List of presidents of Czechoslovakia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids President of Czechoslovakia
Presidential Standard (1918–1960)
Longest serving Tomáš Masaryk 14 November 1918 – 14 December 1935
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Prague Castle Bratislava Castle (1969–92)
Appointer	Federal Assembly
Formation	14 November 1918; 106 years ago (1918-11-14)
First holder	Tomáš Masaryk
Final holder	Václav Havel
Abolished	20 July 1992; 33 years ago (1992-07-20)
Deputy	Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1948–1992)

The President of Czechoslovakia was the main leader of the country Czechoslovakia. This important role existed from when Czechoslovakia was first created in 1918 until it split into two separate countries on January 1, 1993.

The president was like the head of the country. They represented Czechoslovakia to the world. If there was no president, the prime minister usually took over their duties.

From 1948 to 1989, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) was very powerful. The leader of this party held the real power in the country. This leader was called the chairman, first secretary, or general secretary. Sometimes, the party leader was also the president, like Klement Gottwald, Antonín Novotný, and Gustáv Husák.

Presidents of Czechoslovakia (1918–1992)
Leaders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (1948–1989)
Timeline of Presidents
Presidential Flags
See also

Presidents of Czechoslovakia (1918–1992)

Here is a list of the people who served as president of Czechoslovakia. You can see their political parties below.

Political Parties

Czechoslovak National Social Party (ČSNS) Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) Civic Forum (OF)

Other Groups

Independent

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Ethnicity	Election	Time in Office			Political Party		Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Ethnicity	Election	Started	Ended	Length of Time	Political Party		Ref.
First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)
1		Tomáš Masaryk (1850–1937)	Czech	1918 1920 1927 1934	14 November 1918	14 December 1935	17 years, 30 days		Independent
2		Edvard Beneš (1884–1948)	Czech	1935	18 December 1935	5 October 1938	2 years, 291 days		Czechoslovak National Social Party
Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–1939)
3		Emil Hácha (1872–1945)	Czech	1938	30 November 1938	15 March 1939	105 days		Independent
Occupation Period (1939–1945) During World War II, Czechoslovakia was occupied. Different leaders were in charge of different parts of the country or governments in exile. Emil Hácha became the State President of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. This was a region controlled by Nazi Germany. Edvard Beneš declared himself President of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile. This government was recognized by the countries fighting against Nazi Germany. Jozef Tiso became President of the Slovak Republic. This was a separate state that supported Nazi Germany. Avgustyn Voloshyn became President of Carpatho-Ukraine just before it was taken over by the Kingdom of Hungary.
Third Czechoslovak Republic (1945–1948)
(2)		Edvard Beneš (1884–1948)	Czech	1946	4 April 1945	7 June 1948	3 years, 64 days		Czechoslovak National Social Party
Communist Era (1948–1989) Czechoslovak Republic (1948–1960), Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1960–1989)
4		Klement Gottwald (1896–1953)	Czech	1948	14 June 1948	14 March 1953	4 years, 273 days		Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
5		Antonín Zápotocký (1884–1957)	Czech	1953	21 March 1953	13 November 1957	4 years, 237 days		Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
6		Antonín Novotný (1904–1975)	Czech	1957 1964	19 November 1957	22 March 1968	10 years, 124 days		Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
7		Ludvík Svoboda (1895–1979)	Czech	1968 1973	30 March 1968	29 May 1975	7 years, 60 days		Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
8		Gustáv Husák (1913–1991)	Slovak	1975 1980 1985	29 May 1975	10 December 1989	14 years, 195 days		Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
After Communism (1989–1992) Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1989–1990), Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (1990–1992)
9		Václav Havel (1936–2011)	Czech	1989 1990	29 December 1989	20 July 1992	2 years, 204 days		Civic Forum

Leaders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (1948–1989)

During the Communist era, the leader of the Communist Party was usually the most powerful person in Czechoslovakia. This was true for all leaders except the very last one.

The title for this leader changed over time:

From 1948 to 1953, they were called the Chairman.
From 1953 to 1971, they were called the First Secretary.
From 1971 to 1989, they were called the General Secretary.

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Ethnicity	Time in Office			Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Ethnicity	Started	Ended	Length of Time	Ref.
1		Klement Gottwald (1896–1953)	Czech	February 1948	14 March 1953	5 years, 41 days
2		Antonín Novotný (1904–1975)	Czech	14 March 1953	5 January 1968	14 years, 297 days
3		Alexander Dubček (1921–1992)	Slovak	5 January 1968	17 April 1969	1 year, 102 days
4		Gustáv Husák (1913–1991)	Slovak	17 April 1969	17 December 1987	18 years, 244 days
5		Miloš Jakeš (1922–2020)	Czech	17 December 1987	24 November 1989	1 year, 342 days
6		Karel Urbánek (born 1941)	Czech	24 November 1989	20 December 1989	26 days