Czechoslovakia Flashcards

0
Q

Why was the Sudetenland important to Czechoslovakia?

A

Was where it’s factories were and therefore was a prosperous area of land

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1
Q

How did Czechoslovaksia become involved in WW2?

A

Hitler invaded the Sudetenland in 1938

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2
Q

What did slovakia do in 1944?

A

Joins the axis powers

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3
Q

Slovakia 1939-1945

A

Czechoslovak split

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4
Q

What were the consequences of WW2 for Czechoslovakia?

A
Germans were expelled (300,000 killed)
Hungarians were moved out of country
~3,000,000 people killed in war
Ukrainian CZSK became part of Russia
CZSK rejoined 
Benes took control
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5
Q

Influence and popularity of communism on CZSK?

A

1946 - largest party (38%)

1948 - lost interest, only 25%

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6
Q

Who is jan Masaryk?

A

Czechoslovak foreign minister shorty after ww2. He wasn’t a communist supporter and he “fell out of a window”.

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7
Q

Who was Milana hracova?

A

anti communist, involved in politics. She was executed after a show trial.

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8
Q

How was communism established in CZSK?

A

Salami tactic
Coalition
Established Stalinist system

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9
Q

What is the salami tactic in reference to CZSK?

A

Communists secured control of important ministries (police, military, etc.) to remove opposition

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10
Q

Use of a coalition by communists in CZSK to secure control

A

False coalition which led to a dictatorship

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11
Q

Use of Stalinist system in CZSK

A

SU acted as a big brother to smaller countries which were treated like a younger sister who need to be protected

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12
Q

“Socialism with a human face”

A

Dubček’s socialism which allowed more freedom to the people in an attempt to reform/liberalize CZSK communism

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13
Q

Prague Spring

A

1968; Russia invades CZSK to “save” them from dubček’s revolution. Warsaw Pact allies cross the border to occupy CZSK and end communist reform.

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14
Q

Normalization

A

1968-1989; The force of removing reforms and reformers from socialism and reinforcing the iron curtain

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15
Q

Reason for the implemention of socialism with a human face

A

CZSK was in economic decline

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16
Q

Aims of socialism with a human face

A

Proposed reforms on CZSK society:

  • ideas for improving communism were put forth
  • economic improvements
  • improved international relations
  • civil liberties
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17
Q

Ideas for improving communism in socialism with a human face

A

Democratization

  • Improve freedom of speech (lifted censorship on news and media)
  • Abolishing secret police
  • Communist party to stay out of personal affairs (allow civil groups to organize themselves)
  • greater autonomy for Slovakia
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18
Q

Economic improvements during socialism with a human face

A
  • Communism responsible for only general economic planning and policy to protect interests of consumers
  • action programme
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19
Q

Action programme

A

Created April 1968; called for an equalizing of czsk economic relationship with the SU (attempted to trade on same level with the SU)

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20
Q

Failure in the economic improvement of dubček’s socialism

A

FAILURE to deal with wage regulation and price setting

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22
Q

Reason CZSK joined Warsaw Pact

A

West had abandoned CZSK in 1930s to be overrun by nazis

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24
Q

KAN

A

The committee non-party members; sought to articulate the political views of non-communists in their want for democracy v. Democratic communism

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25
Q

What did dubček’s socialism lead to for the people?

A

A want of more freedom (capitalism)

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26
Q

Why did the Prague spring fail?

A
  • SU was much stronger
  • Dubček didn’t understand the strength of communism
  • no one considered consequences
  • CZSK was isolated
  • no support
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27
Q

Aims of the action program

A
Democratization 
Use of opinion polls to inform policy
End of censorship
Freedom to travel abroad
Greater autonomy for sk
Economic liberalization
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28
Q

Democratization

A

Legalization of non-communist organizations

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29
Q

What was the issue with sk’s autonomy during the Prague spring?

A

There was a parliament in sk (BA), but it had no real power (answered to Moscow)

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30
Q

Which aims of the action program legally survived the Prague spring?

A

Greater autonomy for Slovakia

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31
Q

Post Prague spring for CZSK

A
  1. Invasion - 100 killed
  2. Occupation - 500,000 left CZSK
  3. Normalization - communist party purged and leadership changed to Gustav Husak
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32
Q

Results of Prague spring for SU

A
Increased Cold War tensions
Criticism from Yugoslavia and china
Re-established control of CZSK
Brezhnev doctrine
No western action
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33
Q

What was the Brezhnev doctrine?

A

Hard line control of the satellite states of the USSR focusing particularly on keeping countries in the Warsaw Pact, and using the pact’s army to suppress countries.

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34
Q

What is communism?

A

Ideology based on the ideas of Karl Marx who believed he had identified scientific laws of human history

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35
Q

Communism v. Marxism

A

Both are used interchangably

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36
Q

Ideology of communism

A
  • Believed capitalism was unfair
  • History is driven by class conflict
  • History progresses towards communism
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37
Q

Marxism

A

“From each according to ability, to each according to his needs”

  • Private property is abolished
  • Workers’ control of the means of production
  • religion was “the opium of the masses”
  • internationalist
  • believed a revolution would occur in advanced capitalist countries
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38
Q

History of communism

A

1917 - Russian revolution
1919 - failed revolutions in Germany and Hungary
1939-1945 - WW2
1945-1989 - Cold War
1980s - ~1/3 of the world’s population lived under communism
1989-1991 - collapse of the E Bloc

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39
Q

What happened during the Russian revolution?

A

Lennon took control and established communism

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40
Q

Why did CZSK fail to challenge soviet control successfully?

A
Failure of Capitalism
*Soviet military power
*Lack of western support
Nature of Stalinism
*Dubček's nativity
Popularity of communism (38%)
Economic strength in 1950s
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41
Q

CZSK failure to challenge soviet control timeline

A

1945-1948 - post war
Nature of Stalinism
1950s economic
Prague spring

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42
Q

Nature of Stalinism

A

Censorship

Terror

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43
Q

How did CZSK fail to challenge soviet control in relation to soviet military power?

A
  • Center of control for communism meaning CZSK government was to answer to the communist government in Moscow.
  • SU had firm control of all countries surrounding CZSK which isolated CZSK from aid
  • SU had the red army
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44
Q

How did the SU keep control?

A

Coercion
Persuasion
Consent

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45
Q

Coercion in communist control

A

The regime forced people to accept communist rule:

  • denial of educational ways
  • favoritism towards communists in relation to reception of high ranking jobs and better food
  • harassment of opponents (had a strong military force available)
  • lived in fear of imprisonment (used violence)
  • propaganda for education, media, etc.
  • travel restrictions
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46
Q

Persuasion to keep SU control

A

Rewards for workers
Spartakiadas
Propaganda

47
Q

Spartikiadas

A

Soviet games (like Olympics)

48
Q

Consent for SU to keep control

A
  • good pay for some workers
  • “we pretend to work, they pretend to pay”
  • safety net
  • poor people lived well
49
Q

Safety net of SU

A

Citizens were looked after by government

- for example, they were unable to be unemployed because government gave everyone a job

50
Q

Who was Vaclav Havel?

A

Pacifist; a writer who wrote plays and essays which were banned as they mocked the regime and ridiculed communism. He received international fame by publishing the conditions of the regime.

51
Q

Power of the Powerless

A

An essay by Vaclav Havel which encouraged people to rebel against the system and showed the governmental flaws of communism

52
Q

Samizdat

A

A method if self-publication

53
Q

Importance of power of the powerless internationally

A

“Was an international symbol of what was wrong with the communist state”

54
Q

Importance of Havel in the movement to resist communism

A

1960s

  • founder of charter 77
  • plays mocked regime
  • leading dissident
  • essays described the lie of communism
  • illegal publication of work
  • international recognition
  • influenced people (students) to rebel against the regime
  • intellectual, writer
  • 1989 Civic Forum
55
Q

Importance of Gorbachev in the movement to resist communism

A

1980s (when most changes took place)

  • glasnost
  • perestroika
  • replaced Brezhnev doctrine with Sinatra doctrine
56
Q

Sinatra doctrine

A

Allowed for satellite states to do socialism their own way

57
Q

Importance of other factors in the movement to resist communism

A
  • ideologies were flawed and led to economic decline
  • 1968 Prague spring by dubček kept the democratic socialism ideology
  • 1980s: people could watch foreign TV and see western lifestyle as being better than theirs
  • root economic decline of S. Bloc led to the economy falling behind that of the US’s which caused Gorbachev to come to power as the SU was losing control
  • pressure from west: Cold War reignited by Reagan and Margaret Thatcher which cost money the SU didn’t have
  • 1989: Hungary and Poland left SU
58
Q

CZSK problems after the Velvet Revolution

A
  • Economic: communist economy v. Free market economy
  • political: dictatorship v. Democracy
  • social: communism v. Nationalism
59
Q

CZSK Economic problems post Velvet Revolution

A
Economic crisis
Factory closures
Unemployment
Inflation
Corruption
Privatization
60
Q

CZSK Economic crisis post Velvet Revolution

A

Caused communist overthrown

61
Q

Solution to CZSK Economic crisis post Velvet Revolution

A

No economic growth
1981-1990: GDP rose by about $300
Income is lower than in other countries
UNSUCCESSFUL

62
Q

CZSK Factory closures post Velvet Revolution

A

Production changes due to more import/export, different goods now required

63
Q

CZSK Unemployment post Velvet Revolution

A

Unemployment rate under communism had been negligible, yet after their removal it increased in sk:
- 13% in 1992
- 19% in 2002
Loss of jobs in communist sector, no safety net like in communism which increased competition

64
Q

Solution to CZSK Unemployment post Velvet Revolution

A

No longer everyone had to work, so unemployment increased:

  • 2002: 17% (double EU average)
  • *UNSUCCESSFUL**
65
Q

CZSK Inflation post Velvet Revolution

A

Currency change results in value change:
- 1991: wages decreased 27%
industrial production down 1/3
volume of credits decreased 30%
personal consumption dropped 37%
- 1997: inflation at 6% and prices for goods and services increased

66
Q

Solution to CZSK inflation post Velvet Revolution

A
  • 1980s: Numerous attempts to revitalize the economy through management and workers’ incentive programs were unsuccessful
  • 1982: economy started to improve as imports from the west were restricted and exports rose
  • new investments in electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors were made
  • *GRADUALLY SUCCESSFUL**
67
Q

Solution to CZSK corruption post Velvet Revolution

A

Tunneling was unable to be completely obliterated

MOSTLY SUCCESSFUL

68
Q

Tunneling

A

The transfer of assets and profits out of firms for the benefit of those who control them

69
Q

Solution to CZSK privatization of Economic assets post Velvet Revolution

A
The government attempted to privitize property by:
- vouchers
- physical restitution
- sales to pre-determined owners as well as foreign entities
- transfers to commercial banks
- etc.
Often provoked controversy and criticism
**PARTIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL**
70
Q

CZSK political problems post Velvet Revolution

A

Opposition groups
Issue of former communists
Power vacuum

71
Q

CZSK opposition groups post Velvet Revolution

A

Opposition was gone, yet the opposition groups remained, ex. Civic Forum

72
Q

Importance of the civic forum

A

Won the first elections in 1990 and the elections that followed two years later
*SUCCESSFUL**

73
Q

Civic forum

A

Havel’s party in CZ which was founded during the Velvet Revolution and was the largest and most popular party at the time. It formed an independent foundation that would revive the pre-communist ideals regarding health, culture, education, etc.

74
Q

Solution to CZSK former communists post Velvet Revolution

A

1991 Lustration law

75
Q

Lustration law

A

Prevented former communist party members and former members of the secret police from holding public offices. Certificates were supplied to the people that had been in the ŠtB secret police without having cooperated with the communists. People without the certificates were forbidden from working within Foreign Affairs, Inter, Security, and Defense Ministries. This plan lasted 5 years and was prolonged for the CZ after the Velvet divorce, but never prolonged in sk.
UNSUCCESSFUL AS SK DIDNT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

76
Q

CZSK power vacuum post Velvet Revolution

A

Communists left with no one in government – power vacuum

77
Q

Solution to CZSK power vacuum post Velvet Revolution

A

Elections were held and a new government was appointed

SUCCESSFUL

78
Q

CZSK social problems post Velvet Revolution

A
  • Racism
  • Division between communists and nationalists
  • nationalism
79
Q

CZSK racism post Velvet Revolution

A

Racism against Hungarians & gypsies:

  • Roma children who didn’t know Slovak were sent to different schools for the mentally disable
  • prejudice surrounding gypsies not wanting to work and stealing
  • walls were built to separate CZs from gypsies
  • *had all been equal under communism
80
Q

Solutions to CZSK racism post Velvet Revolution

A

International anger over wall incident as breach if human rights, so walk was torn down – SUCCESSFUL
overall: UNSUCCESSFUL AS RASCISM LINGERED

81
Q

CZSK division between nationalists and communists post Velvet Revolution

A

Lustration law

82
Q

CZSK nationalism post Velvet Revolution

A

Velvet divorce, 1993

83
Q

Solution to CZSK nationalism post Velvet Revolution

A

No leader that could satisfy both states, so they split

SUCCESSFUL as they maintain good relations

84
Q

Level of government intervention for businesses owned by the state

A
High levels of influence
Maximum intervention
Control over:
- prices
- targets
- wages
85
Q

Tolerance of unemployment for businesses owned by the state

A

No unemployment

86
Q

Incentives for businesses owned by the state

A

Moral incentive

  • good workers praised as heroes of the communist system
  • granted basic living standards
87
Q

Equality for businesses owned by the state

A

Yes

88
Q

Level of government intervention for individual businesses

A
  • Little to none
  • Minimum intervention (aside from low taxes)
  • prices based on supply and demand
89
Q

Tolerance of unemployment for individual businesses

A

Unemployment became common

90
Q

Incentives for individual businesses

A

Promotions - competition
Higher wages - opportunity
Profits - innovation

91
Q

Equality for individual businesses

A

No; large differentials between rich and poor

92
Q

June 9, 1990

A

First free elections since 1946:

  • civic forum win majority of votes (96%)
  • communist party came in second
93
Q

June 5 and 6, 1992

A
  • Civic forum won (85%) of votes

- Second was the party wanting an independent sk

94
Q

1990

A

CZSK was renamed the Czech and Slovak federal republic

95
Q

1992

A

Election results showed the country’s growing split

96
Q

1993

A

CZSK split:

  • Sk: the liberal movement for democratic sk by Vladimir meciar
  • CZ: the conservative civic Democratic Party by vclav klaus
97
Q

The Velvet divorce success

A
  • Peaceful nature of change
  • Sk achieve self determination
  • Allowed CZ and sk leaders to follow chosen economic paths
98
Q

Failure of Velvet divorce

A
  • CZSK collapsed after 75 years of partnership

- split occurred undemocratically (no referendum, public opinion polls in both sides show no majority for split)

99
Q

International relations during dubček’s socialism

A

Join Warsaw Pact to receive a guarantee of defense against Germany

101
Q

Civil liberties during dubček’s socialism

A
  • Freedom of speech, debate, travel, association
  • arbitrary arrest made illegal
  • communist party power reduced
102
Q

Havel’s fame

A
1977 - Charter 77 signatory 
1978 - power of the powerless essay
1990 - the Philadelphia Liberty Medal
2003 - the Ghandi Peace Prize, Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award, Olof Palme Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom
*nominated for Nobel Peace Prize*
103
Q

Havel’s organization

A
1977 - founding member of Charter 77
No "organization":
- has no base
- doesn't form the basis for any oppositional political activity
- legal
- not widespread (from Prague)
104
Q

Havel’s methods

A

Wrote books, essays, and plays mocking the regime and highlighting failures (ex. power of the powerless)

105
Q

Havel’s social class

A

High

106
Q

Havel’s education

A
  • Dramatics and art

- Economics degree at Czech Technical Uni in Prague

107
Q

Havel’s jobs

A
Stage hand
Playwrite
Worker in a briery
President
*an intellectual*
108
Q

What is charter 77?

A

Havel&co’s document and organization (they made the document) which accused the USSR of not maintaining the standards for workers which they agreed to uphold by international agreements

109
Q

Political beliefs

A

Democracy

110
Q

Attitude towards violence

A

Peaceful

111
Q

Havel’s motivations

A
  • Wanted to eradicate communism and introduce democracy

- hated regime

112
Q

Role in 1989 revolutions

A
Ensured non-violence
Created civic forum (36% support)
Peaceful revolution
Took power
*dissident* not official opposition
1995 - won presidency (74%)