rel="nofollow">Alexander Dubček</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-62">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/42.htm">Czech Republic: Normalization</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-husak-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-husak_63-0">62.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-husak_63-1">62.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://countrystudies.us/czech-republic/43.htm">Preserving the Status Quo</a>. <i>Country Studies.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-64">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinatra_Doctrine" class="extiw" title="wp:Sinatra Doctrine" rel="nofollow">Sinatra Doctrine</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-vlvnv-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vlvnv_65-0">64.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vlvnv_65-1">64.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/czechoslovakias-velvet-revolution-1989/">Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution (1989)</a>. <i>International Center on Nonviolent Conflict</i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-vlvdiv-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vlvdiv_66-0">65.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-vlvdiv_66-1">65.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-velvet-divorce-1221617">The Velvet Divorce: The Dissolution of Czechoslovakia</a>. <i>ThoughtCo.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-67">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://english.radio.cz/world-bank-marks-czech-republics-graduation-developed-status-8622311">World Bank marks Czech Republic's graduation to 'developed' status</a>. <i>Radio Prague.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-68">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/19/czech-republic-transition-state-socialism-capitalism">If the Czech economy is thriving, why are we so poor?</a>. <i>The Guardian.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-69">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.mzv.cz/copenhagen/en/briefly_about_the_czech_republic/political_system/index.html">https://www.mzv.cz/copenhagen/en/briefly_about_the_czech_republic/political_system/index.html</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-70">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Czech-Republic/Government-and-society">Czech Republic: Government And Society</a>. <i>Britannica.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-71">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.expats.cz/weekly-czech-news/czech-republic-ranks-last-on-european-anti-corruption-index-ignored-warnings/">Czech Republic ranks last on European anti-corruption index; ignored warnings</a>. <i>Expats CZ.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-72">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/11759-european-authorities-accuse-czech-government-of-corruption">European Authorities Concerned About Graft in Czech Republic</a>. <i>Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-gan-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-gan_73-0">72.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-gan_73-1">72.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ganintegrity.com/portal/country-profiles/czech-republic/">Czech Republic Corruption Report</a>. <i>GAN Integrity.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-74">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.transparency.org/en/news/a-moment-of-truth-for-the-czech-republic">Legally Sanctioned Lying: A Moment of Truth for the Czech Republic?</a> <i>Transparency International.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-romsch-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-romsch_75-0">74.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-romsch_75-1">74.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-romsch_75-2">74.2</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-romsch_75-3">74.3</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/04/czech-republic-systematic-discrimination-against-romani-children-in-schools/">Czech Republic: Systematic discrimination against Romani children in schools</a>. <i>Amnesty International.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-76">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/half-of-the-roma-in-the-czech-republic-live-in-social-exclusion-members-of-the-middle-class-face-ethnic-intolerance">Half of the Roma in the Czech Republic live in social exclusion, members of the middle class face ethnic intolerance</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-77">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_V%C3%ADtkov_arson_attack" class="extiw" title="wp:2009 Vítkov arson attack" rel="nofollow">2009 Vítkov arson attack</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-78">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/10/14/minority-groups/">6. Minority groups</a>. <i>Pew Research Center.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-79">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://english.radio.cz/what-keeping-children-orphanages-when-so-many-people-want-adopt-8611110">What is keeping children in orphanages when so many people want to adopt?</a> <i>Radio Prague.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-80"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-80">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-roma/czech-president-defends-assertion-that-most-roma-dont-work-idUSKCN1MH0Q5">Czech president defends assertion that most Roma don't work</a>. <i>Reuters.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-81"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-81">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Edward Rothstein, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/11/arts/11conn.html">"'A Legendary Protector Formed From a Lump of Clay and a Mound of Terror"</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>, 10 June 2018</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Notes">Notes</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Czechia&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Notes">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2> <div class="references-small" style="font-size:90%;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-8">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">Anybody who has played <i>Crusader Kings</i> knows that noble vassals can go fuck themselves.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div role="navigation" aria-labelledby="Nations_of_the_world-navigationbox" class="toccolours" style="clear:both; margin:0.5em 3.5%; text-align:center;"> <div style="margin:0.15em; padding:0.1em; background:#ccccff; font-weight:bold;"><span id="Nations_of_the_world-navigationbox"><a href="/wiki/Nation" title="Nation">Nations</a> of the world</span> </div> <div class="hlist" style="font-size: 90%; margin: 0.15em 1.425em;"><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Africa" title="Africa"><b>Africa</b></a>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo" title="Democratic Republic of the Congo">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a> — <a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a> — <a href="/wiki/Eritrea" title="Eritrea">Eritrea</a> — <a href="/wiki/ESwatini" title="ESwatini">eSwatini</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ethiopia" title="Ethiopia">Ethiopia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Guinea" title="Guinea">Guinea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kenya" title="Kenya">Kenya</a> — <a href="/wiki/Liberia" title="Liberia">Liberia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a> — <a href="/wiki/Mali" title="Mali">Mali</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia">Somalia</a> — <a href="/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a> — <a href="/wiki/Sudan" title="Sudan">Sudan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Togo" title="Togo">Togo</a> — <a href="/wiki/Uganda" title="Uganda">Uganda</a> — <a href="/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a> <p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Asia" title="Asia"><b>Asia</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a> — <a href="/wiki/Brunei" title="Brunei">Brunei</a> — <a href="/wiki/Burma" title="Burma">Burma</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cambodia" title="Cambodia">Cambodia</a> — <a href="/wiki/China" title="China">China</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a> — <a href="/wiki/Georgia_(country)" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a> — <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a> — <a href="/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a> — <a href="/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a> — <a href="/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a> — <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kyrgyzstan" title="Kyrgyzstan">Kyrgyzstan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Laos" title="Laos">Laos</a> — <a href="/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a> — <a href="/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Maldives" title="Maldives">Maldives</a> — <a href="/wiki/Mongolia" title="Mongolia">Mongolia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nepal" title="Nepal">Nepal</a> — <a href="/wiki/North_Korea" title="North Korea">North Korea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a> — <a href="/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Palestine" title="Palestine">Palestine</a> — <a href="/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a> — <a href="/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a> — <a href="/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a> — <a href="/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Tajikistan" title="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a> — <a href="/wiki/Timor-Leste" title="Timor-Leste">Timor-Leste</a> — <a href="/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> — <a href="/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a> — <a href="/wiki/Uzbekistan" title="Uzbekistan">Uzbekistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Vietnam" title="Vietnam">Vietnam</a> — <a href="/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Europe" title="Europe"><b>Europe</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a> — <a href="/wiki/Austria" title="Austria">Austria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Belarus" title="Belarus">Belarus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina" title="Bosnia and Herzegovina">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Channel_Islands" title="Channel Islands">Channel Islands</a> — <a href="/wiki/Croatia" title="Croatia">Croatia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a> — <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Czechia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Denmark" title="Denmark">Denmark</a> — <a href="/wiki/Estonia" title="Estonia">Estonia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Finland" title="Finland">Finland</a> — <a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a> — <a href="/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a> — <a href="/wiki/Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a> — <a href="/wiki/Hungary" title="Hungary">Hungary</a> — <a href="/wiki/Iceland" title="Iceland">Iceland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ireland" title="Ireland">Ireland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Isle_of_Man" title="Isle of Man">Isle of Man</a> — <a href="/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a> — <a href="/wiki/Latvia" title="Latvia">Latvia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Lithuania" title="Lithuania">Lithuania</a> — <a href="/wiki/Moldova" title="Moldova">Moldova</a> — <a href="/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a> — <a href="/wiki/North_Macedonia" title="North Macedonia">North Macedonia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Norway" title="Norway">Norway</a> — <a href="/wiki/Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a> — <a href="/wiki/Romania" title="Romania">Romania</a> — <a href="/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Slovenia" title="Slovenia">Slovenia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a> — <a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a> — <a href="/wiki/Switzerland" title="Switzerland">Switzerland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a> — <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a> (<a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a>, <a href="/wiki/Northern_Ireland" title="Northern Ireland">Northern Ireland</a>, <a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wales" title="Wales">Wales</a>) — <a href="/wiki/Vatican_City" title="Vatican City">Vatican City</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/North_America" title="North America"><b>North America</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a> — <a href="/wiki/Costa_Rica" title="Costa Rica">Costa Rica</a> — <a href="/wiki/Cuba" title="Cuba">Cuba</a> — <a href="/wiki/El_Salvador" title="El Salvador">El Salvador</a> — <a href="/wiki/Grenada" title="Grenada">Grenada</a> — <a href="/wiki/Haiti" title="Haiti">Haiti</a> — <a href="/wiki/Jamaica" title="Jamaica">Jamaica</a> — <a href="/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nicaragua" title="Nicaragua">Nicaragua</a> — <a href="/wiki/Panama" title="Panama">Panama</a> — <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> (<a href="/wiki/Puerto_Rico" class="mw-redirect" title="Puerto Rico">Puerto Rico</a>) <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/Oceania" title="Oceania"><b>Oceania</b></a>:</big></span> <a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kiribati" title="Kiribati">Kiribati</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nauru" title="Nauru">Nauru</a> — <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand">New Zealand</a> — <a href="/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea" title="Papua New Guinea">Papua New Guinea</a> — <a href="/wiki/Pitcairn_Islands" title="Pitcairn Islands">Pitcairn Islands</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><a href="/wiki/South_America" title="South America"><b>South America</b></a>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a> — <a href="/wiki/Bolivia" title="Bolivia">Bolivia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a> — <a href="/wiki/Chile" title="Chile">Chile</a> (<a href="/wiki/Rapa_Nui" title="Rapa Nui">Rapa Nui</a>) — <a href="/wiki/Colombia" title="Colombia">Colombia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Ecuador" title="Ecuador">Ecuador</a> — <a href="/wiki/Falkland_Islands" title="Falkland Islands">Falkland Islands</a> (<a href="/wiki/Falkland_Islands" title="Falkland Islands"><small>Malvinas</small></a>)— <a href="/wiki/Paraguay" title="Paraguay">Paraguay</a> — <a href="/wiki/Peru" title="Peru">Peru</a> — <a href="/wiki/Uruguay" title="Uruguay">Uruguay</a> — <a href="/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a> <br /> </p><p><span style="float:left;"><big><b>Separatist or disputed</b>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Abkhazia" title="Abkhazia">Abkhazia</a> —<a href="/wiki/Catalonia" title="Catalonia">Catalonia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Greenland" title="Greenland">Greenland</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kashmir" title="Kashmir">Kashmir</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kosovo" title="Kosovo">Kosovo</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kurdistan" title="Kurdistan">Kurdistan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Micronation" title="Micronation">Micronation</a> — <a href="/wiki/Northern_Cyprus" title="Northern Cyprus">Northern Cyprus</a> — <a href="/wiki/Sealand" class="mw-redirect" title="Sealand">Sealand</a> — <a href="/wiki/Somaliland" title="Somaliland">Somaliland</a> — <a href="/wiki/South_Ossetia" title="South Ossetia">South Ossetia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a> — <a href="/wiki/Tibet" title="Tibet">Tibet</a> — <a href="/wiki/Transnistria" title="Transnistria">Transnistria</a> — <a href="/wiki/Western_Sahara" title="Western Sahara">Western Sahara</a> </p> <span style="float:left;"><big><b>Historical</b>:</big></span><a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egypt</a> — <a href="/wiki/Belgian_Congo" title="Belgian Congo">Belgian Congo</a> — <a href="/wiki/British_Empire" title="British Empire">British Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America" title="Confederate States of America">Confederate States of America</a> — <a href="/wiki/East_Germany" title="East Germany">East Germany</a> — <a href="/wiki/French_colonial_empire" title="French colonial empire">French colonial empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/German_Empire" title="German Empire">German Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire" title="Holy Roman Empire">Holy Roman Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Imperial_China" title="Imperial China">Imperial China</a> — <a href="/wiki/Kingdom_of_Hawai%CA%BBi" title="Kingdom of Hawaiʻi">Kingdom of Hawaiʻi</a> — <a href="/wiki/Nazi_Germany" title="Nazi Germany">Nazi Germany</a> — <a href="/wiki/Rhodesia" title="Rhodesia">Rhodesia</a> — <a href="/wiki/Roman_Empire" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a> — <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> — <a href="/wiki/Vichy_France" title="Vichy France">Vichy France</a> — <a href="/wiki/Yugoslavia" title="Yugoslavia">Yugoslavia</a></div> </div>    </div></div><div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Czechia&oldid=2674683">https://rationalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Czechia&oldid=2674683</a>"</div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: 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