The Provisional State Regime was a system of bodies of the Czechoslovak political exile during the Second World War. According to the Úřad vlády České republiky, after the events of March 1939 the bodies of the exile led by Edvard Beneš represented the uninterrupted continuity of the Czechoslovak state [1].
Czechoslovak National Committee
The resistance abroad was based first in the United States, and from the summer of 1939 in Paris and London. Beneš at first sought a joint body of the resistance, called the Headquarters or Directorate, which was to be assembled by envoys who had not handed their offices over to the Germans. After the outbreak of the war there was an opportunity to establish a provisional exile government as well, but Paris and London permitted only the creation of the Czechoslovak National Committee. It was to represent the Czechoslovak people abroad and direct the military units being formed in France [1].
Beneš was chairman of the committee only for internal purposes, Jan Šrámek was acting vice-chairman, and members were Štefan Osuský, generals Sergej Ingr and Rudolf Viest, Hubert Ripka, Juraj Slávik and Ernst Outrata. The committee obtained limited international recognition from France, Great Britain and the British dominions. It considered itself at least a political exile government and therefore wished to look after finances, foreign policy, propaganda and social care for emigrants as well. To that end it set up Administrations of the National Committee as an analogue of ministries [1].
The administration of the committee was handled by the Presidium in Paris, headed by the pre-war diplomat Prokop Maxa. Because Beneš had settled in London owing to the disfavour of the French government, a London part of the presidium also arose, led by Jaromír Smutný. It was based at 114 Park Street and supported Beneš's efforts aimed at the recognition of a Czechoslovak provisional government [1].
Recognition in 1940
A fundamental change was brought by the defeat of France and the shift of the exile centre to London. On 21 July 1940 Great Britain, with certain reservations, recognised the provisional Czechoslovak exile government led by Jan Šrámek. Edvard Beneš assumed the office of president in exile [1]. According to the Vojenský historický ústav, the provisional state regime initially had three pillars: the President of the Republic, the government and the State Council. Czechoslovak military units, field courts and representations abroad are sometimes also listed among its components [2].
Government in London
President Beneš appointed the government as early as 22 July 1940, and formally it was a continuation of the Czechoslovak National Committee in Paris. The British recognised it only as provisional. At first it had thirteen members, career politicians and non-party figures. Not until 18 July 1941 did Great Britain and the Soviet Union recognise it as definitive [2].
The government included the Ministry of National Defence. Throughout the war it had its office in the centre of London on Piccadilly, in the building numbered 134. Its personnel came from the earlier Czechoslovak military administration that had operated in France. The department was headed for almost the whole war by General Sergej Ingr. After his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Czechoslovak army in September 1944, Jan Masaryk was entrusted with running the ministry. Rudolf Viest became State Minister on 27 October 1941 and from 8 May 1942 deputised for the minister [2]. The Military Office of the President of the Republic was headed from 1 August 1940 to mid-June 1944 by General Antonín Hasal [2].