Economic Development of Czechoslovakia in the Years 1945-1948

The diploma thesis is focused on the economic development of Czechoslovakia after 1945 up to the political takeover in 1948, when communists finally assumed power. The work offers the view of Czech economy influenced by the experience of the Great Depression in the 1930s, occupation and the transformation of economic thinking in Europe. The main concern is to answer the questions to what extend the post-war reconstruction was successful, what the political conditions of the changes in our economy were and which economic results they produced. The land reform, final solution of German question by the expulsion of Germans, nationalisation of industry, codification of two-year economic plan and refusal of the Marshall plan are considered to be the key points. The allience with the Soviet Union played an important role too. The main conclusion of the work is that, in Czechoslovakia, the successful transformation from war economy to a mixed economy, in which the main role of the state was supplemented by a private sector, was accomplished. The existence of different alternatives of development, which could not be realized because of the increasing influence of communists in the government, is considered to be the key factor for the economic development in the years 1945-1948.