Czechoslovak government-in-exile

The Czechoslovak government-in-exile was a group of leaders who represented Czechoslovakia while their country was controlled by Nazi Germany during World War II. It started in October 1939 in Paris, France, when the former Czechoslovak President, Edvard Beneš, created a committee to carry on the country's government from outside its borders. Because France was soon taken over by Germany, the group moved to London in 1940, where they set up their offices.

This government was recognized by Allied governments during the Second World War like Britain, and it worked to undo the Munich Agreement and the German control of Czechoslovakia. The group aimed to bring back the Republic to its borders from 1937 and was seen by supporting countries as the true legal government of Czechoslovakia during the war. Their main workplace in London was a building called Fursecroft in Marylebone.

From committee to government

After the end of the First Czechoslovak Republic, Edvard Beneš resigned as president and fled to London. Later, he went to the University of Chicago as a visiting professor. There, he was encouraged to return to Europe to organize a government-in-exile. He returned to Paris in July 1939 with some of his former administration.

After World War II began, this group became known as the Czech National Liberation Committee and sought international recognition as the exiled government of Czechoslovakia. Beneš named himself president, and Jan Šrámek became prime minister. By late 1939, France and Britain allowed the committee to make international treaties, though they did not yet see these as being for the Czechoslovak Republic.

France was hesitant to fully recognize the committee as a government. However, France was the first to make a treaty with the committee, allowing the Czechoslovak army to reform on French soil. After the fall of France, Winston Churchill recognized Beneš as the president of a government-in-exile. The United States and the Soviet Union also recognized Beneš's government later in 1941. By the spring of 1942, the success of Operation Anthropoid helped confirm the legitimacy of Beneš's government as continuing the First Republic. The government's future depended on the Allied victory in the war.

Planning for the future

Beneš hoped to restore Czechoslovakia to its pre-war shape after the war ended. He wanted to build strong friendships with nearby countries like Poland and the Soviet Union to protect against future threats. In December 1943, Beneš’s government signed an agreement with the Soviets. Beneš also tried to work with Czechoslovak Communist exiles in the United Kingdom, making some promises to them.

During the war’s final years, Beneš focused on solving issues with the German minority living in Czechoslovakia. With support from the Allies, he planned to move the Sudeten German population after the war. In 1943, the Government-in-Exile began passing laws known as the “Beneš decrees”. These laws included plans for taking property from ethnic Germans and Hungarians, preparing for their future deportation. The final agreement to move Germans was reached on 2 August 1945 at the Potsdam Conference.

List of presidents of Czechoslovakia

Edvard Beneš served as the president of Czechoslovakia from October 1939 until April 2, 1945. He led the country during a very difficult time when Czechoslovakia was not able to have its normal government because of World War II.

List of prime ministers of Czechoslovakia

Jan Šrámek served as the prime minister from July 21, 1940, until April 5, 1945. He led the government during a difficult time for Czechoslovakia.