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Located at the heart of Europe between east and west, Czechoslovakia was the pivot of 20th-century European history. Created out of the ruins of an empire, it remained a beacon of democracy in a continent darkened by facism and communism. But unable to resist the machinations of greater powers, it succumbed to Nazi invasion and partition on the eve of World War II. After that conflict it underwent a communist dictatorship, which was lightened only briefly by the Prague Spring of 1968. Finally, the Czechoslovaks reclaimed liberty and democracy in the Velvet Revolution of 1989. This text presents the history of Czechoslovakia with themes of perennial interest - nationalism, democracy, and authoritarian rule. As well as guiding the reader through the particularly rich and varied experiences of Czechoslovakia, the text illuminates the nature of government, power and culture in 20th-century Europe.