Nothing happens by itself. This is also true for the break-up of Austria –Hungary that led to the redrawing of a new European map, and the foundation of new states.

War as catalyst

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 meant that in Austria-Hungary the issues of the nation took a back seat. This caused Czech political leaders to give up on the idea of a federal structure to the Monarchy and to start promoting the independence of Czechoslovakia instead. After initial reprisals, Czech politicians decided not to give the Monarchy any further excuses for intimidation and maintained a passive approach. In contrast, the Czech exile leader, T.G..Masaryk was actively negotiating with foreign powers, and promoted the idea of independence. His effort was backed up by Czechoslovakian Legions composed of volunteers who refused to fight for Austria-Hungary and Germany. Their members helped to raise awareness about the discontent of Czechs and Slovaks within the current structure of society.

Meanwhile, local politicians remained passive. Their attitude resulted in the dissent of Czech writers who, in 1917, criticised the inaction of Czech representatives. Czech politicians didn’t step forward until the Three Kings Declaration was signed at the beginning of January 1918.

What was it about? The document was a reaction to seemingly unimportant negotiations about a separate peace treaty with Russia, to which the representatives of Austria-Hungarian nations weren’t invited. The Declaration contained an independence requirement, but there wasn’t a single world about Austria-Hungary. This initiated the joint action of local politicians and those exiled abroad.

In the middle of 1918, Masaryk gained recognition of Czechoslovakian independence from the countries of the Triple Entente. In the middle of 1918, he established a Czechoslovakian interim government in Paris. Meanwhile, domestic political parties agreed to form a National Committee that should prepare itself for the future takeover.

People were looking for a pretext to express their discontent. On 14th October, a general strike was announced in reaction to food stocks being exported abroad. In Písek citizens prematurely declared independent Czechoslovakia. They removed any vestiges of the Monarchy down from the town hall, and hung tricolours in their place. Then railwaymen, who arrived from Prague, completely changed the situation as they announced that the declaration was postponed. The crowd dispersed, and Hungarian soldiers started investigating the event.

28th October 1918

This was the day the National Committee delegation, led by Karel Kramář, started negotiations in Geneva with the representative of the exiled resistance movement, Edvard Beneš. They discussed the foundation and potential political structure that an independent Czechoslovakia could take. Meanwhile, at 9 am, Czech politicians Antonín Švehla and František Soukup took over the Grain Institution in Prague in order to prevent further exports of grain to the front. Later on in the news it was reported that Austria-Hungary had accepted the peace treaty. One of the treaty’s conditions was the recognition of Czechoslovakian national autonomy by Austria-Hungary, which people understood as recognition of independence. The news led to spontaneous demonstrations of rejoicing, people were destroying all the Austria-Hungarian emblems. In the evening the National Committee issued its first legislation, namely, the Act on the creation of an independent Czechoslovakia. On the same day, four Slovak representatives were admitted to the National Committee.

Following days

On the following day, the National Committee negotiated the conditions of takeover with the Austria-Hungarian Governor, Julius Coudenhov. The talks resulted in a compromise solution, the National Committee agreed to establish a temporary public administration. On the same day, German representatives agreed to separate the province Deutschbőhmen from the Czech northern border territory, and include it into the future Austria as an autonomous unit.

Between 29th and 30th October, Czechoslovakian state was establishing its authority in Brno, Pilsen, Ostrava, Olomouc, Hradec Králové, Pardubice, and other places.

30th October was also the last date of the revolution in Prague. The Austria-Hungarian military command surrendered in front of the National Committee building, because Hungarian and Rumanian soldiers refused to fight. The Martin Declaration (we deal with this topic in an independent article) was signed in Slovakia, and on the basis of this document Slovakia became a part of the new republic.

At the same time the negotiations with the representatives of the National Committee culminated in Geneva. R. Lodgmann von Auen, the German representative from Sudetenland, negotiated with the National Committee, whose representatives were trying hard to win German politicians over for the Czechoslovakian Republic. Lodgmann refused any cooperation. German members of parliament from Moravia and Silesia headed by R. Freissler, declared the creation of the independent province of Sudetenland that would become a part of German Austria.

Revolution in progress, new territories

The new state didn’t have an easy birth. On one hand, there were parades and church services celebrating independence. People were jubilant and welcomed independence and the end of the War. On the other hand, they were destroying not only emblems of the Monarchy, but also items that were merely commemorating Austria-Hungary. One example was 3rd November when the Marian Column was destroyed. These were, however, trivialities in comparison with the issues surrounding the question of nationality. The biggest problem was represented by German speaking citizens. On the day when Franta Sauer destroyed the Marian Column in Prague, German representatives in South Moravia declared the creation of the province Deutschsüdmähren, and in South Bohemia they declared the province Bőhmerwaldgau. Both of them would have been joined to German Austria.

In the meantime, on 4th November, an interim Slovak government was established in Skalice. The first Czech army brigade entered the territory of Slovakia.

On 13th November, the National Committee declared the interim Constitution. The first session of the National Assembly took place on the following day. Its members declared a republican form of the Czechoslovakian state, and elected T. G. Masaryk as President in his absence. The new government, lead by Karel Kramář, was established, and the National Assembly adopted the Act on abolition of aristocratic titles and orders, and the Eight-hour working day act.

A day later, on 15th November, the Hungarian government issued a Declaration against the advancement of Czech units to Slovakia, and Hungarians sent their own troops in.

On 29th November, the newly established Czechoslovakian army occupied Most, this event started abolition of the Sudetenland provinces. On 19th October, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a proclamation stating that Czechoslovakia has, as an allied country, the right to keep the territory that is within the historical borders of Czech lands; at least until a final decision is made at the Peace conference.

Shortly before the Christmas, on 21st December 1918, President T. G. Masaryk returned to Prague. It was a triumphant journey with thousands of citizens welcoming him at railway stations as he passed through.

On 24th December, Hungary submitted to the Triple Entente diplomatic directive that defined the demarcation line in Slovakia, with the result being that Slovakia was on 20th January 1919, occupied by the Czechoslovakian army. On the next day, the Czechoslovakian government sent a memorandum to the Polish government in which they announced its intention to occupy the territory around Těšín. Subsequently fights broke out that went on until 30th January. The Agreement about the new demarcation line was signed on 3rd February.

On 25th February 1919, the Law on stamping of Austria-Hungarian banknotes was issued, and the new Czechoslovakian currency was introduced. Martial law was proclaimed in Slovakia. It was in reaction to the establishment of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, and was aimed against the Bolshevik leaders. Two days later the Czechoslovakian army crossed the demarcation line with Hungary, and started armed intervention against the Hungarian Soviet Republic.

The Land reform act was accepted as soon as on 16th April. The act decided about the appropriation of agricultural land of the size bigger than 150 ha and all the other land of more than 250 ha.

On 4th May, Milan Rastislav Štefánik tragically died in an aircraft accident. On 8th May, a meeting of Ruthenia National Councils took place in Uzhhorod. Its participants confirmed the outcome of the referendum that decided that Carpathian Ruthenia should become a part of Czechoslovakia.

On 20th May, Hungary counter-attacked, and invaded Slovakia. On 16th May, the Slovak Soviet Republic was declared. However, after the Battle at Zvolen, the Hungarian army had to withdraw from Slovakia, and the Slovak Soviet Republic ceased t exist.

On 28th 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. One of the outcomes was that Germany recognized independence of Czechoslovakia, handed over Hlučínsko, and pledged for harbours in Hamburg and Szczecin to become free zones for 99 years.

On 10th September, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was signed with Austria. Austria, among others, recognised the independence and territorial inviolability of Czechoslovakia, renounced their territorial claims over the former parts of Austria-Hungary, they also surrendered small territories in South Bohemia (Vitorazsko) and Moravia (Valticko).

On 29th February 1920, the National Assembly ratified the Constitution which formally declared Czechoslovakia a democratic republic lead by a President. The National Assembly was composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and was in charge of legislative.

Czechoslovakian nation

Not everything went according to the original plan. The founders of the state, such as T. G. Masaryk, E. Beneš and M. R. Štefánik, intended to create a united, centralised “national state”, based on the concept of Czechoslovakism, with France serving as an example.

There was logic to it. There were many languages spoken at the territory of the new state – Czech, Slovak, German, Hungarian, Polish, Ruthenian and other Ukrainian dialects. There were also Jewish, Romany, Rumanian and many dialects.

The prepared federative structure followed the Swiss example, and included the protection and integration of minorities. This solution was refused, and Czechoslovakian language was declared an official language of the country.

Source: Czechoslovakian History, Wikipedia etc