Coat of arms of Czechoslovakia
The coat of arms of Czechoslovakia changed in the 72 -year history of Czechoslovakia several times, the Bohemian lion is a constant.
First coat of arms 1920-1960 - Czechoslovakia
After the dissolution of Austria -Hungary, and after temporaries in the first two years since the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic ( CSR) codified in the Constitution of February 29, 1920, in three versions: small, medium and large.
The small national coat of arms ( most commonly used) shows on the French heraldic shield the silver double-tailed lion on a red background, as a sign of Bohemia, it enters as a breastplate double cross, the emblem of Slovakia.
The middle shows the Bohemian coat of arms from those of the other state components Slovakia, Carpathian Ruthenia, Moravia and Silesia.
Between 1939 and 1945 existed instead of the Czechoslovak Republic, the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the First Slovak Republic. The coat of arms but returned in 1945 with the London government in exile back to Prague.
The small coat of arms is seen heraldic misleading: The Slovak breastplate on the Bohemian lion does not mean that the Slovak dynasty in the kingdom of Bohemia ruled ( heraldic rule that the thoracic or central shield in the coat of arms the more honorable, ruling bodies are ).
Great Seal of the Czechoslovak Republic
Second coat of arms 1960-1990 - Czechoslovakia
A new coat of arms was introduced with the adoption of the socialist constitution in 1960, the state was renamed the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic ( CSSR ). The crown was removed from the plate and instead a red star was the head of the double-tailed lion set. Furthermore, the lion was the emblem on the chest now newly formed Slovakia ( an artificial character that could never really prevail. The reason for this change, however, was the elimination of the Christian double bar cross from the socialist state coat of arms ). Striking right is the new unheraldische pentagonal shape of the crest (as the star better added in the coat of arms ). The new shield shape should officially be a Hussitenschild following the religious wars of the 15th century.
Third coat of arms 1990-1992 - ČSFR
After the Velvet Revolution in the Czech- Slovak state was renamed again, first to the Czechoslovak Federal Republic in the Czech and Czech- Slovak Federal Republic in Slovakia ( in March 1990). However, the country's name was soon a certain discontent - especially in Slovakia - arise, and then in April 1990, in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic ( CSFR ) changed. At the same time, a new coat of arms was introduced. This should be an equality of both constituent states of the federation declare: In four divided red escutcheon showed diagonally twice the Silver Lion for doppelschwänzige Czech Republic (Bohemia and Moravia and Czech Silesia ) and twice the pound reintroduced for Slovakia.
With the dissolution of Czechoslovakia went out also the national emblem of the joint Czech- Slovak State; The Czech Republic and Slovakia use each have their own coat of arms from 1990 on.