Czechoslovakia (Československo; from 1990 in Slovak: Česko-Slovensko) was a sovereign state in Central Europe that existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992. From 1939 to 1945 the state did not have a de facto existence, due to its forced division and partial incorporation into Nazi Germany, but the Czech government-in-exile nevertheless continued to exist during this time period. On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

Basic characteristics

Form of state:

• 1918–1938: a democratic republic
• 1938–1939: after annexation of Sudetenland by Germany in 1938 gradually turned into a state with loosened connections between Czech, Slovak, and Ruthenian parts. A large strip of southern Slovakia and Ruthenia was annexed by Hungary, and the Zaolzie region by Poland.
• 1939–1945: De-facto split into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the Slovak Republic. De jure Czechoslovakia continued to exist, a government-in-exile supported by the Western Allies was based in London; after German invasion of Russia also recognised by the USSR.
• 1945–1948: a country governed by a coalition government with Communist ministers (including the prime minister and minister of interior) playing leading roles. Carpathian Ruthenia ceded to the USSR.
• 1948–1989: a Communist country with a centrally planned economy (from 1960 onwards officially a Socialist Republic):
• 1969–1990: a federal republic consisting of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic;
• 1990–1992: a federal democratic republic consisting of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic

Neighbours: Germany (1945–1990: BRD and DDR), Poland, from 1945 Soviet Union (1992: Ukraine), Romania (until 1939), Hungary, Austria

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

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

Official names

• 1918–1920: Republic of Czechoslovakia (abbreviated RČS)/Czecho-Slovak State; short form Czecho-Slovakia/Czechoslovakia
• 1920–1938: Czechoslovak Republic (ČSR); short form Czechoslovakia
• 1938–1939: Czecho-Slovak Republic; short form Czecho-Slovakia
• 1945–1960: Czechoslovak Republic (ČSR); short form Czechoslovakia
• 1960–1990: Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (ČSSR); Czechoslovakia
• April 1990: Czechoslovak Federative Republic (Czech version) and Czecho-Slovak Federative Republic (Slovak version),
• afterwards: Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (ČSFR, with the short forms Československo in Czech and Česko-Slovensko in Slovak)