Czecholsvakia Flashcards
Who was Jan Palach?
He was a student in Czechoslovakia under the communist USSR leader Brezhnev who believe in a hardline of communism. He protested against soviet occupation and believed in the Prague spring after the invasion. In January 1969 he set her myself on fire in protest if this.
Why did Czechoslovakian hate communism?
It had been a communist state since 1948 but before this it had been a democracy. They felt bitter about their loss of political and economic independence. They resented the fact industries produced very few consumer goods and seemed to run entirely for the benefit in the Soviet Union.
Shin was Dubcek?
Protists grew throughout the 1960s and this finally put Dubcek in power. Although he led the communist party he saw the need for limited democratic reform.
What did Dubcek promise his people and what did he do?
He promised them socialism with a human face. He hoped to increase the standard of living and aimed to make the political system more democratic. Hen allowed different factories to compete with each other. This type of competition was unheard of in the communist world.
He increased trade with the West and borrowed funds from the USA to restructure and rebuild the industry. He proposed to abolish censorship and allow free travel abroad.
What did Dubcek promise Brezhnev and why?
He was mindful of what happened in Hungary in 1956. Therefore he assured Brezhnev, the new soviet leader, that his changes would Utd not threaten the security of the USSR. He promised they would not leave the Warsaw Pact.
What did the reforms of the Prague spring in 1968 include?
- increased standard of living
- powers of the secret police curbed
- end of press censorship
- free elections
- Opposition parties allowed
- Freedom to travel abroad
- plans to increase trade with the West
- competition encouraged
- less state involvement in every day life
- provision of basic human rights
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What was the Prague spring?
Reforms that allows Czechoslovakia more freedom. It was very popular with student ps and younger generations.
How did the USSR deal with the Czech uprising and Prague springs in 1968-1969?
- Argue with Dubcek to slow down reforms.
- Pressurise Dubcek by getting troops to preform public training exercises in the Czech border
- call on Czechoslovakia to maintain political stability
- invade Czechoslovakia
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
On August 3rd at a Warsaw pact meeting this was out into place.
It stated that when forces hostile to socialism try to turn capitalist, the suppression of these counter-revolutionary forces becomes a cause for concern of all socialist counties and the USSR would intervene.
On the same day a number of Czech hardliners wrote to Brezhnev with a letter asking him to intervene.
What happened on August 20th 1968?
500,000 troops form the Warsaw Pact countries invaded Czechoslovakia.
The Czechoslovakians wanted it avoid bloodshed suffer day the Hungarians in 1956. Though there were some violent protests. Soviet tanks were attacked with hundreds me made petrol bombs and snipers shot at the invaders.
How did most people react to the invasion.
They took a passive resistance response. They did not resistant. As a result most resistance was non-violent and consisted of sit in and protests. Only a few people died.
Consequences on the soviet invasion on Czechoslovakia?
Nearly 100 Czech people died.
The Czech people bitterly continued to hate the presence of SU troops on their streets. Hatred of the USSR increased.
Over 250,000 Czech people emigrated from their country in the years following the invasion.
Consequences on the soviet invasion on the Prague Spring and Dubcek.
The Prague spring reforms were removed entirely from Czech.
Dubcek was recalled to Moscow and was allowed it return to the Czech government as a minor official.
He was eventually pushed out the communist party entirely.
Consequences on the soviet invasion on the USSR and its reputation?
A hard lined government was set up under Husak.
The invasion was used as an example,e to all other communist countries that if they rebelled this would be the consequence.
The Brezhnev Doctrine was introduced in November 1968 and remained in place until 1989.
What did the west do in response?
The West did very little but disapproved of the invasion, they did little to intervene which showed the USSR they were free to act as they wished behind the ‘iron curtain’
