The reason that I suspect that Communism might have something to do with this split is that multinational Communist countries in Europe have a tendency to break-up after the collapse of Communism.The sense I get from my ESL students, overwhelmingly Czech or Slovak, is that while the split wasn't necessarily inevitable nor wanted, it was better in the long run. Not sure how communism may or may not have impacted it outside of forcing it to remain together longer.
To be fair, though, wasn't the Slovak collaboration with the Nazis essentially forced?Czechoslovakia was doomed after the Slovaks collaberated with the Germans.
Bullshit. Slovaks were promised autonomy in 1918. Czechoslovakia was doomed when so called Czechoslovakism started to be pressed forward.Czechoslovakia was doomed after the Slovaks collaberated with the Germans.
So, you think that, after the events of 1918 to 1945, Czechoslovakia was doomed even if it didn't have a Communist coup in 1948, correct?Bullshit. Slovaks were promised autonomy in 1918. Czechoslovakia was doomed when so called Czechoslovakism started to be pressed forward.
After all, it were not Slovak leader who refused to defend Czechoslovakia in 1938! Leader of Slovak People Party Hlinka before his death called for defense against Hitler and named Hitler for what he was. Slovak men mobilized without problems, get to their units and were prepared to fight for Czechoslovakia. After Prague was not able to defend Czechoslovakia (and make Czechoslovak ally France to do so) Czechoslovakia was doomed. Prague was not willing to defend even Slovakia against Hungary or Poland in 1938. That's when Czechoslovakia was doomed.
Now, why should really Slovaks be blamed for proclaiming their Slovak Republic in 1939 with Berlin help, while only few month ago France and Britain deal with Berlin over Czechoslovakia and Prague accepted that deal?
If I go even further. During WWII more Slovaks fought in Czechoslovak armies abroad then Czechs! Slovaks were only some 17% of population of Czechoslovakia but already Czechoslovak Division in France 1940 had around 50% of Slovaks. Slovak National Uprising in August-October 1944 was on same size if not bigger then Warsaw Uprising.
Did Slovak republic attack Poland along side Germany? It did. And it took back what Poland took in 1938. So you talk about it but not about 1938.
Did Slovakia took part in war against USSR? It did indeed. And actually small selected units did relatively well up to 1942. As all other eastern countries. Including Romania who got after France and Britain failed in their policy got into German sphere of influence.
Did Slovakia deported their Jewish population to resettlement camps (as they were told)? Indeed. And shame on one who voted for that. Same did Hungary already 1 year early, Bulgaria or Vichy France. Shame on them all.
But please at least get some of your facts together before you say why Czechoslovakia broke apart.
Actually communist were one who were holding Czechoslovakia together.The reason that I suspect that Communism might have something to do with this split is that multinational Communist countries in Europe have a tendency to break-up after the collapse of Communism.
I guess so. By un ability of France and Britain to defend single democracy in Central and Eastern Europe (which had its faults too though). By un ability of Prague to defend Slovakia. By greed of Poland at the time - huge part of Slovak nationalists were actually for some kind of union with catholic Poland. Their support base was destroyed after Poland annexed Slovak territories in late 1938.To be fair, though, wasn't the Slovak collaboration with the Nazis essentially forced?
Actually
I guess so. By un ability of France and Britain to defend single democracy in Central and Eastern Europe (which had its faults too though). By un ability of Prague to defend Slovakia. By greed of Poland at the time - huge part of Slovak nationalists were actually for some kind of union with catholic Poland. Their support base was destroyed after Poland annexed Slovak territories in late 1938.
And forced by their own dream of their own state. At the end it was Germany who was willing to guarantee it.
huge part of Slovak nationalists were actually for some kind of union with catholic Poland.
Edited it.Were you going to write something else here?
I guess it would. Idealistic dream I would say. Poland had worst track of minorities rights before WWII then Czechoslovakia so I guess Slovak regions on border with Poland would be polonized. Basically that's what happened with rest of Slovak population after WWII. Many however choose to move to Czechoslovakia right after WWII due to attack of some terrorist groups who where trying to expel Slovak population. Few of them were hanged later by Communist regime in Poland.Very interesting!
Also, out of curiosity--wouldn't a Polish-Slovakian union have been very Polish-dominated?
Shortly before war. In 1938 Poland totally discredited itself and in 1939 Bratislava was able to sell war against Poland even if not very popular as liberation war. Sources would be probably mostly in Slovak, Czech or Polish.Really? That’s interesting. Do you have a source for this? Was this interwar, post war or during the Cold War?
Also, out of curiosity--wouldn't a Polish-Slovakian union have been very Polish-dominated?
This King would need to have a lot of power, though.Unless we throw away a Republic and pick a Bohemian or Slovakian king.
How it would work. There was not nobility of Slovak ancestry high enough to be kings. In Czech lands? Not sure. Maybe. But nobility there was not very popular after 1918. And that would need to include Czech and Moravian lands in such Union I guess.Unless we throw away a Republic and pick a Bohemian or Slovakian king.
It forced Czechoslovakia stay together longer. If there was democratic Czechoslovakia after 1948 dissolution would eventually come.The sense I get from my ESL students, overwhelmingly Czech or Slovak, is that while the split wasn't necessarily inevitable nor wanted, it was better in the long run. Not sure how communism may or may not have impacted it outside of forcing it to remain together longer.
Undoubtedly better. However, a lot might still depend on how the Slovaks are treated by the Czechoslovak government in this TL.What about Czechoslovakia's odds of staying together if there never is a Hitler or German grab of Sudetenland at all after 1918?