I was born in Czechoslovakia, but I must thank my late mother & A Brief History of the Czech Lands for this post.
In the early C19th Czech industry grew rapidly. The textile, sugar industry and iron industries all flourished. And this Industrial Revolution of course required a top quality railway system between Vienna and Prague which opened in 1845. The regions had achieved a leading level of industrialisation in central Europe and had a significant position within the Habsburg Empire. The growing industry resulted in an increase of Prague's Czech population as people migrated in from the countryside.
![]()
![]()
In the early C19th Czech industry grew rapidly. The textile, sugar industry and iron industries all flourished. And this Industrial Revolution of course required a top quality railway system between Vienna and Prague which opened in 1845. The regions had achieved a leading level of industrialisation in central Europe and had a significant position within the Habsburg Empire. The growing industry resulted in an increase of Prague's Czech population as people migrated in from the countryside.
Centre of elegant Prague
1929
Czech nationalism and revolutionary ideas grew, and ignited by a revolution in France in 1848, they exploded in revolution. Alarmed by the unrest sweeping Europe, the Austrian emperor at first promised his people constitutional changes; in fact in June a Slav Congress was held in Prague. When the Czech radicals erected barricades in the streets of Prague, the Austrian army withdrew, but used artillery to bombard Prague. The city surrendered and all revolutions in the Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed.
However in 1859 Austria was defeated in a war with France, and 7 years later the Austrians were defeated in a war with Prussia. Following these two shameful experiences, the Dual Monarchy was created in 1867 where Austria and Hungary became independent states with one monarch. However the Czechs were not granted autonomy, so nationalism and demands for independence grew. Meanwhile, industrialisation continued in Czechoslovakia, especially the coal mining, engineering and the textile industries which accelerated later in the century. The strong agricultural sector made more capital available and new banks were founded, primarily in Prague. A securities exchange was established in 1871 and a commodities exchange in 1887.
However in 1859 Austria was defeated in a war with France, and 7 years later the Austrians were defeated in a war with Prussia. Following these two shameful experiences, the Dual Monarchy was created in 1867 where Austria and Hungary became independent states with one monarch. However the Czechs were not granted autonomy, so nationalism and demands for independence grew. Meanwhile, industrialisation continued in Czechoslovakia, especially the coal mining, engineering and the textile industries which accelerated later in the century. The strong agricultural sector made more capital available and new banks were founded, primarily in Prague. A securities exchange was established in 1871 and a commodities exchange in 1887.
Independent Czechoslovakia
declared in Prague
in 28th Oct 1918
Though German was the official language, Czech language and culture survived through the years of Austrian occupation. As the Habsburgs eased their grip in the C19th, Prague and Brno became centres of the Czech national revival. The revival did not express itself in politics but in Czech-language literature and arts. And it continued as Czech institutions were established to celebrate Czech history and culture: National Theatre opened in 1868 and National Museum in 1890. The great Czech composers Bedřich Smetana (1824–84), Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) and Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) rose to stardom.
At the turn of the century, Bohemia was still part of the Habsburg Empire but in 1914, the Czechs were reluctant to fight for the Austrians and Hungarians. They were even reluctant to fight the Russians, their fellow Slavs.
A Czech academic called Tomas Masaryk formed an organisation called the Czech National Committee. In Nov 1915 this Committee called for an independent Bohemia and Slovakia. In June 1918, the Committee was recognised as the provisional government of Czechoslovakia by France, then by Britain, USA and Italy. The Austria-Hungary was collapsing.
For Czechs, at least the tragedy of WWI had one great outcome: the defeat of the Central powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary, left the Habsburg empire too weak to fight for its former lands. This paved the way for the creation of independent Czechoslovakia in 28th Oct 1918. Tomas Masaryk was the first prime minister, and in 1935 Edvard Beneš took over.
The new republic linked ethnic Czechs (Bohemians and Moravians) with their eastern linguistic family, the Slovaks. Czechoslovakia was the only industrialised state in eastern Europe. The only debatable inclusion were the 3 million German speakers in the Sudetenland who reluctantly joined the new republic. Nonetheless the new Czechoslovakia also proved to be the only successful democracy. In the two decades between independence and the Sept 1938 Munich Agreement, it was a flourishing state.
Thank you to PE Caquet for discussing the 1938-40 era. Note four sad episodes of appeasement:
A] In 1935 Mussolini invaded Abyssinia. The Italians used brutal tanks & aircraft against the Africans, but the French & British didn’t want to push Mussolini towards Hitler.
B] In 1937, a German air-force squadron bombed the Spanish town of Guernica, massacring its defenceless civilians. France and Britain “believed” that the German troops were volunteers.
C] The German army marched into Austria and annexed it. This was the last straw! If Hitler thought he could do the same to Czechoslovakia, France and Britain warned, he would pay a great price.
![]()
Dr Joseph
Though German was the official language, Czech language and culture survived through the years of Austrian occupation. As the Habsburgs eased their grip in the C19th, Prague and Brno became centres of the Czech national revival. The revival did not express itself in politics but in Czech-language literature and arts. And it continued as Czech institutions were established to celebrate Czech history and culture: National Theatre opened in 1868 and National Museum in 1890. The great Czech composers Bedřich Smetana (1824–84), Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) and Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) rose to stardom.
At the turn of the century, Bohemia was still part of the Habsburg Empire but in 1914, the Czechs were reluctant to fight for the Austrians and Hungarians. They were even reluctant to fight the Russians, their fellow Slavs.
A Czech academic called Tomas Masaryk formed an organisation called the Czech National Committee. In Nov 1915 this Committee called for an independent Bohemia and Slovakia. In June 1918, the Committee was recognised as the provisional government of Czechoslovakia by France, then by Britain, USA and Italy. The Austria-Hungary was collapsing.
For Czechs, at least the tragedy of WWI had one great outcome: the defeat of the Central powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary, left the Habsburg empire too weak to fight for its former lands. This paved the way for the creation of independent Czechoslovakia in 28th Oct 1918. Tomas Masaryk was the first prime minister, and in 1935 Edvard Beneš took over.
The new republic linked ethnic Czechs (Bohemians and Moravians) with their eastern linguistic family, the Slovaks. Czechoslovakia was the only industrialised state in eastern Europe. The only debatable inclusion were the 3 million German speakers in the Sudetenland who reluctantly joined the new republic. Nonetheless the new Czechoslovakia also proved to be the only successful democracy. In the two decades between independence and the Sept 1938 Munich Agreement, it was a flourishing state.
Thank you to PE Caquet for discussing the 1938-40 era. Note four sad episodes of appeasement:
A] In 1935 Mussolini invaded Abyssinia. The Italians used brutal tanks & aircraft against the Africans, but the French & British didn’t want to push Mussolini towards Hitler.
B] In 1937, a German air-force squadron bombed the Spanish town of Guernica, massacring its defenceless civilians. France and Britain “believed” that the German troops were volunteers.
C] The German army marched into Austria and annexed it. This was the last straw! If Hitler thought he could do the same to Czechoslovakia, France and Britain warned, he would pay a great price.
Sudeten Germans welcomed the German army into what used to be Czech territory
Oct 1938
D] The 1938 Munich Agreement, that conceded the Sudeten German territory of Czechoslovakia to Germany, was the most dramatic step in appeasement. After his agreement with Hitler on the carve-up of Czechoslovakia, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from the Munich Conference to proclaim Peace For Our Time.
But Chamberlain and French PM Edouard Daladier soon discovered that they didn’t buy peace; they actually fed Nazi appetites! Hitler swore this was the end of his territorial ambitions, noting that he was leaving a rump Czech state. Only 6 months later, Hitler ordered his troops into Prague!
Britain and France believed it was worthwhile sacrificing Czechoslovakia in 1938, the better to face Germany militarily once the war started. Except that it wasn’t. A third of the German tanks at the French front in May 1940 were built in Czechoslovakia. Germany desperate shortages had been relieved via the Czech annexation. Had the Munich Agreement not stalled it, WW2 in Europe would have begun in 1938. With arguments supporting appeasement, Chamberlain and Daladier bought time and avoided embroiling countries in a conflict for which they weren’t prepared. But the price for Czechs and others was huge. As my uncle documented here.
Thank you to the wonderful Czech blog Tres Bohemes for great photos.
But Chamberlain and French PM Edouard Daladier soon discovered that they didn’t buy peace; they actually fed Nazi appetites! Hitler swore this was the end of his territorial ambitions, noting that he was leaving a rump Czech state. Only 6 months later, Hitler ordered his troops into Prague!
Britain and France believed it was worthwhile sacrificing Czechoslovakia in 1938, the better to face Germany militarily once the war started. Except that it wasn’t. A third of the German tanks at the French front in May 1940 were built in Czechoslovakia. Germany desperate shortages had been relieved via the Czech annexation. Had the Munich Agreement not stalled it, WW2 in Europe would have begun in 1938. With arguments supporting appeasement, Chamberlain and Daladier bought time and avoided embroiling countries in a conflict for which they weren’t prepared. But the price for Czechs and others was huge. As my uncle documented here.
Thank you to the wonderful Czech blog Tres Bohemes for great photos.
Dr Joseph