Prague Spring Flashcards
What did Stalin do in 1948?
Supported a coup in Czechoslovakia that removed non-communists from power and established a pro-Soviet government under the leadership of the head of the Czech communist party, Klement Gottwald
Why was life under communist rule difficult for Czech people?
. Country was ruled by Soviet Union which used secret police to maintain control
. Czech economy was run for the benefit of the Soviet Union and there were few consumer goods for Czech people
. No freedom of speech
. Radio, newspapers and television were censored
What did the Czech government do between 1949 and 1954?
Under Stalin’s orders, carried out purges and the victims included not only democratic politicians, but also military leaders, Catholics, Jews, people with wartime links to west
What did Czech people protest about after the purges?
Low standard of living and lack of freedom
What did student demonstrations in 1966 show?
How unpopular the communist government in Czechoslovakia was
When was Alexander Dubcek elected?
In 1968 as First Secretary of the Czech communist party - effectively the head of the Czech government
Why did Soviet leadership approve of Dubcek?
Trusted him to make the government of Czecholslovakia more effective and less unpopular, while keeping the country completely loyal to the Soviet Union
What was Dubcek committed to?
The Warsaw Pact and a devoted communist
What were Dubcek’s beliefs?
. Communism was the right political path but shouldn’t make life miserable
. Communist government should offer ‘socialism with a human face.’
. Believed citizens should be able to express views and speak against Communist party decisions without fear of punishment from the government
What was the ‘Prague Spring’?
The reforms Dubcek introduced from April
What were Dubcek’s April reforms?
. Censorship relaxed and criticism of government allowed
. Trade Unions given wider power and government control of industry reduced
. More power given to the Czech regional governments
. Trade with West increased
. Czech people given greater freedom to travel abroad
. Multi-party elections was discussed but leaders emphasised this wouldn’t happen for years
Where were Dubcek’s reforms met with great enthusiasm?
Among Czech people
Where were Dubcek’s reforms much less popular?
Moscow
What was Dubcek careful to assure Moscow?
That Czechoslovakia would remain in the Warsaw Pact and was a loyal ally of the Soviet Union
When did Brezhnev replace Khrushchev?
1968
Why did Brezhnev dissaprove of many of Dubcek’s reforms?
. Other Warsaw Pact countries would want similar reforms
Why was there a risk that Moscow could lose control of Czechoslovakia?
At the same time as Dubcek’s reforms, Romania was refusing to attend Warsaw Pact meetings and the Yugoslavian leader, Tito, refused to accept control of Moscow. What if Czechoslovakia followed?
What was the state of Yugoslavia at end of WW2?
Liberated largely without Soviet help
Why was Yugoslavia expelled from Cominform in 1948?
Although the leader of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito was a communist, he didn’t want to follow Moscow’s leadership
What was Tito famous for?
Writing an open letter to Stalin telling him to stop sending people to kill Tito or Tito would have to send someone to kill Stalin
What was Brezhnev doing in the months after Dubcek became leader?
Remained in contact with him, urging him not to endanger communism in Czechoslovakia by going too far with his reforms
What did Brezhnev order Warsaw Pact troops to do while Dubcek was leader?
To carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia to threaten Dubcek
When did Brezhnev decide to take action?
When Dubcek invited Ceausescu of Romania and Tito to Prague for talks
What happened on 20th August 1968?
500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia and ended the ‘Prague Spring’
Was there much opposition to the invasion?
No
What had Brezhnev ordered the Czech army to do during the invasion?
Remain in its barracks, just in case they tried to fight baxk
What were some individual acts of bravery from the Czech people?
Blocking roads and attacking individual tanks
Why were the invading forces shocked by the hostility they encountered when invading?
They had been told they had been invited to help restore law and order by the Czech government
Who was Jan Palach?
20 year old uni student who set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square in Prague against the Soviet occupation of his country on 16th January 1969
What happened to Dubcek straight after the invasion?
Was arrested, sent to Moscow and ordered to reverse his reforms
Who replaced Dubcek in 1969?
Gustav Husak
Who was Gustav Husak?
A hardliner loyal to Moscow and introduced a clampdown in which over a thousand Czech’s were arrested
What did Brezhnev’s action look like to many people in the West?
An aggressive attempt to dominate another European country
How did the Soviet Union justify the invasion?
As a neccesity to protect the unity of the communist movement in Europe
What happened on 26th September 1968?
Pravda (Soviet paper) set out what became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine
What was in the Brezhnev Doctrine?
The actions of any individual communist country affected all communist countries. If one country’s actions threaten other countries, it is the duty of those countries to stop these actions
What was the Brezhnev doctrine essentially trying to say?
All communist countries would be prevented from introducing reforms to make their country more liberal
What was the impact of the invasion on Czechoslovakia?
Ended the ‘prague spring’ and authorities soon put things back to ‘normal’
What was the impact of the ‘Prague Spring’ and Soviet invasion on relations between other communist countries in Europe?
Yugoslavia and Romania condemned the invasion, straining relations
Communist parties of Italy and France cut links to Moscow
Government of East Germany and Poland welcomed Brezhnev’s doctrine to feel more secure they wouldn’t be challenged
What did the suppression of the ‘prague spring’ lead to?
Greater Soviet control of the members of the Warsaw Pact which was reinforced by the Brezhnev doctrine which made members of the Warsaw Pact under close control of Soviet Union
What was the impact of the ‘prague spring’ and Soviet invasion on relations between USA and Soviet Union?
USA and other West governments outraged by invasion ans made strong protests to Soviet Union
Attempt to pass formal resolution condemning the invasion in the UN but this was vetoed by Soviet Union
Soviet Union saw that while USA might make protests, it would not take direct action to oppose the Soviet Union in Europe
What was the USA involved in during the time of the ‘prague spring’ and invasion?
A costly war in North Vietnam and there was a policy of détente beginning to be adopted with the Soviet Union
How did other countries think about the USA’s involvement in these events?
Saw that the USA was keen to criticise the Soviet Union but much less prepared to take action
