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Bohemia and Moravia

• Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
• former satellite state of the German Empire
• 1939–1945
• own name: Protektorát Cechy a Morava

Contents

• Flags

• Meaning/Origin of the Flag

• Coat of Arms

• Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

• Map

• Numbers and Facts

• History

• Origin of the Country's Name

Flags

1939–1945,
Flag of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World





1939–1945,
Flag of the State's President of the Protectorate,
Source, by: Fornax / Public domain





1939–1944,
Standard of the Reich Protector,
Source, by: Fornax / Public domain



1944–1945,
Standard of the Reich Protector,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The flag of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was introduced in March 1939, because the striven continue of the hitherto Czechoslovakian flag was rejected by the German Empire. The new flag showed three horizontal stripes im white, red and blue. The colours white and red are the since the 12th century known Bohemian colours (white lion on red), blue should represent Moravia.

Source: Flaggen und Wappen der Welt, Volker Preuß

Coat of Arms

1939–1945,
Greater coat of arms of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia,
Source, by: Fornax / Public domain



1939–1945,
Lesser coat of arms of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia,
Source, by: Bohemia_Moravia_Greater_Arms_1939-1945.svg: Fornaxderivative work: ARvєδuι + / Public domain

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The greater coat of arms of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia showed a quartered shield, in the first and fourth field the scutcheon of Bohemia (silvery double-tailed lion with golden crown on red ground), in the second and third field the scutcheon of Moravia (silvery-red chess-board styled eagle with with golden crown on blue ground).

Source: Volker Preuß

Map

Map of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
1939–1945:

Source: Volker Preuß

The Sudetenland – the area of settlement of the Germans – belonged directly to the German Empire, the area of settlement of the Czech was as "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia" subordinated unter German supremacy.

Numbers and Facts

Area: 19.095 square miles (1939)

Inhabitants: 7.380.000 (1940), thereof 95% Czech and Moravian, 3,3% Germans

Density of Population: 387 inh./sq.mi. (1940)

Capital: Prag (Engl.: Prague, Czech: Praha), ca. 1.000.000 inh. (1940)

official Languages: Czech, German

other Languages: Slovakian

Currency: 1 Koruna (Krone, K) = 100 Heller

Time Zone: MEZ

Source: Wikipedia (D)

History

History of Bohemia to 1918 (→ click here)
History of Moravia to 1918 (→ click here)

28th of October 1918 · formation of Czechoslovakia by merger of Bohemia, Moravia, Austrian Silesia and of Slovakia

29th of September 1938 · Czechoslovakia cedes Sudetenland to the German Empire

2nd of October 1938 · Poland occupys and annexes the Teschen Land (Cieszyn)

14th of March 1939 · the Slovak People's Party proclaims under Josef Tiso (1887–1947) the Slovakian Republic, disintegration of Czechoslovakia

15th of March 1939 · invasion of German troops, establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

9th of May 1945 · takeover by ex-president Beneš, restoration of Czechoslovakia

Source: Wikipedia (D), World Statesmen, Discovery '97, Weltgeschichte

Origin of the Country's Name

"Bohemia and Moravia" is the summary of the names of those both landscapes, but between 1939 and 1945 in non-historical borders. The denomination "Protectorate" was dishonestly and absolutely improper, because a protectorate is a to shelter state. In reality Bohemia and Moravia was a powerless, to the arbitrariness of the national socialistic German Empire committed object.

The designation "Bohemia" has its roots in the Celtic tribe of the Boyers, which settled here in the antquity. The Boyers were pushed aside 80–70 B.C. by the Teutonic Markomans. The Slavic Czech populated the country in the 6th century. The Czech designation "Cesko" – ergo "Czechia" – arised not until the 19th century in context with the growing strong of the Czech nationalism.

The designation "Moravia" is of Slavic origin and has its roots in the "March River", which flows near Pressburg in the Danube River. In ancient times that river was named "Maraha" and the land he flows through "Marahania". In this way became the residents of that land "Marahans" which were named afterward "Maehren", "Moravians" or "Moravci". The "March River" is named in the today’s Czech language "Morava", like the name of the country "Moravia" which is named in Czech language "Morava" too.

Source: Handbuch der geographischen Namen, Meyers Konversationslexikon, Wikipedia (D), Volker Preuß