Czechoslovakia and the Prague Spring

Question 1

Who was the USSR leader in 1968?

Answer 1

Leonid Brezhnev

Question 2

What happened in Czechoslovakia in 1967?

Answer 2

Alexander Dubcek comes to power

Question 3

What policy did Alexander Dubcek propose?

Answer 3

Though committed to communism he proposed ‘Socialism with a human face’

Question 4

What does ‘socialism with a human face’ mean?

Answer 4

• Reductions in censorship and secret police activities
• allowing freedom of speech

Question 5

What did Dubcek do to reassure the Soviets and why?

Answer 5

He assured Brezhnev that he had no plans to withdraw from Comecon or the Warsaw Pact. This was because he had learnt from events in Hungary 12 years prior.

Question 6

What did a greater freedom of speech lead to?

Answer 6

Unprecedented criticism of communist rule - whether past failings or corruption

Question 7

What was the Prague Spring?

Answer 7

A period where there was unprecedented criticism of communist rule rule in which new ideas seemed to be appearing

Question 8

What was suggested in Czechoslovakia that the Soviet’s didn’t like?

Answer 8

Allowing the formation of a Social Democratic Party to rival the Communist Party

Question 9

What were the Soviet’s worried about in relation to the new reforms and ideas in Czechoslovakia?

Answer 9

Brezhnev and other leaders within East were deeply suspicious about these events, fearing ideas would spread.

Question 10

Who was Brezhnev under pressure from during this period and why?

Answer 10

He was under pressure from the East German and Polish leaders to clamp down on Czechoslovakia

Question 11

What were the USSR’s tactics to intimidate Dubcek into reversing his policy? (2)

Answer 11

• Soviet, East German and Polish troops performed training exercises on the Polish border
• Economic sanctions were considered (wheat exports to Czechoslovakia) - but it was feared that the Czechs might request Western assistance

Question 12

What was held in July 1968?

Answer 12

A summit between Czechoslovakia and the USSR

Question 13

What was agreed at this summit?

Answer 13

Dubcek agreed not to allow the formation of the new Social Democratic Party but insisted on maintaining most other reforms

Question 14

What happened on the 20th August 1968?

Answer 14

Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia. They were met with little violent resistance and Dubcek was removed from power.

Question 15

When did Soviet tanks roll into Czechoslovakia?

Answer 15

20th August 1968

Question 16

What did the USSR do with Dubcek?

Answer 16

Unlike Nagy he was not executed. He was continually downgraded. First he was sent to be an ambassador to Turkey, then expelled from the Communist Party all together.

Question 17

What did events in Czechoslovakia show?

Answer 17

That reforming ideas within the communist system would be deemed unacceptable by other members of the Warsaw Pact.

Question 18

Who else was the suppression of Czechoslovakia driven by?

Answer 18

Walter Ulbricht of East Germany

Question 19

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Answer 19

A doctrine that said the essentials of communism were defined as a one-party system and to remain a member of the Warsaw Pact