6- The Soviet Invasion Of Czechoslovakia Flashcards
Who was Antonin Novotony?
- Had been Czech leader since 1957
- Unpopular as he was a hard line communist + refused to introduce reform
Explain the situation with Czechoslovak declining economy
- 1960
- Led to fall in living standards
- SU forced them to produce materials, yet Czech economy needed those materials for themselves
Who was Alexander Dubcek?
- During WW2 was an active communist
- Worked in factory after, served as a secretary of local communist committees
- Was appointed as first secretary of Czech Communist Party
- Died 7th November 1992
Why was there discontent in Czech, political reasons only?
- Antonin Novotny
- Slow to follow de-stalinisation
- Fall in standard living
Give 3 economic reasons why there was discontent in Czech?
- SU forced them to produce materials
- New Economic Model ( unsuccessful): used to produce a surplus of goods that dew people could afford, Novonty attempt at reform
Dubek replaced Novonty as what?
First secretary of communist party
Who replaced Novonty as President?
General Ludvik Svoboda
What was the ‘Prague Spring’?
Series of reforms introduced in Dubeck in the spring of 1968. The Czechs called it ‘socialism with a human face’
What did Dubeck do in The Prague spring reforms?
- Greater political freedom + free speech + abolition of censorship
- A 10 year programme for a political, change, gives Czech’s a greater say in running the country
- Reduction in the powers of the secret police to imprison without trial
- Removal of travel restrictions
- Creation of Work councils
How did people react to the Prague reforms?
- Encouraged opponents of communism to demand for even more radical reforms
- Ludvik Vaculik published a manifesto ( Two thousand Words)
- SU was sus of the changes coz Czech was the most important country in the Warsaw Pact ( was centrally placed + had the strongest industry)
What party began to form as a rival to the communists?
Social Democrats
Why was the USSR unable to turn a blind eye to this situation?
- Czech may go away from the Warsaw Pact and Join NATO
- This might cause a domino effect and spread to other countries
Who wrote to Brezhnev asking him to use “all at your disposal”?
Vasi Bilak
When did the Soviet Union invade Czech?
20th August 1968
How did the Soviet’s re-establish control in Czech?
- Thousands of SU troops with the support of Bulgaria, East Germany and Hungary + Poland entered Czech
- Czech through petroleum bombs at tanks
- Buildings on fire
- Barricades were set up
- No armed resistance for Czech army
- Dubeck was taken to Moscow
What was The Brezhnev Doctrine?
- SU used propaganda to show events in Czech
- Autumn 1968, Leonid Brezhnev became leader of SU
- Introduced this doctrine to justify the invasion
- Stated that SU had the right to invade any Eastern Bloc countries who threatened the security of the rest of the country
- Helped re define communism
What was the consequences of the SU invasion in Czech?
- Demonstrations went on until April 1969
- Jan 1969, a student set fire to himself in Wencelas Square
- Dubeck forced to resign, Gustav Husak replaced him
What happened to SU and USA relations after the Czech invasion?
- Got worse
- Western countries protested abt SU actions
- USA was occupied in Vietnam war
What happens to Western Europe after the SU invasion?
- Followed America’s lead, condemned invasion but provided no military help
- SU lost influence in western countries
- European communion in western side became known as Eurocommism
What happens to Communist countries after the Invasion?
- Increase rivarlry between China and SU
- Some communist countries moved away from Moscow
- Albania left the Warsaw Pact
- 1968, Yugoslavia + Romania formed alliances with China
