Remembering the creation of Czechoslovakia 100 years ago
Exactly 100 years ago today, the new state of Czechoslovakia was created. This new country had a chequered history.
It was dismembered by the infamous Munich Agreement of 1938, it was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1939-1945, it was controlled by the communists from 1948-1989, and it was deviderd into the Czech and Slovak Republics in 1993.
You can read my review of a history of the Czech lands here.
British readers especially should be reminded that Czechoslovak pilots flew with distinction in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Indeed the top-scoring RAF pilot in the Battle of Britain and the top-scoring RAF night intruder pilot in the war were both Czech. You can read my essay on this Czechoslovak contribution here.