Czechoslovakia Flashcards
What was controlled by Moscow in Czechoslovakia?
Press and media, one party communist state, answered to Moscow, no opportunities to see life outside the country.
Who was the leader in 1960s?
Corrupt and unpopular Antonín Novotny who did nothing to help economic problems.
Who replaced Novotny?
Alexander Dubček.
What did the new leader do and what was this called?
Introduced reforms such as removal of state controls on industry, allowing freedom of speech and travel, allowing trade unions and ending press censorship. Prague Spring.
What did Soviet leader Brezhnev do about it?
Warsaw Pact met in June 1968- decided to carry out military exercises along Czech border. Met again in July and issued Warsaw Letter as a final warning to Dubček.
What happened on 20th August 1968?
Soviet forces entered and seized control of Prague, Dubček ordered the Czech army not to resist. A hundred protesters were killed and 500 wounded. New hard line government installed.
What did other communist countries this of the invasion?
Outraged- thought it was a betrayal of communist principles. Protests in Yugoslavia and China. For many this destroyed their faith in communism.
What did the West think?
Condemned the actions of the USSR but wanted to avoid increased tensions with the East.
What was the Brezhnev doctrine?
In November 1968 Brezhnev made a speech saying that any Warsaw Pact country behaving in the same way would face the same consequences.
