Postcard celebrating the independence of Czechoslovakia from Austria-Hungary, proclaimed in its capital Prague on October 28, 1918. The lion, a symbol of Bohemia dating to the 12th or 13th century, became part of the coat of arms of, and a symbol for, Czechoslovakia. The lion holds in its mouth remnants of a Habsburg banner, while looking at part of the Prague skyline.

Ať Žije

Československa Republika!

28. Rijna 1918



Long live

The Republic of Czechoslovakia!

October 28, 1918

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On October 28, 1918, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire broke apart along ethnic lines, the Czech region of Bohemia and Slovakian Moravia declared the independent nation of Czechoslovakia with its capital in Prague.

In January 1916 the government declared German to be the only official language in Bohemia. In Prague the police assaulted citizens heard speaking Czech.

On January 12, 1917, at a conference in Rome, the Allies called for the liberation of the nations of Austria-Hungary including Czechs and Slovaks.

In January 1918, there were work stoppages and food riots in the empire. By April the army had half the flour it needed.

On May Day, 1918, 70,000 demonstrated in Prague demanding food, peace, and independence, with some calling to hang the Kaiser. On May 17, the city hosted a Conference of the Suppressed Nations of Austria-Hungary.

A May 12 mutiny by Slovenian troops was followed by others, one Ruthenian, another by Serbs and, on May 21, one by Czechs.

A Pan-Slav congress convened on August 16 at Laibach (Ljubljana) united Slovenes, Czechs, and Poles calling for independence.

From Paris, the Czechoslovak National Council, having organized a provisional government headed by Masaryk, published the declaration of independence on October 21. The proclamation of a Czecho-Slovak state followed on 28 October in Prague.

In his memoir, Austro-Hungarian submariner Georg von Trapp complains about the Czechs, suspecting them of failing to arm torpedoes, delaying repairs to his submarine, delighting in setbacks at the front, and celebrating the entry of the United States into the war.

Czech prisoners of war held in Russia formed a Czech Legion fighting alongside Imperial Russian troops against Austria-Hungary. After the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk they crossed Russia to Vladivostok.

Czechoslovakia is a country in Europe.