Coat of arms of Czechoslovakia

Coat of arms of Czechoslovakia
Versions
The CoA of socialist Czechoslovakia (1961-1990)
The small CoA (1918-1939); CoA of post-war Czechoslovakia (1945-1960)
Details
Adopted	1918 1961 1990

The coat of arms of Czechoslovakia were changed many times during Czechoslovakia’s history, some alongside each other. This reflects the turbulent history of the country and a wish to use appropriate territorial coats of arms.

The smaller CoA (1918-1938); CoA of post-war Czechoslovakia (1945-1960)

The medium CoA (1918-1939)

The greater CoA (1918-1938)

The smaller and the greater versions were not used from 1938 onwards, but the middle arms also was effectively put out of use when Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia in 1939. When Czechoslovakia was re-established in 1945 at the end of the Second World War, only the former smaller arms were re-adopted as arms for this so-called second republic.

The smaller arms was in essence the arms of Bohemia (Czechy) superimposed by the arms of Slovakia. The Slovakian arms should not be seen as a Herzschild but as a shield carried by the Bohemian lion in the larger motif. It is thus not to be seen as an inescutcheon taking up the honorary heart position in the arms. As can be seen in the image, it is also not placed in the visual centre of the arms.

The middle arms on the other hand, had one shield in the heart position, the arms of Bohemia. The main shield also held the arms of Slovakia, Carpathian Ruthenia, Moravia, and Silesia.

The greater arms consisted of the same fields as in the middle arms completed with three more arms: the arms of the region of Těšín Silesia and the historical duchies of Opava and Ratibor. The greater arms also had two lions as supporters and the motto of the presidential office.

The small CoA of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia,

The large CoA of the Protectorate.

The CoA of the Reichsgau Sudetenland.