2.3 - Czechoslovakia, 1968-69 Flashcards
Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Czechoslovakia?
Life under communist rule was difficult for the Czech people because :
there was no freedom of speech and radio, newspapers and television were censored;
the Czech economy was run for the benefit of the Soviet Union;
protests due to low standard of living and lack of freedom grew.
Who introduced the “Prague Spring”?
In 1968, Alexander Dubcek was elected as the head of the Czech government (replacing Antonin Novotny) and believed communism was the right political path, however also believed the communist government should offer “socialism with a human face”. Therefore, citizens can enjoy life and express their views in public without the fear of being punished by the government.
What were the reforms introduced through the “Prague Spring”?
Dubcek introduced reforms known as the ‘Prague Spring’ on April 1968. These reforms were that :
- Censorship was relaxed and criticism of government action was allowed.
- Trade unions were given wider powers and government control of industry was reduced.
- More power was given to the Czech regional governments.
- Trade with the West was increased.
- Czech people were given greater freedom to travel abroad.
- The idea of having multi-party elections were discussed.
What was the Soviet reaction to the “Prague Spring”?
- Brezhnev ( the Soviet leader who replaced Khrushchev in 1968) disapproved of many measures which Dubcek was proposing because other Warsaw Pact countries may make similar reforms.
- On August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia and ended the ‘Prague Spring’. There was little opposition to the invasion as Brezhnev ordered the Czech army to remain in its barracks.
What happened to Dubcek after the Soviet invasion?
Dubcek was arrested, sent to Moscow and ordered to reverse his reforms. He was then dismissed from office in 1969 to be replaced by Gustav Husak, who was a hardliner loyal to Moscow. He introduced a clampdown in over which one thousand Czechs were arrested.
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
On September 1968, Brezhnev (through a Soviet paper, Pravada) said that the actions of any individual communist countries affected all communist countries meaning that all communist countries would be prevented from introducing reforms to make their country more liberal.
What was the impact of the “Prague Spring” in Czechoslovakia?
The invasion ended the ‘Prague Spring’. The authorities soon put things back to ‘normal’.
What was the impact of the “Prague Spring” on relations between other communist countries in Europe?
- Yugoslavia and Romania condemned Soviet invasion, straining relations between their governments and Moscow.
- The Communist Parties of Italy and France cut links to Moscow.
- The suppression of the ‘Prague Spring’ led to greater Soviet control of the members of the Warsaw Pact. This was reinforced by the Brezhnev Doctrine which emphasised that members of the Warsaw Pact were under the close control of the Soviet Union.
- The governments of East Germany and Poland welcomed Brezhnev’s actions; they felt more secure that they would not be challenged by reformers in their own countries.
What was the impact of the “Prague Spring” on relations between the USA and the Soviet Union?
- The USA and other Western countries were outraged by the invasion and many of them made strong protests to the Soviet Union.
- There was an attempt to pass a formal resolution condemning the invasion in the United Nations but this was vetoed by the Soviet Union.
- The Soviet Union saw that while the US would make protests, it would not take direct action to oppose the Soviets.
What was the impact of the “Prague Spring” on the USA’s international reputation?
Other countries saw that the USA was keen to criticise the Soviet Union but much less prepared to take action which put a bad light on them.
