Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 18; CZECHOSLOVAKIA; GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2.pdf/52

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2

863
 * Greek missionaries Cyril and Methodius arrive in Moravia, establishing early Christian unity among Czech peoples; draw up first Slavic alphabet.

906
 * Moravian Empire is dissolved after defeat by Magyars.

921-29
 * Bohemia and Moravia are united under crown of Wenceslaus, Bohemia's patron saint.

973
 * Slovakia is annexed by Hungary.

13th century
 * Germans begin mass migration into Bohemia, setting stage for rapid social and economic development.

1346-78
 * Bohemia enjoys "Golden Age" under Charles I of Bohemia (Charles IV of Holy Roman Empire.

1348
 * University of Prague (Charles University), first university in central Europe, is founded.

1415
 * Martyrdom of Jan Hus precipitates Hussite revolt against domination by Germans and Catholic Church; Czech national consciousness gestates.

1526
 * Ferdinand assumes Bohemian throne, beginning Hapsburg domination and renewing Catholic domination.

1592-1670
 * Jan Comenius reforms education and leads latter phase of Czech reformation.

1618
 * Bohemian Protestants revolt against Catholic Church, initiating Thirty Years War; two Catholic governors are victims of "defenestration of Prague."

1620
 * Czechs are defeated at Battle of White Mountain, reestablishing Hapsburg rule; during "Time of the Night" Bohemia endures severe political, religious, and cultural persecution; war losses and heavy migration lead to renewed Germanization of Bohemia.

19th century
 * Czech "renaissance" emphasizes literary works of national history and folklore; Czech language revives.

1867
 * Austro-Hungarian Empire incorporates Slovakia, Bohemia, and Moravia; economic and cultural growth are facilitated by relatively mild Austrian hegemony.

1918
 * First Czechoslovak Republic is founded under President Tomas G. Masaryk.

1921
 * Czechoslovak Communist Party is founded.

1935
 * Eduard Benes succeeds Masaryk as President of the Republic.

1938
 * September
 * Munich Conference cedes Sudetenland to Germany.

1939
 * March
 * German trips occupy Czechoslovakia; Bohemia and Moravia become German protectorate and Slovakia becomes "independent" state.

1940
 * July
 * United Kingdom recognizes Czechoslovak Government in London under Eduard Benes.

1943
 * December
 * Benes signs 20-year friendship and mutual assistance pact with U.S.S.R.

1944
 * August
 * Slovak national uprising takes place against Nazis.

1945
 * April
 * Kosice program of close relations with U.S.S.R. and nationalization of industry is announced.
 * May
 * Last German resistance ends with liberation of Prague.
 * June
 * Expulsion of most ethnic Germans is ordered. Ruthenia ceded to U.S.S.R.
 * December
 * By mutual agreement, U.S. and Soviet troops withdraw from Czechoslovakia.

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