The flag of Czechoslovakia was introduced on 30th of March in 1920, and was taken over as flag of Czechia in preparation for the separation of Slovakia on 17th of December in 1992. It shows two horizontal stripes in white and red and on the pole a blue until the middle of the flag reaching isosceles triangle. The colours white and red are the since the 12th century known Bohemian colours (white lion on red), the blue triangle should represent Slovakia.
Many Slavic nations create on the 19th century own flags – in context with a growing Slavic nationalism. Thereby played the Panslavism an important roll, a political movement of the 18th/19th century, which would unite all Slavs in one nation. The most Slavic nations however lived in this times under Austrian, Turkish or even German rule. The Panslavism saw in Russia a model, because the Russians were, apart from Montenegro, the only free Slavic nation. In this way the colours of the Russian flag became to an idol of the Panslavists, and in the end to a colour's pattern in the designing of the flags of many Slavic nations. Those flags carried and carry except few exceptions the Russian colours white, blue and red as mutual attribute. From there this colour's combination is named "Panslavic Colours". The three colours had been shown for the first time in the year 1848 on the Slavic Congress in Prague, but in a lengthwise striped tricolour. They represented the Czech and the Slovaks. The Slavs in Moravia finally preferred the horizontal colour combination of white, red and blue, which can also be traced back to the old (and nowadays reused coat of arms of Moravia) from before 1462.
Anyhow was introduced as the first flag of Czechoslovakia, in recomendation of the national council of Czechoslovakia, a horizontally striped bicolour in the bohemian colours white and red on 28th of October in 1918, the day of founding of the state. But the new neighbouring states of Czechoslovakia, Austria and also Poland, used the same colours, so that it was necessary to bring about a better differentiation. Moreover Slovakia was not represented in the existing flag. Because of that was – after many debates – officially introduced the well known flag of Czechoslovakia on 30th of March in 1920.
The greater and partially the lesser coat of arms of Czechoslovakia showed (except between the years 1960 and 1990) always the heraldry of the many historic regions which had been merged to Czechoslovakia in 1918: Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Slovakia, Carpatho-Ukraine, Teschen, Troppau and Ratibor. The lesser coat of arms combined mostly the double-tailed bohemian lion with a chest shield which contained the historic coat of arms of Slovakia, except between the years 1960 and 1990. The Motto in the banner was: "Pravda vitezi", since 1990 even in Latin: "Veritas vincit" → "The truth will win".
History of Bohemia to 1918 → click here → Bohemia
History of Moravia to 1918 → click here → Moravia
History of Austrian Silesia to 1918 → click here → Austrian Silesia
History of Slovakia → click here → Slovakia
History of Carpatho-Ukraine → click here → Carpatho-Ukraine
2nd of October 1938 · Poland occupys and annexes the Teschener Land
14th of March 1939 · the Slovak People's Party proclaims under Josef Tiso (1887–1947) the Slovakian Republic, disintegration of Czechoslovakia, Carpatho-Ukraine bekommes annexed by Hungary
