Czechoslovakia, 1968-69

Question 1

Opposition to Soviet control

Answer 1

1948 - Stalin had supported a coup in Czechoslovakia which established a pro-Soviet communist government.
Life under communist rule was difficult because:
- secret police maintained control
- few consumer goods for people
- no freedom of speech
- radio, newspapers were censored

Question 2

The ‘Prague Spring’

Answer 2

1968 - Alexander Dubcek elected as the head of the Czech govt. He strived to make communism more popular by introducing reforms known as the ‘Prague Spring’:

• censorship was relaxed (criticism of the govt. was allowed)
• trade unions and regional govts were given wider powers
• trade with the West increased
• people given greater freedom to travel abroad
• multi-party elections considered

Question 3

The Soviet reaction

Answer 3

Brezhnev was unhappy with the reforms Dubcek was introducing (other countries might follow), but only decided to act when he invited Romanian and Yugoslavian leaders (both were refusing to cooperate with Moscow), Brezhnev sent 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops to invade and end the ‘Prague Spring’ on 20 Aug 1968.
The Czech army was ordered to not attack, so the country was invaded easily. Dubcek was arrested and ordered to reverse his reforms.

Question 4

The Brezhnev Doctrine

Answer 4

In the Pravda paper, Brezhnev said that the actions of any individual communist country affected all communist countries, then it was the duty of those countries to take steps to stop those actions. In other words, he was saying that all communist countries will be prevented from introducing reforms to make their country more liberal.

Question 5

The impact on relations between other communist countries in Europe

Answer 5

Yugoslavia, Romania, Italy and France’s relationship became strained, while East Germany and Poland were happy, since reformers were now prevented.
This gave the Soviet Union greater control of members of the Warsaw Pact.

Question 6

The impact on relations between the USA and the Soviet Union

Answer 6

The USA and the West protested against the invasion but were not prepared to take action. This soured relations between the two.