Czechoslovakia 1968 Flashcards
What was the reason for opposition to communism in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia had been a communist country controlled by moscow since the end of ww2.
In 1968 the Czech people attempted to take control over their lives and create a socialist model of government that guarantees better delivery of goods and services. The attempt is called the Prague Spring.
Communism had been forced upon them
No other political parties were permitted,media was censored and the living standards were poor
Who did Alexander Dubcek replace
Antonin Novotny who a hardline communist leader and was replaced in 1968
What was Dubcek’s idea and what did it entail
In April 1968 Dubeck announced an action plan to deliver ‘Socialism with a human face’ which meant removing state control of the economy and allowing freedom of speech.
He proposed allowing non - communist politicial parties to be set up and to put up candidatesfir election.
Czechoslovakia would remain in the Warsaw Pact.
More power was given to the regional goverment and the Czech Parliament,changes made to make economy more market based
How did Brezhnev react to the prauge spring
Prague spring- czech students started peacefully demonstrated against Novotny’s rule. Novotny asked Brezhnev for help yo crack down the protests and he refused. Novirtny was replaced by Dubeck.
Worried that czechoslovakia was slipping from his grasp , soviet leader Brezhnev that the USSR will not allow countries of eastern europe to reject communism. Even if it meant a third world war. This became the Brezhnev doctrine.
On 20 August 1968 he sent an invasion force of 50,000troops of warsaw pact countries into Czechslovakia. Terrified at fighting those troops the czechsdidnt fight back. Dubcek was arrested and taken to moscow. Gustav husack was installed as the leader of the czechs
Brezhnev originally tried to persuade dubcek to change his policy but it didn’t work.He then created the Brezhenev Doctrine and launched a full scale invasion into Czecholslovakia,Dubcek urged the people to not fight back and Dubcek was then summonded to Moscow to sign the Moscow protocol
What is the Brezhenev doctrine
soviet leader Brezhnev that the USSR will not allow countries of eastern europe to reject communism. Even if it meant a third world war. This became the Brezhnev doctrine.
What was the moscow protocol (the thing dubcek had to sign)
Was a document that established the political rules for restoringcommunist order in Czechslovakia after Prague spring
When did Brezhenev launch his invasion into Czechoslovakia
20th august 1968
What was the Western countries reaction to Czechoslovakia
The western powers didn’t actively support the Czechs during the prague spring but publicly condemned or criticised USSR’s actions.
The US were heavily involved in the Vietnam war and didnt want to provoke the soviet union.
NATO allies were determined not to intervene.
United Nations attempted to pass a formal verdict against USSR’s actions but the soviet union blocked them.
(The Brezhnev doctrine seemed to bring an end to peaceful co-existence. The revival of coldwar tactics was a setback to international relations and deteriorated further when USSR and US continued to stockpile weapons)
What was the reaction from eastern european countries to Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact issued an ultimatum to Czechslovakia to reverse the reforms and when they ignored it the Warsaw pact invaded
No formal protest from warsaw pact countries,Romania and Yugoslavia condemened the invasion and made alliances with China to distance themselves from the USSR
