Eduard Benes

1884- 1948

Czechoslavak Statesman

Eduard Benes was educated at the Universities of Prague, Dijon and Paris. He earned a PhD in Sociology. During World War I, Benes was active in achieving independence for Czechoslovakia. In 1918, he became his country's first foreign minister. He succeeded Masaryk as President in 1935. Benes was forced to accept the "Munich Pact" by Great Britain and France. After World War II, he tried to maintain democracy in Czechoslovakia, but Communist pressure forced him to resign.