Abstract
For observers of Czech and Slovak politics between the two world wars, Antonin Svehla (1873–1933) was an enigma. For historians he has retained that distinction. Svehla’s reserved demeanour, his avoidance of the press and his aversion to publicity pushed him into the background, but even a cursory view of modern Czech history reveals the crucial role he played in political life. Svehla led the Czech Agrarian Party in the closing years of the Habsburg monarchy, when it was the strongest Czech party in the Vienna Reichsrat.1 He was one of the ‘men of 28 October’ who engineered the peaceful revolution in Prague in 1918.2 From the birth of the republic until his withdrawal from public life in 1929, Svehla led his party, known as the Republican Party after 1919, in all political coalitions, with the exception of Edvard Benes’ (1884–1948) government of 1921–22, and served three times as prime minister.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
