History Discussion: Czechoslovakia from Independent State to Soviet Satellite

We'll discuss Czechoslovakia's history from 1918 to 1948, the controversial figure of Edvard Beneš, and how Czechoslovakia came into the Soviet sphere following WW II.

We'll begin with the establishment of Czechoslovakia following WW I and its development under Masaryk into a democratic system with a strong economy. We'll continue discussing the state through Western betrayal and annexation in 1938, German occupation during WW II, the Prague Uprising in 1945, and the Communist coup in 1948, all under Beneš.

Our discussion will be based on the following two articles:
The Failures of Czech Democracy, 1918–1948
Who Lost Czechoslovakia to Communism?