Editing Jozef Tiso (section)

==Slovak secession==
{{main|Slovak Republic (1939–1945)}}
[[File:Flag of the President of Slovakia (1939-1945).svg|thumb|upright|Standard for Tiso as Slovak President, adopted 21 July 1939]]
Tiso initially sought to distance Slovakia from German influence, but with his nation's underdeveloped economy facing a budget deficit of one billion [[Slovak koruna (1939-1945)|crowns]] and relations with the central government in Prague deteriorating, Tiso gradually pursued economic talks with Germany.{{sfn|Ward|2013|pp=173-176}} Coincidingly, Adolf Hitler sought to use Slovakia as a tool to destroy the Czechoslovak Republic. In February 1939, Tiso entered into negotiations with Germany for a fully independent Slovakia, separated from Czechoslovakia. He held direct meetings with the German representative [[Arthur Seyss-Inquart]], in which Tiso initially expressed doubts as to whether an independent Slovakia would be a viable entity. Czech military units subsequently occupied Slovakia and forced Tiso out of office on 9 March.{{sfn|Ward|2013|pp=178–9}} However the [[Rusyns|Ruthenians]], also resentful of the inclusion of their lands in Czechoslovakia, and the oppressions of the Prague government, now also sought autonomy.

Tiso's Catholic-conservative feelings initially inhibited him from what appeared to be revolutionary moves. However, within a few days Hitler invited Tiso to [[Berlin]], and offered assistance for Slovak nationhood.<ref name="IanKershaw">Ian Kershaw; Hitler a Biography; 2008 Edn; W.W. Norton & Co; London; p. 476</ref> Hitler suggested that Slovakia should declare independence under German protection (i.e.: [[Protectorate]] status), and that if not Hungary might annex the remaining territory of Slovakia. Without making an agreement, Tiso now requested the Czecho-Slovak President to call a meeting of the Slovak Diet for 14 March. During that session Tiso made a speech informing the Diet of his conversation with Hitler, confirming that he reserved any move for an independence decision to come from the Slovak Diet. On the initiative of the President of the assembly, Martin Sokol (himself previously a strong proponent of the Czecho-Slovak state with guaranteed autonomy for Slovakia), endorsed a declaration of independence.{{sfn|Ward|2013|pp=181–2}} On 15 March, Germany occupied the remaining rump of Czechoslovakia after Hitler coerced a sick Czech President [[Emil Hácha]] into acquiescing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emil Hácha (President of Czechoslovakia) |url=https://www.onthisday.com/people/emil-hacha |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=OnThisDay.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Emil Hacha |url=https://www.hrad.cz/en/president-of-the-cr/former-presidents/emil-hacha |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=Prague Castle |language=en}}</ref>

Slovakia became the [[Slovak Republic (1939–1945)|Slovak Republic]], an independent state (under German protection) which was formally recognised by the [[Soviet Union]] and Germany, with ''[[de facto]]'' recognition by the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Third French Republic|France]] (but not by the [[United States]] who were largely responsible, in 1919, for the new artificial state of Czechoslovakia). Czech émigrés and the United States considered Slovakia a [[puppet state]] of Germany. After the later recognition of the [[Czechoslovak government-in-exile]] by Great Britain, the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|British Foreign Office]] notified the Czech Foreign Ministry that Britain did not recognise any territorial claims of Czechoslovakia, nor could they commit to any fixed boundaries for the state, nor recognise the legal continuation of Czechoslovakia.

Tiso was initially Prime Minister from 14 March 1939 until 26 October 1939. Tiso not only supported Nazi Germany's [[invasion of Poland]] in September 1939 but contributed Slovak troops, which the Germans rewarded by allowing Slovakia to annex 300 square miles of Polish territory.<ref>Weinberg, Gerhard L. (2005). ''A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II'' (2 ed.). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 52. {{ISBN|0-521-85316-8}}. {{OCLC|986290507}}</ref> On 1 October 1939, Tiso officially became President of the [[Slovak People's Party]]. On 26 October, he became President of the Slovak Republic, and appointed Tuka as Prime Minister. After 1942, President Tiso was also styled ''Vodca'' ("Leader"), an imitation of German ''[[Führer]]''.{{sfn|Evans|2009|p=395}}