The Czech Republic: What We Share With Other Nations?

… with Americans
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush included Jaromír Vejvoda’s song Škoda lásky
along with a photograph of the composer in his presidential library. In 1995, the Czech song was used to as a wakeup alarm for the astronauts on board the Discovery space shuttle.

… with Americans
The name of the U.S. currency, the dollar, takes its roots from the Czech lands. It was in the Krušny Mountains that a coin called a joachimstaler was minted. Because the name of the coin was rather long, it was subsequently shortened to the word “taler,” from which the Czech word “tolar” emerged. The name was then adopted in various European countries, and because of its pleasant sound, eventually found its way to England, where it evolved into the word “dollar.” In the 18th century, when the United States was looking for a suitable name for its currency that would be distinct from the names of currencies used in France or England, it settled on the word “dollar,” which had been used since the 16th century in England but had since fallen out of use.

… with Americans
The Imperial Chain Bridge in the South Bohemian town of Stádlec was used as a model for the construction of San Francisco’s Rainbow Bridge

… with Americans
The first Czechoslovak Constitution, from February 29, 1920, was inspired by the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution from 1787. Thanks to that, the Czechoslovakia of those days became one of the most democratic countries in Europe.

… with Britons
Czech fighter pilots significantly contributed to the victory in the Battle of Britain during World War II as members of the Royal Air Force. They downed 56 enemy aircraft and most probably harmed another 20.

…with Britons
Jan Kaplický, the best-known architect of Czech origin, works in the United Kingdom. Two of his constructions, the Media Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and the Selfridges building in Birmingham, have been acclaimed by The Independent newspaper as two of the most significant modern buildings in the world.

… with Germans
Czechs are almost as passionate about beer-drinking as Germans are. In the Czech Republic, 19 millions hectoliters of the popular beverage were produced in 2005. 40% of the 3 million hectoliters intended for export went to Germany.

Source: Official web site of the Czech Republic, www.czech.cz

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