Edvard Bene� became president of Czechoslovakia 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, where he became head of the foreign resistance to the west.

Edvard Bene� in the European context is perceived as controversial. The subject of the debate are primarily laws under which the property was confiscated Sudeten Germans, Hungarians and other 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, 3rd September of that year in Sezimovo �st� died. He was succeeded by Klement Gottwald.