ABSTRACT
In elections after the Second World War the Social Democrats and even more so the Communists performed impressively in elections. The general elections of 26 May 1946 signalled a victory for the Communists in the Czech Lands (40 per cent) and second place in Slovakia (30 per cent) - that is, 38 per cent nationwide. The National Socialists and the Social Democrats scored 18 per cent and 13 per cent respectively throughout the country. Both parties participated in a coalition government with the Communists (and the Czech Populist and Slovak Democratic parties), until the events of February 1948, when the latter took power in a 'constitutional and revolutionary way'. For two years, between 1946 and 1948, the Social Democrats, as the holder of the balance between the Communist and the non-communist parties of the National Front, were the most courted and solicited party in Czechoslovakia).} The Stalinists, obedient to the orders of Moscow, never wanted to live that experience again. Since then, and for 41 years, no social-democratic activity was permitted in Czechoslovakia.
