Prague Spring, 1968-69 Flashcards
Cause 1 - Opposition to Soviet Control
Since 1948, a pro-Communist government was in charge in Czechoslovakia. The Czech economy was run for the benefit of the USSR and Czechs had few consumer goods. They were tightly controlled by secret police and resented the lack of freedom. Purges were carried out in 1949 and 1954 and a wide range of victims were removed or killed.
Cause 2 - Dubcek introduced reforms that became known as the ‘Prague Spring’
Dubcek was a good communist who believed in the Warsaw Pact but he didn’t think the system should make people unhappy - he believed in ‘Socialism with a human face’. His reforms included:
Censorship relaxed and criticism of government allowed
Trade unions given wider powers and government control of industry reduced
Trade with West increased
Freedom for Czechs to travel abroad
Event 1 - Dubcek’s reforms were hugely popular in Czechoslovakia but disapproved of by Moscow.
Brezhnev replaced Krushchev in 1968 and he was friendly with Dubcek but was worried his reforms might encourage other Warsaw Pact countries to try similar ideas. Brezhnev already had problems with Romania and Yugoslavia. Therefore, Brezhnev kept in touch, urging Dubcek not to go too far. He also ordered Warsaw Pact troops to do training exercises outside Prague to intimidate Dubcek.
Event 2 - Brezhnev crushes the Prague Spring
On the 1st August 1968, Dubcek went too far by inviting Ceaucescu and Tito to Prague for talks. Therefore, on 20th August, Brezhnev sent in 500K Warsaw Pact troops to end the Prague Spring. There was little opposition and the Czech army remained in its barracks.
Consequence 1 - The Brezhnev Doctrine
On 26 September 1968, the Soviet newspaper Pravda published an announcement that became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine. This basically said that any country that took actions against the interests of the communist movement would be stopped by all the other communist countries - liberal reforms were banned.
Consequence 2 - The impact on international relations
The USA and other Western countries were outraged and made formal protests through the UN - but these were vetoed by the Soviet Union.
The Soviets saw that while the USA may protest - they would not take direct action. This was partly due to the USA fighting a war in Vietnam at the same time and also adopting the policy of detente with the Soviet Union.
