Czech Republic

Czech Republic is situated in central Europe sharing border with Germany in the West, Poland in the North, Slovakia in the East, and Austria in the South. Czech Republic has a long history dating back to middle stone age. The name of the country has been changing over centuries to arrive to Czech Republic in 1991.

The first republic was established in 1918 and its name was Czechoslovakia. The union of who countries Czech and Slovakia lasted over 73 years. During World War two influence history dramatically with Nazi occupation in 1939 and the assassination of the leading SS officer Reinhard Heydrich. Czech was liberated by Russian Army in the East and US troops in the Southwest.

After WW II Czechoslovakia remained under Soviet influence. In 1948 new Communist president was selected. Klement Gottwald developed a system based on Soviet political institutions and practices. In 1960s, intellectual tried to reform Communist system with a goal of decentralization of economy. The USSR feared that the revolution could influence other countries and sent its army to Prague.

In August 21, 1968 Czechoslovakia lost its freedom and had to live under Communist regime. Finally, in November 1989 the Velvet Revolution came around and gave us all back our freedom. Velvet Revolution is called velvet became nobody was killed. The Communist president resigned soon after the revolution and new president was elected.

In 1993 Czechoslovakia became history became those two countries decided to go separate way. Since January 1991 we had Czech republic and Slovakia. Czech Republic made a huge step in its reform to capitalist system and is one of the candidate to fourth European Union enlargement that is planned in spring 2004.

Prague, the capitol of Czech Republic is one of the most visited cities in today's Europe. It was not damage during the war and therefore; there are many of original buildings. Prague is a beautiful city with hundreds bridges over river Vltava.