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List of presidents of Czechoslovakia facts for kids

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President of
Czechoslovakia
Flag of the President of Czechoslovakia (1918-1939, 1945-1960).svg
Presidential Standard (1918–1960)
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk 1925.PNG
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)

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.
Started Ended Length of Time
First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)
1 Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk 1925.PNG Tomáš Masaryk
(1850–1937)
Czech 1918
1920
1927
1934
14 November 1918 14 December 1935 17 years, 30 days Independent
2 Edvard Beneš.jpg 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 5.jpg 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.
  • Greater arms of Bohemia and Moravia (1939-1945).svg Emil Hácha became the State President of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. This was a region controlled by Nazi Germany.
  • Middle coat of arms of Czechoslovakia.svg Edvard Beneš declared himself President of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile. This government was recognized by the countries fighting against Nazi Germany.
  • Coat of Arms of the Slovak State (1939-1945).svg Jozef Tiso became President of the Slovak Republic. This was a separate state that supported Nazi Germany.
  • Karptska Ukraina COA.svg 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.jpg 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 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R90009, Budapest, II. Weltfestspiele, Festumzug, tschechische Delegation (cropped KG).jpg Klement Gottwald
(1896–1953)
Czech 1948 14 June 1948 14 March 1953 4 years, 273 days Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
5 Portret Antonín Zápotocký, Bestanddeelnr 902-7903.jpg Antonín Zápotocký
(1884–1957)
Czech 1953 21 March 1953 13 November 1957 4 years, 237 days Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
6 Antonín Novotný 1968.jpg Antonín Novotný
(1904–1975)
Czech 1957
1964
19 November 1957 22 March 1968 10 years, 124 days Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
7 Ludvík Svoboda 1968.JPG Ludvík Svoboda
(1895–1979)
Czech 1968
1973
30 March 1968 29 May 1975 7 years, 60 days Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
8 Gustáv Husák - oříznuto.JPG 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 Vaclav Havel.jpg 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.
Started Ended Length of Time
1 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R90009, Budapest, II. Weltfestspiele, Festumzug, tschechische Delegation (cropped KG).jpg Klement Gottwald
(1896–1953)
Czech February 1948 14 March 1953 5 years, 41 days
2 Antonín Novotný 1968.jpg Antonín Novotný
(1904–1975)
Czech 14 March 1953 5 January 1968 14 years, 297 days
3 Dubček in 1990 (Fortepan 138485).jpg Alexander Dubček
(1921–1992)
Slovak 5 January 1968 17 April 1969 1 year, 102 days
4 Gustáv Husák - oříznuto.JPG Gustáv Husák
(1913–1991)
Slovak 17 April 1969 17 December 1987 18 years, 244 days
5 M Jakeš Praha 2014.JPG Miloš Jakeš
(1922–2020)
Czech 17 December 1987 24 November 1989 1 year, 342 days
6 No image.png Karel Urbánek
(born 1941)
Czech 24 November 1989 20 December 1989 26 days

Timeline of Presidents

This timeline shows when each president was in office and their political party.

Václav Havel Gustáv Husák Ludvík Svoboda Antonín Novotný Antonín Zápotocký Klement Gottwald Emil Hácha Edvard Beneš Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk

Presidential Flags

These are the special flags used by the President of Czechoslovakia during different periods.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Presidente de Checoslovaquia para niños

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