Czechoslovakia 1968

Question 1

Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Czechoslovakia?

Answer 1

• Communism had been forced upon them
• No other political parties were permitted
• The Communist party censored the media
• Living standards were poor

Question 2

What was Dubcek’s idea of ‘socialism with a human face’?

Answer 2

Making communism more popular by introducing reforms known as the ‘Prague Spring’

Question 3

What were the reforms included in the ‘Prague Spring’?

Answer 3

• Press censorship was allowed
• Opposition groups were allowed and criticism of government was permitted
• More power was given to regional government
• More power given to Czech government
• Changes were made to make the economy more ‘market-based’ with some competition involved

Question 4

How did Brezhnev react to the Prague Spring?

Answer 4

He would not allow Dubcek’s reforms as they would weaken Soviet control. He tried to persuade Dubcek to change his policy but he didn’t respond and political opposition to Soviet control grew

Question 5

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Answer 5

When Brezhnev said that if a communist country started to back towards capitalism, other communist countries were justified in taking action to stop it, so as to protect the security of the Eastern Bloc

Question 6

What happened on the 20th August 1968?

Answer 6

Brezhnev launched a full-scale invasion of Czechoslovakia

Question 7

What did Dubcek ask citizens to do during the invasion?

Answer 7

Not to respond with violence. There was large scale passive civil disobedience

Question 8

What happened to Dubcek after the invasion?

Answer 8

He was summoned to Moscow and forced to sign the Moscow Protocol

Question 9

What did the Moscow Protocol promise?

Answer 9

To uphold communism, reintroduce censorship, and deal with political opponents

Question 10

How did America and the West respond to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 10

• America was heavily involved in Vietnam and could not make further military commitments
• The US condemned Soviet aggression, but gave no military help to the Czech people
• French and Italian communist parties were outraged

Question 11

How did Eastern European communists respond to the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 11

• There was no formal protest from Warsaw Pact countries under Soviet control
• Romania and Yugoslavia condemned the invasion and made alliances with China, to distance themselves further from the USSR