Slovakia

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Slovakia (Slovak Republic)

[Slovakian flag during WWII]

            14 Mar 1939 - 3 Apr 1945

[Slovakian Flag]

                Adopted 1 Jan 1993

Map of Slovakia Hear National Anthem
"Nad Tatrou sa blyská"
(Lightning over the Tatras) Text of National Anthem
1939-1945, Re-adopted 1993 Constitution
(1 Jan 1993)

Capital: Bratislava Currency: Euro (EUR)
from 1 Jan 2009; Slovak Koruna
(SKK) 8 Feb 1993-31 Dec 2008
National Holiday: 1 Sep (1992)
Constitution Day Population: 5,477,038 (2011)

GDP: $120.2 billion (2010) Exports: $67.9 billion (2010)
Imports: $67.7 billion (2010) Ethnic groups: Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma (Gypsy) 1.7%,
Ruthenian and Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001)

Total Active Armed Forces: 16,531 (2010)
Merchant marine: 23 ships (2010) Religions: Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%
(of which Slovak Evangelical 6.2%, Reformed Christian 2%),
Greek Catholic 4.1%, Eastern Orthodox 0.9%, other 3.2%,
none 13% (2001)

International Organizations/Treaties: AG, ANT, APM, BIS, BSEC (observer), BTWC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, CFE, CTBT, CWC, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ENMOD, ESCR, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NPT, NSG, NTBT, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Slovakia Index Chronology
4 Jul 907                  Part of Hungary (part of Feldivék [Upper                               Hungary]).19 Sep 1848 - 28 Sep 1848 Slovak National council holds executive power in parts of Slovakia occupied by Austrian-Slovak forces in their fight against the Hungarians.21 Dec 1867                 Part of the "Hungarian half" of the                             Austro-Hungarian monarchy.28 Oct 1918                 Union with Czechoslovakia declared. 5 Nov 1918                 Czech and Slovak troops begin take control.  6 Dec 1918                 Allied intervention, Slovakia becomes                               temporarily divided into two zones: western                              Slovakia to Czechs, eastern Slovakia remained                              Hungarian.11 Dec 1918                 Eastern Slovak Republic declared in Hungarian                               zone. 30 Dec 1918                 Czechoslovakia occupies east Slovakia.31 Dec 1918                 Hungarians in west Slovakia declare the                             ("First") Slovak Soviet Republic in rebellion. 1 Jan 1919                 Western Slovakia reoccupied by Czechs; remaining                              Hungarian rule in eastern Slovakia terminated. 1 May 1919 - 23 Jun 1919   Hungarian occupation of two thirds of Slovakia.16 Jun 1919 - 7 Jul 1919   ("Second") Slovak Soviet Republic (in rebellion                              at Presov; with Hungarian assistance). 4 Jun 1920                 By Treaty of Trianon Hungary formally cedes the                              majority Slovak areas to Czechoslovakia. 1 Jan 1927                 Province of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia.22 Nov 1938               Autonomy within Czechoslovakia (Slovak Land).14 Mar 1939                 Independence (Slovak State); under German                               protectorate.21 Jul 1939                 Slovak Republic (under German protectorate). 28 Aug 1944 - 4 Apr 1945   German occupation. 4 Apr 1945                 Re-incorporation into Czechoslovakia declared. 4 Apr 1945 - Jul 1945      Soviet occupation. 1 Jan 1969                 Slovak Socialist Republic within Czechoslovakia. 1 Mar 1990                 Slovak Republic within Czechoslovakia.17 Jul 1992    Declaration of sovereignty. 1 Jan 1993                 Independence (Slovak Republic).

Regions

Slovakia within
Czechoslovakia
(1918-39, 1945-92)

Slovak National Council in Exile
(1939-1940)

Slovak Resistance
(1944-1945)

Orthodox Church
of Czechia and
Slovakia

Historical Maps
of Slovakia

19 Sep 1848 - 28 Sep 1848 Slovak National Council - Ludovít Stúr (b. 1815 - d. 1856) - Jozef Miloslav Hurban (b. 1817 - d. 1888) - Michal Miloslav Hodza (b. 1811 - d. 1870) Presidents 11 Dec 1918 - 30 Dec 1918 Viktor Dvorcák (b. 1878 - d. 1943) (Eastern Slovak Republic)31 Dec 1918 - 1 Jan 1919 Gabor Mészáros (Leader of the [West] Slovak Soviet Republic)16 Jun 1919 - 20 Jun 1919 Revolutionary Executive Committee - Ján Vavrica (b. 1891 - d. 1938) - Jozef Varecha (b. 1885 - d. af.1945) - Antonín Janousek (b. 1877 - d. 1941) - Stefan Stehlík - Samuel Capó (b. 1883 - d. 1947) - Ludovít Jakab (b. 1887 - d. 1957) - Ernest Pór (b. 1889 - d. 1943) - Frantisek Fehér (b. 1885 - d. 19..) - Stefan Mokrán (b. 1887 - d. 1971) - Gustáv Fleischer (b. 1871 - d. 1956) - Jozef Cápai (orCzápai)20 Jun 1919 - 7 Jul 1919 Antonín Janousek (s.a.) KSS (chairman Revolutionary Governing Council, also styled Council of People's Commissioners)14 Mar 1939 - 3 Apr 1945 Jozef Tiso (b. 1887 - d. 1947) HSLS-SSNJ (acting to 26 Oct 1939)(from 1942 self-styled Vodca [Leader]) 1 Jan 1993 - 2 Mar 1993 Vladimír Meciar (1st time)(acting) (b. 1942) HZDS 2 Mar 1993 - 2 Mar 1998 Michal Kovác (b. 1930) Non-party 2 Mar 1998 - 30 Oct 1998 Vladimír Meciar (2nd time)(acting) (s.a.) HZDS30 Oct 1998 - 15 Jun 1999 Mikulás Dzurinda (acting) (b. 1955) KDH15 Jun 1999 - 15 Jun 2004 Rudolf Schuster (b. 1934) SOP15 Jun 2004 - Ivan Gasparovic (b. 1941) HZD

Prime ministers (chairmen of the government) 7 Oct 1938 - 9 Mar 1939 Jozef Tiso (1st time)              (s.a.)               HSLS-SSNJ 9 Mar 1939 - 11 Mar 1938 Jozef Sivák                        (b. 1886 - d. 1959) HSLS-SSNJ 11 Mar 1939   (hours)      Jozef Tiso (2nd time)              (s.a.)               HSLS-SSNJ
11 Mar 1939 - 14 Mar 1939 Karol Sidor                        (b. 1901 - d. 1953) HSLS-SSNJ14 Mar 1939 - 29 Oct 1939 Jozef Tiso (3rd time)              (s.a.)               HSLS-SSNJ
29 Oct 1939 - 5 Sep 1944 Vojtech Tuka                       (b. 1880 - d. 1946) HSLS-SSNJ 5 Sep 1944 - 3 Apr 1945 Stefan Tiso                        (b. 1897 - d. 1959) HSLS-SSNJ
1 Jan 1993 - 16 Mar 1994 Vladimír Meciar (1st time)         (s.a.)               HZDS 16 Mar 1994 - 13 Dec 1994 Jozef Moravcík                     (b. 1945)            DU 13 Dec 1994 - 30 Oct 1998 Vladimír Meciar (2nd time)         (s.a.)               HZDS 30 Oct 1998 - 4 Jul 2006 Mikulás Dzurinda                   (s.a.)            KDH;2000 SDKU 4 Jul 2006 - 8 Jul 2010 Robert Fico (1st time)             (b. 1964)            SMER-SD 8 Jul 2010 - 4 Apr 2012 Iveta Radicová (f)    (b. 1956)    SDKU-DS 4 Apr 2012- Robert Fico (2nd time)             (s.a.)               SMER-SD Commanders of the Czechoslovak Troops 25 Dec 1918 - 27 May 1919 Luigi Giuseppe Piccione (b. 1866 - d. 1942)                            (Commander of troops operating East                             of the Morava river) 1 Jun 1919 - 1920         Eugène Desiré Antoine Mittelhauser (b. 1873 - d. 1949)                            (Commander of the Western Army Group) Commanders of Hungarian Troops 1 May 1919 - Jun 1919     Aurél Stromfeld    (b. 1878 - d. 1927)Jun 1919 - 23 Jun 1919     Jenö Landler                       (b. 1875 - d. 1928) German Envoys and Ministers Plenipotentiary30 Jun 1939 - 29 Jul 1940 Hans Bernard (b. 1892 - d. 1960)29 Jul 1940 - 19 Jan 1941 Manfred Freiherr von Killinger     (b. 1886 - d. 1944)19 Jan 1941 - 4 Apr 1945 Hans Elard Ludin                   (b. 1905 - d. 1947) Commanders of German Occupation Forces29 Aug 1944 - 20 Sep 1944 Gottlob Berger                     (b. 1896 - d. 1975)20 Sep 1944 - 3 Apr 1945 Hermann Höfle                      (b. 1911 - d. 1962) Commanders of Soviet Occupation Forces(Operating in Slovakia and Subcarpathia [Eastern Czechoslovakia]) 6 Aug 1944 - 24 Mar 1945 Ivan Yefimovich Petrow             (b. 1896 - d. 1958)25 Apr 1945 - Jul 1945     Andrey Anreyevich Yeremenko        (b. 1892 - d. 1970)

Slovak National Council in Exile

Chairman of the Slovak National Council22 Nov 1939 - Jan/Feb 1940 Milan Hodza (b. 1878 - d. 1944) SNS (in Paris exile; from Jan/Feb 1940, joined exiled Czecho-Slovak National Council)

Territorial Disputes: Bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules.

Party abbreviations: HZD = Hnutie za Demokraciu (Movement for Democracy, est.15 Jul 2002 by splinters of HZDS); HZDS = Hnutie za Demokratické Slovensko (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, authoritarian, est.1991); KDH = Krestansko-Demokratické Hnutie (Christian Democratic Movement, christian-democratic); LS-HZDS = Ludová Strana–Hnutie za Demokratické Slovensko (People's Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, conservative, nationalist, former HZDS, est.2003);SDKU-DS = Slovenská Demokratická a Krestanská Únia–Demokratická Strana (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party, christian-democratic, formerly SDKU, est.2006);SMER-SD = Smer-SociálnaDemokracia (Direction-Social Democracy, leftist, 1999 - 1 Jan 2005known as Smer [Tretia Cesta] or Direction [Third Way], est.1999 split from SDL);SOP = Strana Obcianskeho Porozumenia (Party of Civic Understanding, centerist); - Former parties: DU= Demokratická Únia Slovenska (Democratic Union of Slovakia, liberal, 1994-2000);HZDS = Hnutie za Demokratické Slovensko (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, authoritarian, 1991-2003, becomes LS-HZDS in 2003); HSLS = Hlinkova Slovenská L'udová Strana (Hlinka's Slovak People's Party, as Slovak People's Party [Slovenská L'udová Strana] 1913-1925, pro-autonomy within Czechoslovakia 1918-Nov 1938, then HSLS-SSNJ);HSLS-SSNJ = Hlinkova Slovenská L'udová Strana - Strana Slovenskej Národnej Jednoty (Hlinka's Slovak People's Party - Party of Slovak National Unity, fascist, authoritarian, 1938-45, only legal party 31 Jan 1939 - Apr 1945);KSC = Komunistická Strana Československa (Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, 1921-1992);KSS = Komunistická Strana Slovenska (Communist Party of Slovakia 1919, 1944-1989);SDK = Slovenská Demokratická Koalícia (Slovak Democratic coalition, 1998-2001, comprising Democratic Party, SDSS, Slovak Green Party, DU, and KDH);SDKU = Slovenská Demokratická a Krestanská Únia(Slovak Democratic and Christian Union, christian-democratic, 2000-2006);SNS = Slovenská Národná Strana (Slovak National Party, nationalist, 1871-1938);VPN = Verejnost Proti Násiliu (Public Against Violence, former communist dissidents, conservative)

Slovakia within Czechoslovakia


1938 - 1939, 1990 - 1992


1 Sep 1992 - 1 Jan 1993

28 Oct 1918 Union with Czechoslovakia declared. 1 Jan 1927 Land (province) of Slovakia.22 Nov 1938 Autonomy within Czechoslovakia (Slovak Land).14 Mar 1939 Independence (Slovak State)(see above). 5 Sep 1944 Autonomous Slovak Republic declared (within Czechoslovakia). 1 Jan 1969 Slovak Socialist Republic (within Czechoslovakia). 1 Mar 1990 Slovak Republic (within Czechoslovakia).17 Jul 1992 Declaration of sovereignty. 1 Jan 1993 Independence.

Chairmen of the Presidium of the Slovak Communist Party (KSS)17 Sep 1944 - 12 Aug 1945 Karol Smidke (b. 1897 - d. 1952)12 Aug 1945 - 19 Oct 1951 Viliam Siroký (b. 1902 - d. 1971) First Secretaries of the Slovak Communist Party (KSS)19 Oct 1951 - 15 Jun 1953 Viliam Siroký (s.a.)15 Jun 1953 - 4 Apr 1963 Karol Joszef Bacílek (b. 1896 - d. 1974) 4 Apr 1963 - Jan 1968 Alexander Dubcek (b. 1921 - d. 1992) 22 Jan 1968 - Aug 1968 Vasil Bilak (b. 1917)22 Aug 1968 - 4 May 1969 Gustáv Husák (b. 1913 - d. 1991) 4 May 1969-26/28 Jan 1970 Stefan Sádovský (b. 1928 - d. 1984) 26/28 Jan 1970-14 Apr 1988 Jozef Lenárt (b. 1923 - d. 2004)14 Apr 1988 - 29 Nov 1989 Ignác Janák (b. 1930)

Chairman of the Slovak National Council28 Oct 1918 - Jan 1919 Matús Dula (b. 1846 - d. 1926) (from 4 Nov 1918, in Prague) Czechoslovak Commissioner 6 Nov 1918 - 17 Dec 1918 Pavel (Pavol) Blaho (b. 1867 - d. 1927) Czechoslovak Ministers of Slovak Affairs 28 Oct 1918 - 25 May 1920 Vavro Ján Srobár (b. 1867 - d. 1950)25 May 1920 - 25 Sep 1920 Ivan Dérer (acting) (b. 1884 - d. 1973)25 Sep 1920 - 26 Sep 1921 Martin Michura (b. 1883 - d. 1946)26 Sep 1921 - 15 Jan 1927 Josef Kállay (b. 1881 - d. 1939) Minister Plenipotentiary and Administrator15 Jan 1927 - 28 Jun 1928 Josef Kállay (s.a.) Land Presidents 1 Jul 1928 - 1931 Ján Drobný (b. 1881 - d. 1948) HSLS 1931 - 1938 Jozef Országh (b. 1883 - d. 1949)1938 - 1939 JuliánSimko (b. 1886 - d. 1956) Czechoslovak Ministers for Slovak Affairs 6 Oct 1938 - 28 Nov 1938 Jozef Tiso (b. 1887 - d. 1947) HSLS-SSNJ 1 Dec 1938 - 15 Mar 1939 Karol Sidor (b. 1901 - d. 1953) HSLS-SSNJ 15 Mar 1939 - 18 Jul 1940 Vacant18 Jul 1940 - Jan 1945 Rudolf Viest (in exile) (b. 1890 - d. 1945) Mil (German prisoner from 3 Nov 1944) Presidents of the Slovak National Council 5 Sep 1944 - 27 Oct 1944 Karol Smidke (1st time) (s.a.) KSS 5 Sep 1944 - 27 Oct 1944 Vavro Ján Srobár (s.a.) KSS27 Oct 1944 - 11 Apr 1945 Vacant11 Apr 1945 - 26 Feb 1948 Jozef Lettrich (b. 1897 - d. 1952) DS14 Sep 1945 - 14 Jul 1950 Karol Smidke (2nd time) (s.a.) KSC (acting 26 Feb 1948 - 12 Mar 1948)26 Feb 1948 - 12 Mar 1948 Ivan Horváth (acting) (b. 1904 - d. 1960) KSC + Andrej Cvincek (acting) (b. 1880 - d. 1949) DS (to 27 Feb 1948)14 Jul 1950 - 15 Jun 1958 Frantisek Kubac (b. 1887 - d. 1958) KSC15 Jun 1958 - 23 Jun 1958 Irena Durisová (f) (b. 1918 - d. 1999) KSC + Jozef Mjartan (b. 1900 - d. 1983) SSO + Fratisek Dénes (b. 1902 - d. 1979) KSC + Michal Zákovic (b. 1916 - d. 1990) SSL (acting) 23 Jun 1958 - 14 Jul 1960 Ludovít Benada (1st time) (b. 1899 - d. 1973) KSC14 Jul 1960 - 28 Jul 1962 Rudolf Strechaj (b. 1914 - d. 1952) KSC28 Jul 1962 - 31 Oct 1962 Ludovít Benada (2nd time) (s.a.) KSC + Vasil Bilak (s.a.) KSC + Michal Sabolcík (b. 1924 - d. 1995) KSC (acting)31 Oct 1962 - 20 Sep 1963 Jozef Lenárt (s.a.) KSC 20 Sep 1963 - 29 Dec 1968 Michal Chudík (b. 1914 - d. 2005) KSC14 Mar 1968 - 16 Mar 1975 Ondrej Klokoc (b. 1911 - d. 1975) KSC (acting to 27 Jun 1968)26 Mar 1975 - 30 Nov 1989 Viliam Salgovic (b. 1919 - d. 1990) KSC30 Nov 1989 - 26 Jun 1990 Rudolf Schuster (b. 1934) KSC/Non-party 26 Jun 1990 - 23 Jun 1992 Frantisek Miklosko (b. 1947) VPN/KDH23 Jun 1992 - 31 Dec 1992 Ivan Gasparovic (b. 1941) HZDS

Chairman of the Slovak Provisional Government28 Oct 1918 - 14 Nov 1918 Vavro Ján Srobár (s.a.) Chairmen of the Board of Commissioners 5 Sep 1944 - 17 Sep 1945 Gustáv Husák (acting) (1st time) (s.a.) KSC17 Sep 1945 - 14 Aug 1946 Karol Smidke (s.a.) KSC14 Aug 1946 - 4 May 1950 Gustáv Husák (2nd time) (s.a.) KSC 4 May 1950 - 7 Sep 1951 Karol Joszef Bacílek (s.a.) KSC 7 Sep 1951 - 31 Jan 1953 Julius Duris (b. 1904 - d. 1986) KSC31 Jan 1953 - 10 Jul 1960 Rudolf Strechaj (s.a.) KSC10 Jul 1960 - 2 Jan 1969 Vacant Premiers 2 Jan 1969 - 4 May 1969 Stefan Sádovský (s.a.) KSC 4 May 1969 - 12 Oct 1988 Peter Colotka (b. 1925) KSC12 Oct 1988 - 22 Jun 1989 Ivan Knotek (b. 1936) KSC22 Jun 1989 - 8 Dec 1989 Pavol Hrivnák (b. 1931 - d. 1995) KSC 8 Dec 1989 - 27 Jun 1990 Milan Cic (b. 1932 - d. 2012) KSC;1990 VPN 27 Jun 1990 - 23 Apr 1991 Vladimír Meciar (1st time) (s.a.) VPN23 Apr 1991 - 24 Jun 1992 Ján Carnogurský (b. 1944) KDH24 Jun 1992 - 31 Dec 1992 Vladimír Meciar (2nd time) (s.a.) HZDS

Slovak Resistance

Co-Chairmen of the Board of the Slovak National Council28 Aug 1944 - 28 Oct 1944 Vavro Ján Srobár (s.a.) + Karol Smidke (b. 1897 - d. 1952) KSS Head of all Partisan UnitsOct 1944 - 1945 Aleksey Nikitich Asmolov (b. 1906 - d. 1981) Mil

Party abbreviations: DS = Demokratická Strana (Democratic Party); HSLS = Hlinkova Slovenská L'udová Strana (Hlinka's Slovak People's Party, as Slovak People's Party [Slovenská L'udová Strana] 1913-1925, pro-autonomy within Czechoslovakia 1918-Nov 1938, thenHSLS-SSNJ);HSLS-SSNJ = Hlinkova Slovenská L'udová Strana - Strana Slovenskej Národnej Jednoty (Hlinka's Slovak People's Party - Party of Slovak National Unity, fascist, authoritarian, 1938-45, only legal party 31 Jan 1939 - Apr 1945); HZDS = Hnutie za Demokratické Slovensko (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, authoritarian, communist); KDH = Krestansko Demokratické Hnutie (Christian Democratic Movement, Christian-conservative); KSC = Komunistická Strana Ceskoslovenska(Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, communist, 1921-1992); KSS = Komunistická strana Slovenska (Communist Party of Slovakia 1944-1989); SSL = Slovenská L'udova Strana (Slovak People's Party); VPN = Verejnost Proti Násiliu (Public Against Violence, former communist dissidents, conservative); HSLS-SSNJ = Hlinkova Slovenská L'udová Strana - Strana Slovenskej Národnej Jednoty (Hlinka's Slovak People's Party-Party of Slovak National Unity, fascist, authoritarian, only legal party 1939-Apr 1945); Mil = Military