Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Since the federalization in 1968, Czechoslovakia had divided citizenship, either of the Czech Socialist Republic or of the Slovak Socialist Republic (the word 'Socialist' was dropped from both names shortly after the Velvet Revolution). This distinction, however, had little effect on the citizen's life. On January 1, 1993, all Czechoslovak citizens automatically became citizens either of the Czech Republic or the Slovak Republic, based on their previous citizenship, permanent residence address, birthplace, family ties, job, and other criteria. Additionally, people had one year's time to claim the other citizenship under certain conditions.
World War II by country
The newly separated Slovak Republic (1939–1945), led by Jozef Tiso was set up in Slovakia. Part of southern Slovakia and all of Ruthenia (the former eastern end of Czechoslovakia) was annexed by Hungary. Zaolzie was annexed by Poland, snatched from them by the Germans 11 months later, and returned to Czechoslovakia in 1945 by the Soviet Union. The Slovak National Uprising, commenced in August 1944, was suppressed by German forces at the end of October; partisans, however, continued fighting in the mountains until the war's end. In April 1945, the Red Army defeated the Germans and ousted Tiso's government, annexing Carpathian Ruthenia to the USSR.