Czechoslovakia Crisis and Brezhnev Doctrine

Question 1

Why was Khrushchev replaced and when did Brezhnev come to power?

Answer 1

• Perceived failures of CMC
• Domestic policies had failed to improve living standards

October 1964
- Brezhnev alongside party insiders were planning his removal

Question 2

Under Khrushchev what was communism like within other nations?

Answer 2

Revolutions and reform had been attempted in Poland, Hungary and E.Germany
- As long as countries remained loyal to USSR, by staying in the Warsaw Pact and maintaining their status as a single party state, modifications in the nature of communism was allowed.

Question 3

What was Mao’s reaction to communism under Khrushchev?

Answer 3

Disapproved and critscised

Question 4

Overview of Brezhnev era - (Reassertion of USSR as a leader of communism)

Answer 4

• Between 1964-68 movements demanding changes in leadership and policies across E.Europe
• Continued economic deprivation
• Economic and political repressions caused discontent

Question 5

What was the key cause of stability across the eastern block?

Answer 5

Economic stability

Question 6

Czechoslovakia and USSR prior to uprising

Answer 6

• Relatively prosperous and loyal satellite state
• 1963 they recorded negative growth within Czechoslovakia
• Fears they may revolt

Question 7

What were Ota Sik’s suggestios?

Answer 7

Czechoslovakian economist Ota Sik proposed reforms to the economy
- Allowing individual enterprises to function
- A Communist Party that would be responsive to public opinion.
- Existence of consumer rights
- Workforce having more power

Question 8

What was the USSR’s response to Ota Sik’s plans?

Answer 8

• Would not let this happen
• Sik’s arguments were gaining support so change of leadership recquired
• Took changes to Czechoslovakian leadership to maintain the communist government.

Question 9

Overview of Dubcek

Answer 9

• Choice to lead to Czechoslovakia
• Committed Communist
• Good terms with Brezhnev
• Wanted to create a popular form of communism
• Wanted to get rid of most repressive aspects of communist rule, reform economy & allow more cultural freedom

Question 10

What was Dubcek like when he came to power and what did he do to the party?

Answer 10

• Advocate for political reform
• Began to replace key officials with those who wanted reform without consulting the USSR
• Also began to eliminate press censorship

Question 11

What was USSR’s action to the removal of party officials?

Answer 11

USSR did not take immediate action, but were watching Czechoslovakia very carefully.

Question 12

What did Dubcek announce in April 1968 and outline this?

Answer 12

Action Programme
- Stated the Communists determination for socialism according to the Czechoslovakian path

It included
- Basic freedoms of speech,press and movement
- Freedom for economic enterprises to make decisions based on consumer demand rather than government targets
- Increased rights of autonomy for politically repressed and underrepresented
- Communist Party would retain its ‘leading role’ but it would acknowledge the legitimacy of non-party institutions such as trade unions.
- Open borders with the West

Question 13

How did Dubcek protest these reforms?

Answer 13

Assured Russia that Czechoslovakia would remain loyal to Warsaw Pact.

Question 14

What was Prague Spring?

Answer 14

The timing of the reforms from Dubcek

Question 15

Did the USSR initially react to the Action Programme?

Answer 15

No - they wanted to see how far reforms would go

Question 16

How and when did Soviets react to the reforms?

Answer 16

Warsaw Pact Countries conducted military exercises in Czechoslovakia in late June 1968 to intimidate Dubcek

Question 17

When and who did leaders meet to discuss Czechoslovakian reforms?

Answer 17

USSR, Bulgaria, E.Germany, Hungary and Poland on 14-15th July

Question 18

Invasion of Czechoslovakia - When, Troops, Dubcek

Answer 18

On 20 August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia. Dubcek and three other leaders were arrested and sent to Moscow.

Question 19

What was the reaction of the Czechoslovakians to the invasion and why?

Answer 19

The Czechoslovakians did not fight the Russians. Instead, they stood in front of the tanks, and put flowers in the soldiers’ hair.
- They did not have the resources to fight
- They also could not be villianised as they did not retaliate

Question 20

What did the Czechoslovak Communist Party outline of the 21 August 1968?

Answer 20

6 point statement
- Explained how the Warsaw Pact had been broken as countries were against each other
- Demanded withdrawal of troops from Warsaw Pact
- Demanded Czechoslovakians did not attack troops so they could not use Czechoslovakia as an excuse or reason for future reforms/plans as USSR instigated attack

Question 21

What did the Brezhnev Doctrine outline?

Answer 21

• USSR would not allow the countries of Eastern Europe to reject communism
• He stated that all communist countries had the responsibility to protect the communist movement and to interfere when it was threatened

Question 22

What became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Answer 22

Speech delivered to Polish Party Congress on November 19th 1968

Question 23

When did Dubcek remain in power until?

Answer 23

April 1969

Question 24

Who replaced Dubcek?

Answer 24

Gustav Husak
- Conformed to Soviet line
- Remained loyal until collapse of USSR

Question 25

When did the Red Army remain in Czechoslovakia until?

Answer 25

1990