21. Czechoslovakia Flashcards
Give 3 issues Czechoslovakia had that were common to all members behind the iron curtain
- it was a one party communist state
- it had to answer to Moscow as a member of the Warsaw Pact
- opposition was banned
Give 3 issues specific to Czechoslovakia in the 1960s
- the leader Anthonin Novotny was corrupt and unpopular
- Moscow rejected the country’s call for change
- both industry and agriculture were almost at a standstill
Who called for reform in Czechoslovakia during novotny’s rule and what did he suggest?
Respected economist Ota silk, he argued people should have more power and private businesses shouldn’t be banned
When did novotny resign?
January 1968 after he was forced by the soviet government
Who replaced novotny?
Alexander dubcek
How did dubcek brake break Moscow’s trust?
As he introduced political reforms and called them socialism with a human face
Give 2 reforms dubcek introduced to the political system in making it more democratic
- introduced free elections
- opposition parties were allowed
Give 3 of dubcek’s reforms that improved economic circumstances
- increased standards of living
- allowing the formation of trade unions
- removed state controls on industry so people could start up their own businesses
Give 3 reforms of dubcek’s that allowed for greater freedom
- end of press censorship
- gave people the right to travel to non communist countries
- allowed public meetings and freedom of speech
What was the Prague spring?
The changes dubcek made to Czechoslovakia
How did dubcek go further after Moscow allowed his other reforms?
- announced he would open borders with western countries
- planned to remove all remaining press censorship
What were dubcek’s three aims in introducing reforms?
- to have a democratic political system
- to have greater freedom
- to improve economic circumstances
Why was Brezhnev (new su leader) and other members of the Warsaw Pact concerned by the Prague spring?
As Brezhnev needed to maintain control without causing more issues
How was the Prague spring situation made worse?
When Poland called for reforms to be allowed
When did the Warsaw Pact meet and what did they do against the Prague spring?
-In June 1968 they carried out military exercises along the Czech border to send a clear message to Brezhnev
When was the Warsaw letter issued and what was it for?
Issued in July 1968 and was a final warning to dubcek to back down his reforms but he didn’t listen
When was Prague seized and by who?
On 20th August 1968 by soviet forces
What were the casualties that came about in Prague?
A hundred protesters were killed and 500 were wounded
What did dubcek order his army to do when Prague was seized?
Not to fight as he knew they stood no chance and would be killed
How did the soviets ‘win’ from the Prague ordeal?
In 1969, dubcek was expelled from the party and a new loyal hard line government was established
Give two reasons Brezhnev himself lead to the Prague spring movement
- he didn’t intervene at first as he just wanted communism to premain in the country
- he didn’t intend on the situation to become like the Hungarian uprising
Give two ways the Warsaw Pact led to the Prague spring movement
- the Warsaw letter sent to dubcek warned that a challenge of communism in one country risks challenge in all countries
- students in plans wanted their own dubckek
Give three ways dubcek himself led to the Prague spring movement
- wanted press censorship gone and open borders with western countries
- refused to reverse reforms as Brezhnev advised
- Warsaw Pact military attempted to intimidate dubcek by performing military exercises on Czechoslovakia’s border
When it comes to reasons for the Prague spring movement, where can you find info on linkage?
In the book two Cold War school book
Give 2 ways the SU responded to the new government in Czechoslovakia after the Prague spring movement
- there was a small protest in Red Square, Moscow
- Red Army were told the invasion was at request of the people of Czechoslovakia. After arriving and realising it was a lie, returning soldiers shared their experiences damaging reputation of soviet leadership
Give 2 global communist responses to the new government in Czechoslovakia after the Prague spring movement
- there were protests in Yugoslavia and China (not part of the su sphere of influence)
- the event in Czechoslovakia destroyed many peoples faith in communism
Give 2 ways the west responded to the new government in Czechoslovakia after the Prague spring movement
- the USA condemned the invasion and cancelled the meeting between Brezhnev and president Johnson
- many communists in the West saw the invasion as a betrayal of communist principles and an act of imperialism
Name one very damaging response to the Prague spring movement?
The Brezhnev Doctrine
What was the Brezhnev doctrine and when was it made?
In November 1968, it was a speech by Brezhnev that meant if any other Warsaw member behaved the same as Czechoslovakia, it would be dealt with the same force
How did the USA see the Brezhnev doctrine?
President Nixon saw it as defensive and wanted to save progress already made between them and the su
What impact did the Brezhnev doctrine have on the east?
The Chinese were worried it meant the su would interfere with China which was undergoing a cultural revolution
