The problems of the Slovak economic development in the Third Czechoslovak Republic (1945–1948)

The purpose is to analyses the main party-political programs for the development of the Slovak economy in the Third Czechoslovak Republic and to highlight the beginning of its restructuring in 1945–1948. Scientific novelty. The structural reorganization of the Slovak economy, which began in 1945–1948, determined the priorities, principles, and content of Czechoslovakia’s economic policy towards Slovak lands for decades. The article attempts to comprehensively reveal and analyses the problems of the Slovak economic development in the Third Czechoslovak Republic, including the beginning of industrialization and the course of the agrarian reform, with the involvement of scientific findings by foreign (Slovak and Czech) historiography on these issues. Conclusions. The issues of the post-war reconstruction of the Slovak economy were reflected in the program of the government of the National Front of Czechs and Slovaks and the political programs of the parties of the Third Czechoslovak Republic. It was found that the two leading political parties of Slovakia, the Communists, and the Democrats, had similar conceptual approaches to the strategy of post-war reconstruction of the Slovak economy. They advocated a change of ownership by eliminating the dominance of big capital in industry and agriculture. Implementing their party-political programs led to the beginning of the structural reorganization of the Slovak economy in 1945–1948. It comprised industrialization and agrarian reform. However, it was impossible to achieve all the economic tasks set during the years of the Third Czechoslovak Republic due to the gradual aggravation of the political struggle.