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Czech Republic
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20th century
Following the defeat of Germany and Austria, the Empire dissolves into several national states and, Czechoslovakia finally becomes an independent republic. Tomas Garrigue Masaryk becomes its first president.
1918-1938
Czechoslovakia develops into 'Europe's Second Switzerland' with one of the strongest economies. In 1922, modern, greater Prague, with 10 districts, is founded.
September 29 - October 4, 1938
Munich Agreement. Britain and France agree to Hitler's demand that Czechoslovakia has to cede its German speaking territories to Germany.
March 15, 1939
The Wehrmacht invades and turns the Czech lands and Moravia into a protectorate, while Slovakia becomes an independent fascist state.
26th May 1942
Heydrich responsible for the Czech protectorate, is assassinated and brutal repression follows. The village of Lidice 9km west of Prague is annihilated as is the village of Lezaky, 100km east of Prague.
5th May 1945
The Prague Uprising. Five thousand die in four days of fierce fighting as the Czechs fight the Nazis for the city. Prague is finally liberated by the Soviets. The country is ruled by President Beneš, who was President prior to the war. The Communist Party, the single biggest party in parliament, is in the government coalition and wields considerable power.
February 1948
With political support falling, the Communists send worker militias onto the streets and the police to occupy party headquarters and offices. A general strike brings the country to a halt, President Beneš steps down to make way for the first all communist government. The country will remain under the Soviet sphere of influence until 1989.
Prague Spring 1968
Communist Party chairman Alexander Dubček comes to power Jan 1968. He makes efforts to establish "Socialism with a human face". This includes releasing political prisoners and relaxing press censorship. His liberal ideals are brutally repressed by the invasion of Warsaw pact troops on the night of August 20 1968. Dubček is effectively kidnapped and taken to Moscow. He is later "retired". In protest at the invasion 21 year old philosophy student Jan Palach sets himself alight on the steps of the National Museum, dying four days later.
1968 - 1989
The forcible suppression of the Prague Spring movement is followed by the period of "Normalisation" under the Communist Party Chairman Gustav Husák. After the re-establishment of the socialist regime, the country becomes one of the most conservative members of the Eastern Bloc.
November 19 1989
200,000 people demand democracy in a demonstration in Wenceslas Square. As crowds swell, the government gives in, and in 1990 former dissident Vaclav Havel is elected head of state.
December 31 1992
Czechoslovakia divides into two independent states, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
21st Century
August 2002
Floods devastate the country and cause chaos and millions of crowns of damage as the Vltava rises and inundates all low-lying areas.
May 1 2004
Both the Slovak and Czech states become members of the European Union.
August 1 2004
A grenade is thrown on Na Příkopě, apparently the work of the Israeli mafia in an attempt to kill an Israeli casino owner. 18 people are injured, none seriously.