Key Issue 6 - Czechoslovakia Flashcards
Why was there opposition to Soviet control?
- Communism was restrictive. Censorship, lack of freedom of speech and the activities of the secret police were aspects of daily life hated by the people
- The Czech economy was struggling and the standard of living fell
What were Dubcek’s reforms?
- the abolition of censorship, allowing the press to print what they wanted
- freedom of speech, allowing criticism of the government
- in industry, the creation of workers’ councils and increased rights for trade unions
- Restoration of private ownership of farmlands
- freedom of movement for all people
What did Dubcek introduce in 1968?
The idea of the Prague Spring, which became known as socialism with a human face
What did Dubcek do to avoid having similar casualties to Hungary?
He made a clear statement that Czechoslovakia did not wish to leave the Warsaw Pact or end its alliance with the Soviet Union
He however planned to cooperate with Romania and Yugoslavia, which increased Soviet concerns
When did Brezhnev take over as the leader of the Soviet Union?
1968
What did Brezhnev do to stop reform in Czechoslovakia?
- Brezhnev instructed Dubcek to stop his reforms
- Pressure was put on Brezhnev by the East German leader
- Troops from countries within the Warsaw Pact carried out training exercises on the Czech border
When did Soviet tanks move into Czechoslovakia, and what happened?
20 August 1968
Some fighting occurred, nothing major
The Czechs however refused to cooperate
What happened to Dubcek after tanks moved into Czech?
He was removed and taken to Moscow
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
This was introduced in order to stop events happening again in other countries
It stated that all Warsaw Pact countries should work together to prevent any attempt by a country to leave the Pacts
Military force could be used by the USSR if any attempt to leave the Pact was made by a member country
