Section 5 - Czechoslovakia Flashcards
When did Alexander Dubcek become the communist party leader in Czechoslovakia?
5th January 1968
What was life in Czechoslovakia like before Dubcek took over?
Mid 1960s
Czechoslovakia run by secret police who brutally crushed all political opposition.
Czechoslovakian economy was struggling - standard of living declined.
This made communist party leader, Antonin Novotny very unpopular.
Dubcek
On friendly terms with Brezhnev.
Wanted to create popular form of communism in Czechoslovakia.
What was the Prague Spring?
Liberal changes brought about by Dubcek from April 1968.
What were Dubcek’s reforms?
Relaxation of press censorship.
Legislation of all political opposition groups.
Official government toleration of political criticism.
More power given to regional governments.
More power given to Czech parliament.
Market socialism - reintroduction of capitalist elements into Czech economy.
What did people think of the reforms of the Prague Spring?
Welcomed enthusiastically by students, intellectuals, workers and younger members of Czech communist party.
Older Czech communists and Brezhnev were shocked by reforms.
What did Brezhnev think about Prague Spring?
It was difficult for him to decide because he regarded Dubcek as a friend and Dubcek had made no attempt to leave the Warsaw Pact or damage USSR.
However, Soviet intelligence reports suggested that Dubcek’s reforms would lead to the weakening of Soviet control over Czechoslovakia and eventually the breakup of the Eastern Bloc.
What did Brezhnev do about the Prague Spring?
He tried to persuade Dubcek that reforms had gone too far, however Dubcek failed to take the hint and Brezhnev ordered a full-scale invasion of Czechoslovakia in order to overthrow Dubcek.
August 1968
Soviet media portrayed Czechoslovakia as threat to USSR
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
USSR had the right to invade any Eastern European country whose actions appeared to threaten the security of the whole Eastern Bloc.
How did Brezhnev apply the Brezhnev Doctrine to Dubcek?
He argued that Dubcek’s actions threatened to undermine the Warsaw Pact and communist control in Eastern Europe so he had to invade.
When did Soviet tanks roll into Czechoslovakia?
20th August 1968
What did Dubcek do when the Soviets invaded?
Told Czech people not to respond with violence.
However, there was a great deal of non-violent civil disobedience e.g. the Czech student set himself on fire in protest.
What happened to Dubcek after Soviet invasion?
He was arrested and taken to Moscow where Brezhnev told him that he had betrayed socialism.
Dubcek was forced to sign the Moscow Protocols which committed the Czech government to ‘protect socialism’ by reintroducing censorship and removing political opposition.
How did the USA react to Czechoslovakia?
They were fighting a war against Vietnam so Brezhnev knew they wouldn’t do anything to stop it because Lyndon B. Johnson and Brezhnev had an unspoken deal that if USSR didn’t intervene in Vietnam, USA wouldn’t intervene in Czechoslovakia.
USA did publicly condemn invasion but didn’t offer military support.
