Czechoslovakia: the full history beyond the Velvet Divorce [OSW documentary].

🇨🇿 🇸🇰 From the early days under Tomas Masaryk to the Velvet Revolution, the dissolution, and current day relations, the history of Czechoslovakia, as well as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, is both fascinating and undiscovered. In our latest documentary, we dive deep with experts from the region to uncover both the past of how Czechoslovakia was established - beginning with the two World Wars, the communist regime and the ultimate peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia, known as the Velvet Divorce, into two independent states.
🇸🇰 🇨🇿 We also look at the modern-day nations and ask: does the split of Czechoslovakia continue to influence the two countries today? What do Czechs and Slovaks still have in common? Is there a nostalgia for the former state... and will it ever return?
➡️ We answer these questions and more in our Czechoslovakia documentary 🎦
🔵 Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: / @centreforeasternstudies
🎙️ Listen to our conversations on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/369Umim...
🔵 Follow us on Twitter: / osw_eng
➡️ More OSW long-form reports and analysis in English here: www.osw.waw.pl/en

[@jirislavicek9954]

I am a Czech person living in Ireland, watching a Polish channel on American platform featuring Czech and Slovak historians speaking in Polish, which is translated to English, explaining relations between Czech and Slovaks. 😁 The documentary is right, our relations are excellent. 🇨🇿🇸🇰

[@denisdooley1540]

I am an American with Irish, German, Swiss, and Czech ancestors. One question I have is how did the languages remain so similar after a thousand years of HRE association by Czechia and a similar amount of time of Slovakia being "Upper Hungary?" This would seem to be the conditions for rapid dialectical divergence, especially in an age where the only mass media was print. Literature and newspapers can only do so much to keep a language from diverging into more than one language. Do you have any insights on how the two langues remained so similar?

[@boutek]

They are both Slavic. All Slavic languages are somewhat similar, Czech and Slovak just happen to be the closest as they’re neighbours.

[@alexsheppard153]

@@denisdooley1540you’re just American.

[@davidjgill4902]

In the United States, Czech and Slovak expatriates came together as early as 1915 to agree to fight for a joint state to be created at the end of WW1. This was the Cleveland Agreement of 1915. It was the obvious thing to do.

[@nutellapringles]

I am just a regular Türk who has an enthusiasm for the history of modern Europe, and this video has been one of the best 45 minutes of my life in that context. Great work. My sincere regards for Czechs and Slovaks!

[@neres5795]

Cheers mate! Wish you all well from below the Tatras.

[@jean-paulpotet1988]

This clearly shows that the Czechs and the Slovaks are wise people who can make pragmatic decisions without resorting to warfare.

[@rabotnickaklasa]

Much love to my Slavic Brother's. Love Czech and Slovakian people.

[@marcinjan4137]

Good content. I appreciate your work. Listening to a multilingual content is challenging, but in a good way. Especially when you speak all the languages presented 🙂 I think it's very important to encourage people to learn more about their closest neighbors.

[@vova-l]

Thank you for such high quality content!

[@love_for_travel]

I just came from Prague, so nice to see beautiful panorams of Prague incorporated in this film

[@alexandradekanova771]

I am a Slovak living in New Zealandsince 2012. There were two most traumatic events that I experienced while in Czechoslovakia, August 1968 and January 1993. While the first lead to generational frustration, the division of Czechoslovakia proved to be a good step. Although looking at the Slivak Government now I have serious worries.

[@user-zt1gl6px7i]

Been to both countries during my time in the USN. Such beauty on earth exists there ❤

[@jjackmanster]

Wonderful history! It makes the murky history surprisingly clear, reasonable, and humorous. Enlightening.

[@mirolubos]

i do love the fact slovak and czech intellectuals speaks polish. so proud.

[@PragueNYC]

As someone who grew up in Prague the Czech Republic. I could never understand the hatred Croatians and Serbs,Ukrainians and Russians have towards each other. Czechs and Slovaks have always been friendly towards one another and have lived peacefully side by side.

[@pwp8737]

perhaps because you Czechs historically were dominated by the german Austrians and the Slovaks were dominated by the Hungarians neither side had ill feelings towards each other as you each had a separate focus for your ethnic frustrations.

[@boutek]

“Always been friendly” cough cough Tiso’s republic.

[@BenjaBoss]

Divide, conquer by cia mi6 et all.

[@user-ii3eu6xd8h]

It's history...

[@KateNandysWrld]

My great grandfather was from Czechoslovakia, he and his brother switched passports because of their ages at the time my great grandfather left for America and his brother wanted to fight in the impending war, wwll. I find it so interesting, I think it would be awesome if I could meet the part of the family that stayed in Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia

[@GhyuRtyu]

I think so iam your lost relatives I live in Prague

[@yomajo]

Thank you! That was really interesting and well documented!

[@njcanuck]

What is the history of the Slovaks? It's amazing that such a small group of people survived with their language and identity surrounded by these big countries. Will have to do more research. The changing borders over time and multiple people groups are a challenge to follow for a North American. Wonderful that they speak multiple languages! I've heard that Polish and Hungarian are difficult for English speakers to learn.

[@joanofarc6402]

Excellent video explaining political issues to foreigners like me.

[@madbun1312]

exactly what a documentary should be. Stellar work.

[@svedamichal]

I am Czech and I vividly remember the split of the country in 1993. Like most Czechs I did not agree with it. I was sad. I felt like I was losing a big part of my homeland. But after 30 years I think it was a wise decision. There were a lot of problems in the federal state. There was a lot of bad feelings towards Czechs in Slovakia and the other way round. Now we are best friends living in the EU without borders. I think the split contributed a lot to current good relations. We have always called each other "brothers". I feel like we actually mean it honestly now.

[@gillianspruce3120]

Very interesting!

[@thatcoolguy-ze3sc]

I have a question. I am Czech (bohemian) and i want to know what language are these historians speaking? i cant understand a single word. Are they from Poland or something because that is not Czech or Moravian or Slovak not even that language that is spoken in Czech Silesia. Mabye they are speaking Carpathian IDK. but ignoring that it is a good documentary. GOOD WORK👍

[@PragueNYC]

They are speaking Polish.

[@thatcoolguy-ze3sc]

@@PragueNYC K

[@hroznejcestovatel]

I agree, good contect! Just.. why Slovaks speak Slovak and Czech speak Polish in the video? :D

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

It's a polish channel, therefore the Polish language with the translation into English.. Btw. the Slovaks spek Polish as well, there is not one single slovak word:)...

[@hroznejcestovatel]

@@viktornovomestsky3999 František Mikloško

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

@@hroznejcestovatel Ok, sorry, you're correct...

[@hroznejcestovatel]

@@viktornovomestsky3999 ah, it's fine :)

[@danremenyi1179]

Every nation needs to find its own destiny!

[@douglaswilkinson5700]

The breakup started when Soudruh Gustav Husak was force out of office.

[@jiritichy7967]

As a matter of fact, Czechs and Slovaks lived together in a common state before the creation of Czechoslovakia, in Velka Morava (Great Moravia), but they spoke the same old Slavic language at that time. This empire collapsed due to a great deal as a consequence of the incursion of Magyars, who then subdued and occupied Slovakia for one thousand years. This lengthy historic separation lead to a development of some language differences and more importantly, Slovaks feeling as a nation separate from Czechs. Already during the first republic. there was a handful of Slovak politicians, wo wanted to fulfill their political ambitions in a separate Slovakia. This movement gained strength after the rice of Nazism and creation of Slovak fascism. The puppet Slovak state was on the side of the powers loosing war and Slovaks were saved from that position by again joining Czechs in a common state, which was on the winning war side. When troubles arose during Warsaw pact armies attack on Czechoslovakia with subsequent Soviet occupation, a certain group of Slovak politicians came again with demands for more "independence". These demands finally materialized after he fall of communism and lead to a separation. Although Czechoslovakia would be a bigger and stronger state, the disruptions of some Slovak politicians would remain. This is now irrelevant in the separate situation. Both states are doing well and their relations are excellent. The idea that these states could not stay together because of he minor (nationalistic) differences is false. The differences between, for example, Flams and Vallons in Belgium or Catalans and Spanish are much greater, but they are still in one state, although with some problems.

[@veronikamullerova7033]

I have a question about the examples. Do the Flams or Vallons in Belgium or the Catalans in Spain have the power to block any government action and thus stop the whole state from running? The problem was that the Czechs and Slovaks had exactly that power. Sorry, but if the cabinet can't even agree on a stupid name for the country and after a quarter of a year they come up with a solution that the Slovaks will write Czecho-Slovakia and the Czechs will continue to write Czechoslovakia and both names will be valid for foreigners, what chance does such a country have of survival? Clearly, it couldn't work. Then the elections came in 1992 and the Slovaks elected national Slovak parties, which promised greater independence for the country, but they were no longer able to agree even among themselves how such independence should work within Czechoslovakia, but they all agreed that the current state of affairs did not suit them, on the other hand the Czechoslovak parties, which were in favour of maintaining a common state, completely failed. In Czechia it was the other way round, where the national parties failed and the Czechoslovak parties won. But how can parties that only want to make partial changes get along with nationalist parties? For half a year the government did not work because the parties blocked each other. I would say that Mečiar and Klaus finally made a sensible decision and just ended the comedy.

[@user-dl7ju]

So who are these Slovaks? History never mentions them unlike Czechs and Moravians. You know they are a fake by-product of the Czech nationalism and separatism.

[@user-dl7ju]

That's a wonderful example of historical forgery right there. History doesn't know any Slovaks. No historical records ever mention them anywhere. The Hungarians had never heard of them untill the 19th century. It's a totally fake and artificial nation made up by a clandestine mafia that was on the mission to destroy Austria-Hungary. Also Czechs have nothing to do with the Moravian Empire because Moravians aren't Czechs. Moravians are Moravians and Czechs are some kind of Polish offshoot that vulturized what was left once the Moravian Empire was gone. Everything that happend after WWI is based on lies, manipulation, brute force and illegal revolutionary acts.

[@minakatahizuru]

Great documentary

[@Edo9River]

In 1970 I hitchhiked form Prague to the border of East Germany, I was refused entry so I went to the West Germany to Hamburg

[@jordanmoreno3560]

Great documentary. As an American this was very informative and well composed. Well done on the narration and views of people from both sides.

[@mirolubos]

we. still read books in czech language if they not translated to slovak and our (slovak) kids still grow on czech tv channels. Than we have politics where we went opposite direction and for most of the times we are wrong and czechs are wrong we are ok.

[@evaerben8269]

Ať žije Česká Republika❤

[@mariarosete3825]

Barcelona, is located in the region of Cataluña.....and is Spain.

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

This is a good documentary about the history and current situation of a region that seems to be condemned to suffer external influences from its larger and more powerful neighbors. This situation did not change much after the Czech Republic and Slovakia joined the EU, a multinational organization dominated by Germans and French. Czechs and Slovaks will be cannon fodder for Europeans if NATO directly interferes in the war in Ukraine.

[@jeanneknight4791]

It is interesting that Slovak politics are leaning more in alignment with Hungary now as the recent elections in Slovakia demonstrate. There is now a Slovak president who shares views similar to Orban as well as a prime minister who does the same. If you support Ukraine in its war to keep its sovereign territority, this is troubling to the extreme. Appeasement and proRussian tendencies seem to be growing there which breaks my heart. Otherwise, the leaning towards Hungary would seem relatively harmless and has always been natural. My Bohemian ancestors with Austrian passports were in the USA by 1886 to 1890 and my grandfather traveled back to Bohemia at least once before WWI and prior to my father being born in 1930. My paternal grandmother and to a lesser exent my father used to say what I thought was "A Czech is not a Slav" but I now realize she was more likely saying "A Czech is not a Slov(ak.)" if that makes any sense.

[@janskydanek3551]

Václav Klaus is grand mafioso godfather, and so was Mečiar. Only, each was from different mafia. So they carved Czechoslovakia into two turfs. One to be plundered by Klaus, the other one to be plundered by Mečiar. And since back then noone had experience with political corruption or mafia (except for Italian TV series), noone expected what was comming. Czech republic begun to slowly heal only after Klaus was completely removed from Czech politics in second decade of 21st century. His last political act though was to refuse right for fair trial to more than hundred thousand people, whose life savings was stolen. Making sure (as over decade long trials were finally nearing to end) that thieves he protected would not have to give their spoils. Slovakia seen similar fate, though I doubt it begun to heal till today (judging by how trial of murderers of Kuciak have ended).

[@PaulStatz-xl3em]

Wasn't the Czech people actually what was known as Bohemia?

[@shawndorisian1857]

Since I know you are not up on Middle Eastern history. I can tell you that with such a breakup Lebanon under it's Emir would become independent

[@igorzlobinski738]

I wish more people watch this film. Thank you

[@klausrain111]

I was lucky enough to visit Prague in the 70s. Beautiful city and the people were very nice to me. They were taking a risk just to talk to me, an American. I soon realized they weren't as subservient to the government as anti-communist propaganda wanted us to believe. 😂

[@antonpressing]

What the hell - Czech - Slovak - German - Hungarian ? I am a mixture of these ALL - and the language salad was amusing for us children !

[@mvs9122]

Itseems that there was no foreign interference either. Neighboring/foreign countries can be very destructive in these situation

[@debbiewatermelon]

My father born in Czechia 1918. His family jewish from Poland went back and got exterminated. But Czech born gave him better way to get to America after he escaped from Janowska camp.

[@rob1978]

My grandparents immigrated from Slovakia before WWI. But the “old world” was always referred to as Czechoslovakia since that was the reality at the time. We knew, however, that we were Slovaks: Slovak church, Slovak Sokol, Slovak language. I have always been confused about the history of Czechia and Slovakia. But thanks to videos like this, I am beginning to understand. Also, I now can imagine why my Grandmother spoke five languages (if English is included, LOL).🇸🇮🪗

[@tomaskral4685]

Why's everyone speaking Polish in this video?

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

It's a polish channel, therefore the Polish language with the translation into English..

[@miloshamarcak2250]

Why not? :)

[@Joe-pb3bm]

Independent like * Vichy France?

[@user-gu7rm3rf8c]

Czech has so many nationalist and they don’t want to join with Euro

[@jeanneknight4791]

I used to think that they didn't want Euros because it is an identity thing, too. After a tousand years of German or Hapsburg or Russian domination, it was nice to have their lovely money of their own creation. In reality, the main reason they don't use Euros is because even if 100% of the popuation wanted the conversion, the debt ratio is too high for eligiblity and they don't qualify. This is something that is being addressed but it doesn't happen over night. When I was in Prague last year, it really didn't seem to make any difference as a tourist because it is a cashless society but industry-wise, it does, apparently. President Pavel and Prime Minister Fiala are all for Euros as are the younger people who havve travelled and are educated. The really old people have very different views about many things, though.

[@Pidalin]

@@jeanneknight4791 I don't think that prime minister Fiala is for euro, he is from ODS party and they were always against euro. Václav Klaus (who is partly responsible for breaking Czechoslovakia) was from the same party. Most of parties in government coalition is for euro, but not ODS, at least not majority of their members. They want to keep their mafia Czech central bank with power, that's only reason why they don't want euro.