Slovak statesman Milan Hodža was ranked among the fathers of the European Union - MZV EN
Slovak statesman Milan Hodža was ranked among the fathers of the European Union
After 1910, he became the Slovak close Slovak aide of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, to whom he proposed a detailed plan to make the empire a federative monarchy, with Slovakia an autonomous state. The archduke was hoping that such a move would strengthen the bond between the monarchy and the nations in the Kingdom of Hungary that had experienced a forced assimilation called Magyarization. Obviously, the idea was strongly opposed by Hungarian politicians. Still, it was at this point that Hodža made himself known for the idea of a tighter cooperation among central European countries.
World War I provided an opportunity for the creation of independent Czechoslovakia, and Hodža was involved in the process. In 1918, he signed the Martin Declaration, which announced the separation of Slovaks from the kingdom and their union with the Czechs.
In the following years Hodža held a number of posts in the new Czechoslovak parliament and governments.
World War I provided an opportunity for the creation of independent Czechoslovakia, and Hodža was involved in the process. In 1918, he signed the Martin Declaration, which announced the separation of Slovaks from the kingdom and their union with the Czechs.
In the following years Hodža held a number of posts in the new Czechoslovak parliament and governments.
Following the events he emigrated first to Switzerland, then to France where he established the Slovak National Council. After the country was conquered, he moved to London, and later to the United States in 1941.
Once again Hodža returned to the idea of a greater European alignment, which he developed and published in the book “Federation in Central Europe”. And once again, his dream could not come to fruition; the Cold War ensued in the aftermath of World War II. However, Hodža did not live to see this, prematurely dying in 1944 and buried in Chicago.
Once again Hodža returned to the idea of a greater European alignment, which he developed and published in the book “Federation in Central Europe”. And once again, his dream could not come to fruition; the Cold War ensued in the aftermath of World War II. However, Hodža did not live to see this, prematurely dying in 1944 and buried in Chicago.