Political borders can look permanent, but countries and empires have repeatedly vanished after wars, revolutions, reunification, or the collapse of political systems.
1. Czechoslovakia
Created in 1918 after the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia existed for most of the 20th century.
In 1993, it peacefully divided into two independent countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The event became known as the “Velvet Divorce.”
2. Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia brought several Balkan territories together after World War I.
Beginning in the early 1990s, the federation broke apart amid political conflict and devastating wars. Its former territory eventually became several independent countries.
3. East Germany
After World War II, Germany was divided into two states.
The German Democratic Republic, commonly called East Germany, existed from 1949 until German reunification in 1990. Its government and institutions disappeared as the country became part of a unified Germany.
4. The Ottoman Empire
For centuries, the Ottoman Empire controlled territory across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
After its defeat in World War I, the empire collapsed. The Republic of Türkiye was established in 1923, replacing the Ottoman political system.
5. The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was one of the world’s two superpowers during the Cold War.
In December 1991, the union dissolved into 15 independent republics, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and the Baltic states.
6. Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary was a major European power before World War I.
Its defeat in 1918 triggered the breakup of the empire, with new and restored countries emerging from its former territories. Its disappearance fundamentally changed Europe’s political map.