Czechoslovakia

This chapter covers the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia was perceived as the most democratic country in the interwar period and kept good relations with Stalin during the Second World War. Its president, Edvard Beneš, believed that the state could retain its independence after the war. After the communist coup and the unsuccessful attempt to introduce reforms during the Prague Spring, Czechoslovakia was one of the most dogmatic communist countries, where neither the “reform wing” of the communist party existed, nor strong opposition pushed for the changes. After the student demonstrations on 17 November 1989 the short, but successful, “Velvet Revolution” ultimately broke the system.