When on March 14th 1939 the independent Slovak State was declared, Bratislava became its capital. President Jozef Tiso had his seat in Grassalkowich`s Palace. The state created under the pressure of the Nazi Germany did not last long. In practically disappeared in April 1945 with the entry of the Red Army accompanied by the Romanian troops. Bratislava was also expanding during the Second World War. In four decades the population of the city quadrupled. The extreme population increase was attributed to in-migration from the whole of Slovakia. People were coming in search of jobs and possibility to obtain flats.

The post-war  city was experiencing an unusual boom. But it has to be said that the development was extensive. Mass construction of housing estates started. Flats were built but the basic amenities lagged behind. In 1978 construction of lfats continued on the right bank of the Danube, in Petržalka. Petržalka with its 12000 inhabitants became in ten years the biggest housing estate in Czechoslovakia. Thi extensive growth stopped after the November 1989 revolution and the population stabilized for the whole following decade at about 45000.

Bratislava became again the capital of the independent Slovak Republic after the division of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic on January 1st 1993.