Czechoslovakia 1919 – 1939

A newspaper epitaph for the country of Czechoslovakia.

In September of 1938, the Munich Agreement was signed between Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. It was thought that a broader European war was avoided at the expense of Czechoslovakia, which was forced to cede territory to Germany despite a formal Czech alliance with France. In March of the following year, Hitler proclaimed the remaining territory the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, effectively ending sovereign authority.

This homage to the glory of Czechoslovakia was published in the March 25, 1939 edition of the Chicago Daily News. A map in the upper center highlights the territorial acquisitions of the Third Reich, with accompanying text referencing ‘the collapse of the Munich pact.’ Photogravures immediately surrounding highlight many of the country’s most famous people, places, and events. Several