Chapter 24 Fruit of the Treaty of Versailles

Of all the Slavic countries, Czechoslovakia is in the best geographical position when measured by economics and the education of the majority of its inhabitants.Czechoslovakia, however, is a patchwork country.Because they abandoned the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the World War, Czechoslovakia finally gained autonomy in return, but it was divided into three parts by Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia.Can they coexist for a long time? There is no way of knowing. Firstly, Czechoslovakia is a landlocked country; secondly, Czechoslovakia, with a total of 9 million Catholics, and Slovaks with a population of 4 million Protestants, there is little intimacy between them.The Czech region had been part of the German-speaking Austro-Hungarian Empire and had always been closely connected with other countries; while the Slovaks had been brutally enslaved by their Hungarian masters for many years, and almost never escaped from their humble social status.

The Moravians have the most fertile land in the Czechoslovak Federation, between Bohemia and Slovakia, but they have no political status. Therefore, the feud between the Czechs and the Slovaks is endless No limit, the Moravians simply can't get in their mouths.Czechs treat Slovaks almost as Hungarians did back then, and Hungarians respecting minority rights is only a recent thing. Just how bad is the race problem? Anyone who wants to understand or study will politely point to the countries of Central Europe as examples.There is no way out for the situation in China and Europe, which really makes people feel very hopeless.The worst country in Central Europe is not Czechoslovakia, but her three Slavic peoples have been at odds for a long time, are hostile to each other, and hate each other.Moreover, in the Middle Ages, in order to help develop the rich mineral deposits in the Ore Mountains and the Bohemian Forest, some descendants of the Teutons—3 million Germans came to the Bohemian area, and the situation was caused by the arrival of the Germans. And more complicated and worse.

In 1526, the Habsburg family took away all Bohemia's estates in Central Europe.For the next 388 years, Bohemia was a colony of Austria, but things weren't too bad.Because of the Germanic primary and secondary schools, the Germanic universities, and the Germanic rigor and meticulousness, the Czechs have been made into an excellent nation, the only one among the Slavic race who knows how to work with a clear goal and a firm will. .But revenge has become the nature of oppressed peoples.For an oppressed nation, just because the master treats him kindly, he will not put aside the past and like their master just because of a few Christmas gifts.Once they are free, they will overthrow the oppressors of the past.As a result, Czech became the official language, and German was reduced to a barely accepted folk language, just like Hungarian in Slovakia.The new generation of Czechs completely and strictly accept the language and culture education in the Czech national tradition.From a patriotic point of view, this is undoubtedly true.But where every Bohemian kid used to learn German and speak something understood by at least 10 million people, today a new generation of kids is limited to a few million Czech speakers.If one day he goes abroad to see, he will be at a loss and be at a loss.Who would bother to learn a language that has neither commercial value nor literary history? If Czech government leaders are better than those in other Central European countries, they will gradually encourage the education system to return to the bilingualism of the past.But those linguists, who abhor the use of an international language as a tool of political demagoguery and who do not like seeing all parties united, will meet with great resistance.

Under the dictatorship of the Habsburg family, Bohemia was not only a rich agricultural area, but also a province with a fairly developed industry.Bohemia is not only the owner of coal and iron, but also world famous for its intricate glass manufacturing process.In addition, hard-working Czech farmers have always been good at cottage industries (they make something when they go home after working in the fields for 12 hours a day), so Bohemian textiles, Bohemian rugs and Bohemian shoes are famous all over the world.In the past, Bohemian products were shipped to all corners of the Austro-Hungarian Empire without paying taxes-one of the few preferential policies of the Habsburg family-now, the empire is falling apart, and each small country has heavy tax barriers , in an attempt to disrupt the trade of its neighbors.In the past, from Pilsen to Fiume, a car of beer could go all the way without hindrance, without customs, and without any taxes and fees; but now it has to go through six checkpoints, pay six taxes, change cars six times, and delay for several weeks before arriving in Fu. By then, the beer was already sour.

From an idealistic point of view, the independence of small countries is a good thing.However, it is not ideal for a small country to struggle against the natural environment and do the most primitive struggle in order to survive. People in 1932 were still acting according to the ideas of 1432. At this time, what else can we do! A few more words for the convenience of travelers to Czechoslovakia.The name of Prague was changed to Praha instead of Prague. The river flowing from Prague still flows to the Elbe, but the name is no longer Mordau River, but Voltava.Pilsen is a great place for a beer, also changed its name (beer is still served there).For those who don't like beer but want a good meal, Carlsbad is a good and satisfying place. Today, the place is called Karlovy Vary, and the former Marjan Spa has become Maria Spa today.When you go from Bruno to Pressburg, you should take the train from Brno to Bratislava.If you ask the conductor, and he happens to be a Hungarian who lived when Budapest ruled Slovakia, he will keep staring at you until you explain that you are actually asking about Boroni.Thus, the Dutch, Swedish, and French colonies in this hemisphere probably did not outlive Czechoslovakia.