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Not all is well in Czechoslovakia
The first signs that all was not well in Czechoslovakia occurred in May 1966 when there were complaints that the Soviet Union was exploiting the people. This developed when people in Slovakia complained about the government in Prague imposing its rules on the Slovaks. A weak economy worsened the situation and none of the reforms that were introduced worked. The workers remained in poor housing and led the most basic of lifestyles. The same occurred in rural Czechoslovakia. -
Antonin Novotný Critisized
In June 1967, there was open criticism of Antonin Novotný, Party Leader, at the Writers’ Union Congress. In October 1967, students demonstrated against Novotný -
Alexander Dubcek placed as First Secretary of the communist party.
Alexander Dubcek came into power on January 5, 1968. He had a liberal reputation, and him being named the first secretary was when the uprising began. Dubcek announced that he wanted the Czech Communist Party to remain the predominant party in Czechoslovakia, but that he wanted the totalitarian aspects of the party to be reduced. -
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The Prague Spring
Prague Spring Clip
The Prague Spring was a reformist movement in Czechoslovakia during April 1968. The Prague Spring reforms were an attempt made by Dubcek to grant additional rights to the citizens of Czechoslovakia, and also in hopes to strengthen the economy. With this he wanted more freedom of speech and the allowance of dissidents.There was much enthusiasm for change, and this scared the Soviet Leaders. -
Soviets Concerned
Leaders in Moscow worried that if Czechoslovakia carried reforms too far, other satellite states in Eastern Europe might follow, leading to a widespread rebellion against Moscow’s leadership of the Eastern Bloc. -
Soviet Union Invades
The Warsaw Pact invasion of August 20–21 caught Czechoslovakia and much of the Western world by surprise. In anticipation of the invasion, the Soviet Union had moved troops from the Soviet Union, along with limited numbers of troops from Hungary, Poland, East Germany and Bulgaria into place by announcing Warsaw Pact Military Excersices. The Czech army did not resist. . When these forces did invade, they swiftly took control of Prague, other major cities, and communication and transportation link -
Husak in Power
Once the Soviets invaded, Dubcek was removed from power, and Gustav Husak was named first secretary. Husak reversed Dubcek’s reforms and purged the party of its liberal members in 1969–71. He then concentrated on managing the nation’s economy while keeping a tight rein on internal dissent. -
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After the Cold War
After they removed Dubcek from office, and replaced the First Secretary with Husak, a period of “normalization” began. The communists tried to quickly dissolve the impressions that the Prague Spring and Dubcek had on Czechoslovakia: · 1. consolidate the Husák leadership and remove reformers from leadership positions;
· 2. revoke and removed laws enacted by the reform movement;
· 3. reestablish centralized control over the economy;
· 4. reinstate the power of police authorities
· 5. expand Czech
