There's nothing quite like the bragging rights of a new, exotic stamp in your passport. However, that won't be happening with the following countries, which, as of astonishingly recently, no longer exist.

Whether they lost wars, were adopted by other countries, or simply got forgotten, here are nine countries that ceased to exist in the 20th century.​
Neutral Moresnet, 1816 to 1920

After Napoleon's fall in 1815, Europe had to rethink its borders.

This small piece of land, less than 1.5 square milesthat used to be wedged between present-day Germany and Belgium, fell through the cracks when Europe's borders were redrawn, and became a "co-dominium," meaning that Belgium and what was then Prussia shared custody of it: Both had their eye on a profitable zinc mine.

The tiny territory was Dutch-Prussian prior to Belgium's 1830 independence, briefly German when annexed during World War I, and finally formally annexed by Belgium in 1920. Today, it essentially amounts to the Belgian city of Kelmis.

Republic of Salò, 1943 to 1945

Also known as the Italian Social Republic, Salò was essentially a Nazi satellite state in Italy and run by Mussolini. Or rather "run" by Mussolini, as it was really only officially recognized by Germany, Japan, and the rest of the Axis powers, and depended heavily on German troops to maintain control. While it claimed Rome as its capital and northern Italy as its territory, it really centered on the small town of Salò, which is near Lake Garda and east of Milan. The rickety regime came to an end in 1945 — on what's now known as Liberation Day — when, thanks to the Allied forces, every last German was removed from the country.

Tibet, 1912 to 1951

Many believe that Tibet should become an independent country once more.

Of course Tibet has a history predating 1912 by thousands of years, but 1912 marks the year it officially became a recognized independent country, proclaimed as such by the Dalai Lama. Under a chain of Dalai Lamas, Tibet was a peaceful country. Communist China invaded in 1951, occupying Tibet until it rebelled in 1959, leading China to annex it. Ever heard the chant "Free Tibet"? Tibet is still calling for its independence to this day, and it has many outspoken advocates.

United Arab Republic, 1958 to 1971

Mostly a political union between Egypt and Syria that hoped to thwart Israel, among other things, the UAR didn't last long, as Syria seceded from the republic after only three years. (The fact that Egypt and Syria don't even share a border didn't help with cohesion.) While Egypt continued to be known as the United Arab Republic for another decade, it was dissolved in 1971.

Sikkim, 1642 to 1975
Once a tiny Himalayan monarchy (the kingdom of Sikkim was established in 1642 when Phuntsog Namgyal was crowned the first king), Sikkim was absorbed into India as its 22nd state in 1975. Before becoming part of northern India, Sikkim sat along the Silk Road route to China and was bordered by Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and India's West Bengal state.

Ceylon, 1505 to 1972
This South Asian country, better known as Sri Lanka, has a pretty international history, having been a trading hub for Arabs in the 7th century before the Europeans took over. After that Ceylon was ruled by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British from 1815 until 1948, when Ceylon gained its full independence.

In 1972, it changed its name to Sri Lanka.​

Czechoslovakia, 1918 to 1993

Once a sovereign state in central Europe (surrounded by Austria, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary) that declared its independence from the defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire, what was Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries — the Czech Republic and Slovakia — in 1993.

After the Austro-Hungarian collapse in 1918,Czechoslovakia was created by combining Austro-Hungarian leftovers — mostly Czech and Slovak lands. It was one of the more prosperous European countries, as well as one of the few with a peaceful, functioning democracy — at least until WWII, when it became occupied by Germany. It was then occupied by the Soviets until that nation disappeared, too. Czechoslovakia thrived once more, but since the Czechs and Slovaks had separate histories, cultures, and values, their split was somewhat inevitable.

East Germany, 1949 to 1990
The Berlin Wall, which separated East Germany and West Germany.

The wall that separated Berlin and divided East Germany from West Germany was created after WWII, when the Soviets founded the German Democratic Republic in response to the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany by the US, UK, and France in 1949. The 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall meant the end of East Germany, essentially a Soviet satellite state. It was absorbed into the democratic Federal Republic of Germany when Germany reunified in 1990. East Germans had previously lived under strict communist rule.

Yugoslavia, 1918 to 1992

Like Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia was a remnant of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, created after WWI by combining bits of other countries, mostly Hungary and Serbia, and by throwing together a smorgasbord of around 20 different ethnic groups, along with their different cultures, traditions, and values. A kind of democratic monarchy, it was annexed by Germany in WWII until Nazi Germany collapsed. Then Josip Tito, leader of the partisan army during WWII, took over, creating a socialist Yugoslavia under his dictatorship in 1946. Yugoslavia remained socialist until 1992, when it split into Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Montenegro.
source:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/9-countries-ceased-exist-20th-183628434.html

See how yahoo dey fear buhari
no mention of Biafra even though it was recognised by many countries

western Germany

Ok. But what about Biafra Republic? JULY 1967 - JANUARY 1970

GenBloodykiIler:
western Germany

Make sure Buhari doesn't hear you. West germany is a country close to his heart.

for me biafra was a case of 'almost' so we cant really count that..... but that east Germany part though seems somebody didnt update after 1990

@ UAR how do you unite 2 countries without adjoining borders ?

These are the kind of topics we ought to be seeing on FP and not D'banj do this and that, Davido begged for selfie, tonto whatever, festac house of blah blah blah....

Informative history...

Lalasticlala
Ishilove
Seun

Please move this to FP...

Thank you very much... I learn something.....

Is Nigeria going to be number 10 on the list? Only time will tell.

Just like Czech and Slovakia, our separate histories, cultures and values are enough to make us go our separate ways or we practice a regional system of govt if we are gonna be together as a country. We are too different to continue with this present system.

BOKO H, 2009 - 2015

Biafra?

I believe it exists in the heart of those who yearns for it; those whom it matters to. You can't indefinitely subdue a people who keep yearning for their self determination.

True, it was recognized by some countries...but it's brief existence was marred by continuous warfare and bloodshed, and it wasn't really afforded the chance to take it's place on the world stage.

But then, note that this list isn't comprehensive. There is no USSR on that list. Now, that was one mega country that eventually split up. I'm sure to unearth so many more with a little research.

So what of USSR

One day, I'll go to West Germini.

Nigeria is another Yugoslavia.

dialfa:
See how yahoo dey fear buhari
no mention of Biafra even though it was recognised by many countries

It was recognised by many countries and they failed to come to your aid when "friends of Nigeria" were supporting them.

The countries that recognised the Jungle of Biafra must either be worthless or they were setting you up for roasting.

superstar1:


It was recognised by many countries and they failed to come to your aid when "friends of Nigeria" were supporting them.

The countries that recognised the Jungle of Biafra must either be worthless or they were setting you up for roasting.

Nigeria had no friends, just vampires that wanted her to stay alive albeit in a coma state, you know, as a constant supply of fresh blood.

Biafra had the support of real countries, they might not be strong countries, but they were altruistic in the support of Biafra, We shall ever be grateful to them.

Countries like Tanzania, under the magnificent Nyerere, Haiti, a historically strong black nation that had once borne the blunt of the Vampires, hence understood what Biafrans stood for.

I love history
USSR should be in there.

drberry:
Ok. But what about Biafra Republic? JULY 1967 - JANUARY 1970

Biafra was never a country..


It was an illusion created by some selected greedy,and coward people to fool the illiterate followers for selfish,and personal agenda.

pazienza:


Nigeria had no friends, just vampires that wanted her to stay alive albeit in a coma state, you know, as a constant supply of fresh blood.

Biafra had the support of real countries, they might not be strong countries, but they were altruistic in the support of Biafra, We shall ever be grateful to them.

Countries like Tanzania, under the magnificent Nyerere, Haiti, a historically strong black nation that had once borne the blunt of the Vampires, hence understood what Biafrans stood for.

See story.

The bottom line is that the countries that recognised you abandoned you. There is need for all those turenchi.

Whether aliens or vampires or world powers supported Nigeria is immaterial. You were resoundingly defeated flat and square. No one stopped you from going to Pluto to colic it for help.either and neither did anyone stopped your shameless friends from helping you.

QED.

drberry:
Ok. But what about Biafra Republic? JULY 1967 - JANUARY 1970

what is it about this renewed Biafra agitations cos a man called kanu wants to be popular. am a full blooded igbo man and used to reason like some people who are calling for Biafra till I got admission letter from LASU as was the case in the 90's unlike the post ume of today.i went to Lagos having just one uncle who agreed to squat me at his house in FESTAC but his wife doesn't want his relations around until I was frustrated out of there. am not trying to tell my stories here but to let you people know that tribalism is the main reason we are still living in poverty today. nepotism begets corruption in this country
I have no relation in Lagos but my course mate bolaji took me to a man Dotun who allowed me to stay in a room in an empty flat owned by his mom.he doesn't even know who I was neither do I know him. I stayed there for two and half years till I was able to start paying my rent. he is a Yoruba man but he didn't mind where am from to him he is just being good to a fellow human.
I challenge all these tribalists here to travel outside their domain try to interact with other tribes with open heart and come back to confess. we are all black men in the same country lets stop listening to old men in politics who preach tribalism for their own gain. we should have known better by now.
why will a Yoruba hate igbo and why igbo should do the same it doesn't make sense to me. for the Biafra issue I understand why ojukwu closed eastern bothers in 67 cos we were being butchered in the North but why call for it now, instead of igbos uniting to be in the scheme of things federally we are talking of segregation when we are not even united in our eastern states. isn't that what can cause civil war if actually we become a state or do we think that declaration of Biafra makes everything alright
we had Biafra in the past cos our leaders then united for it now do you expect okorocha ekweremadu orji or obiano to give up their positions for anybody or do you guys expect a nobody like kanu who stays outside this country to succeed where uwazuirike who lives here doesn't.
Nigeria is our country if you ve ever been outside this country you will understand the advantage of being in one's country of birth which we enjoy now, hustle and fight for your means of livelihood legally don't go depending on government even in United States there are still people who find it hard to eat a square meal, homeless people abound. the world is not perfect why should Nigeria be.
if you are igbo Yoruba hausa tiv efik etc you have same rights as every other Nigerian. don't fall victim to politicians, have you ever asked why after all the noise for a tribe to present a president what has those presidents done especially for their tribes.have they improved their tribes. why are there still very poor states in the North, west and recently south south. because the president is not there to serve the tribe but the country.
Naija is our country lets start using our senses

pazienza:


Nigeria had no friends, just vampires that wanted her to stay alive albeit in a coma state, you know, as a constant supply of fresh blood.

Biafra had the support of real countries, they might not be strong countries, but they were altruistic in the support of Biafra, We shall ever be grateful to them.

Countries like Tanzania, under the magnificent Nyerere, Haiti, a historically strong black nation that had once borne the blunt of the Vampires, hence understood what Biafrans stood for.

Tanzania maybe but Haiti? no wonder Biafra failed. Haiti is a cesspool of failure.

I see.

I still remember Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia in one of the world cups or so.

This is what happens to beseless cries for independence.....

I hope Biafra is listening

Very informative.


Baba should come and take lectures here before he goes to Egypt and address them as United Arab Republic.

superstar1:


It was recognised by many countries and they failed to come to your aid when "friends of Nigeria" were supporting them.

The countries that recognised the Jungle of Biafra must either be worthless or they were setting you up for roasting.

off topic

United Arab Republic was never a state

Biafra Republic never existed.

alotofgrace:
I see.

I still remember Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia in one of the world cups or so.

This is what happens to beseless cries for independence.....

I hope Biafra is listening

What happened to Yugoslavia? Croatians are happy they are no longer sharing same country with Serbians, same with Montenegro and the rest.

Biafrans won't miss Arewa-Odua people in Biafra, whether Biafra become great or not.

kpodosky:
Tanzania maybe but Haiti? no wonder Biafra failed. Haiti is a cesspool of failure.

Haiti is a country Nigeria can never be.
A country with a strong proud history of resistance against Caucasian powers.

Candyrain:
Is Nigeria going to be number 10 on the list? Only time will tell.

Just like Czech and Slovakia, our separate histories, cultures and values are enough to make us go our separate ways or we practice a regional system of govt if we are gonna be together as a country. We are too different to continue with this present system.

Isseeeee

pazienza:


What happened to Yugoslavia? Croatians are happy they are no longer sharing same country with Serbians, same with Montenegro and the rest.

Biafrans won't miss Arewa-Odua people in Biafra, whether Biafra become great or not.

Initial gragra is sweet but deceptive....

I'm not against the industrial arm of 9ja, the East, going solo or seceding against national integration. But it shouldn't happen with bloodshed.

when Nigeria falls its lines should be redrawn too.

when Nigeria falls its lines should be redrawn too. useless country