Czechoslovakian prime minister (1946–8) and president (1948–53), born in Dadice, S Czech Republic (formerly Moravia). He joined the Communist Party, becoming secretary-general in 1927. He gained prominence by opposing the Munich Agreement of 1938, and as a Communist leader, became vice-premier in the Czech provisional government in 1945. Prime minister in 1946, in February 1948 he carried out the Communist coup which averted a defeat for his party at the polls, and in June became president. Strong in the support of Moscow, whose line he followed closely, he established a complete dictatorship in Czechoslovakia.