1918 was the year the Astro-Hungarian Empire came to an end and the Czechs and Slovaks united to form Czechoslovakia. For the next 75years the country survived two world wars, invasion from Europe's powers, until the union was dissolved in 1993.
Out of this break-up, the Czech Republic was born and conveniently used the same
world flag of the old Czechoslovakia. The current
Czech Republic flag in a horizontal band of white and red; and to distinguish it from that of Poland a blue triangle was added at the hoist side.
The Czech Republic being an independent country in central Europe had the regions Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemia is a plateau surrounded by mountains and Moravia on the east is mostly rolling hills and lowlands. During the Second World War, the Nazi's invaded and annexed the Czech lands, while Slovakia became a puppet state of Germany, then the communists took over and followed years of uncertainty.
After breaking the union with the Republic of Slovakia, the new Czech nation decreed and privatized state-owned businesses to as much as 80%, contrary to 97% state ownership under the communist regimes. As added measures, the country is reducing its dependence to the highly polluting brown coal as an energy source, and instead turning its sights to environment friendly nuclear energy. Tourism is rapidly improving as an industry, with millions coming to Prague to visit architectural relics of castles, palaces and spas.
The economy has stayed vibrant, despite the political and financial crises in 1997 that somehow reduced the country's stability and prosperity. And finally the Czech Republic succeeded in becoming a member of NATO and the European Union.
by:
The Flagman
