Czechslovaki 1968 Flashcards
Cause of Prague Spring
Communism had been forced upon them.
No other political parties were permitted.
The Communist Party censored the media
Living standards were poor.
What were Dubcek’s reforms/ ideas
Press censorship was abolished
Opposition groups were allowed and criticism of government was permitted
More power was given to regional government
More power given to the Czech Parliament
Changes were made to make the economy more ‘market-based’ with some competition introduced.
Brezhnev response to czechslovaki
Brezhnev could not allow the reforms as any weakness in control over satellite states of East Europe could mean breaking up the warsaw pact
Czechslovakia couldn’t have more control as other satellite states would want control
Brezhnev failed to convince Dubcek to stop diplomacy
August 1968 the USSR sent tanks to Prague and Dubcek was arrested
Czechslovakia returned to being under strict Soviet control under Gustav Husak (‘normalisation’)
Prague spring effects on the West
The USA condemned the invasion but did nothing to stop it because the USA feared a war against USSR
Western European communist parties were horrified about a communist country invading another communist country and declared themselves independent from the Soviet Communist Party
France and Italy ended links with the Soviet Union
Term used about Dubceks reforms
Socialism with a human face
20th August 1968 what happened
200,000 warsaw troops invaded Czech (2,000 tanks)
What happened to Dubcek
Arrested sent to Moscow and ordered to reverse in 1969 . Dismissed from office and replaced Gustáv Husák
Impact of Soviet rule in Czechslovakia
Czechslovakia living standards declined
Any opposition to communism was crushed
Communist rule became unpopular
When was Dubček leader
Jan 1968
Czechslovakia response to reforms
Many people supported and embraced the new reforms enthusiastically.
How did communists respond to the Dubčecks reforms
Older czech communists felt threatened of rising reforms (collpase of communism)
Other Eastern European leaders felt threatened that freedom can threaten communist rule throughout the East
Brezhenev was at a dilemma. He felt inclined to stop Dubčexk’s reforms to prevent the fall of communism
Importance of the invasion of Czechslovakia
Due to the Brezhnev doctrine the Soviet Union rsreved the right to invade any country that threatened the security of the Eastern bloc. Many Europesn countries required to follow communist rules.
What is the Brezhnev doctrine
The Brezhnev doctrine was established (1979) where USSR claimed the right to invade any Eastern European country that was threatening the security of the whole of Eastern Europe.
Prague Spring effects on the East
Yugoslavia and Romania became less friendly with the USSR weakening the USSR’s grip on Eastern Europe
Invasion strengthened Soviet control over the Eastern bloc as they used military force to enforce order.
There was no formal protest from Warsaw Pact countries under Soviet control.
Impact of Czehslovakia on superpower relations
The 1968 Invasion did little to damage the growing détente due to the lacking death toll (100)
However, the invasion did create a sense of complacency to Brezhenev.He believed Soviet military intervention would not be challenged by the USA. However, this was not the case.
