Edvard Bene� (28. 5. 1884 - 3. 9. 1948) - the second president of Czechoslovakia. During World War II he served in exile, was perceived as one of the main representatives of the Czechoslovak resistance. Do Office returned after liberation since 1945.

Edvard Benes was born in the village Ko�lany as the youngest of ten children. After graduating from Prague's Vinohrady grammar school, which he completed graduation, he joined the Faculty of Arts of Charles-Ferdinand University. Then he went to France, where he studied at the Sorbonne and at the Faculty of Law in Dijon, where in 1908 he received his doctorate. A year later in Prague passed rigorous exams and received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After the outbreak of the first world war he joined the anti-Austrian resistance and later went into exile to the TG Masaryk, MR Stefanik and other politicians worked on a vision of a new state of Czechs and Slovaks. After the proclamation of the Czechoslovak Republic became its first foreign minister.

The office of president of Czechoslovakia started December 18, 1935, when his predecessor Tom� Garrigue Masaryk, a few days before he resigned for health reasons. Benes's political career was strongly influenced by the Nazis in neighboring Germany. Crisis over the Sudeten problem led to the Munich Conference in September 1938, and the resignation of the fortified frontier to Germany. Bene� soon after receiving dictation flew to London and then to the USA, where he lectured briefly at the University of Chicago. In March 1939, after a full break down of Czechoslovakia and its occupation by German troops, he returned to London to become the chief representative of the foreign resistance to the west.

Edvard Bene� in the European context in the country perceived as controversial. The subject of the debate are still primarily acts on the basis of the confiscated property of the Sudeten Germans, Hungarians and various enemies of the state, and led to the forced displacement of German citizens from Czechoslovakia. He also complained of is too accommodating attitude towards Stalin and indecision in February 1948, which facilitated the Communists takeover in Czechoslovakia.

On the other hand be appreciated that Benes was in his political career exhibited marginal situations where there is often a good solution, and wherein determining the direction equally indicate to power. The second Czechoslovak president, resigned June 7 1948 and 3 September the same year in Sezimovo �st� died. He was succeeded by Klement Gottwald.