Komunistický převrat v únoru 1948 a deformace spotřebního družstevnictví v letech 1948-19531

This study focuses on the fundamental changes which took place in consumer co-operatives over the course of 1948–1953 as the result of “Victorious February” 1948. It looks at the original state of co-operatives during the First Republic and analyses how this changed during the war, the Third Republic and in particular following February 1948. It assesses the consequences these changes brought for co-operatives. Last but not least, it also looks at the role which KSČ expert in the field, Internal Trade Minister and head of the Central Co-operatives Council, Antonín Zmrhal, played in the process of “Gleichschaltungification” of consumer co-operatives. The study posits the core question of what part of the analysed changes (if any) would be possible without the February coup and establishment of the communist dictatorship.