Czechoslovakia

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The Prague Spring - 1968

In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek became the leader of Czechoslovakia.

The rise of Dubcek

Living standards in Czechoslovakia had fallen under Soviet rule (led by Antonin Novotny). This led to growing opposition to communism.
In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek became the leader of Czechoslovakia.
Dubcek had a good relationship with the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and supported the Warsaw Pact, but wanted communism to have a ‘human face’, introducing reforms that improved the lives of the Czechoslovakian people.

Dubcek's reforms

There were reforms and measures that increased political freedom.
- In April 1968, censorship was relaxed, more criticism of communism was allowed. Other political parties were also permitted.
- The secret police had their powers reduced and arresting and detaining without trial was restricted.
Some capitalist elements were even allowed in the economy to create a form of “market socialism”.

The response

But the events horrified many old Czech communists, who thought that the reforms would lead to the collapse of communism.
Many Czechoslovakians were enthusiastic about the reforms.
Brezhnev and the East German leader Erich Honecker, were especially concerned. They feared that the Prague Spring would lead to calls for reforms elsewhere in the Soviet Union’s “sphere of influence”.

Brezhnev's lack of action

Brezhnev was unsure how to act. He was close to Dubcek and did not want to risk his country’s reputation by going to war.
- So he did nothing.

After the Prague Spring (this period of liberalisation), Brezhnev realised that he could not allow the reforms to go through. Dubcek did not agree to abandon the reforms, so the Soviet Union sent in Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia. This led to the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Re-establishment of Soviet control in Czechoslovakia

In the early morning of the 21st of August 1968, troops from all the countries in the Warsaw Pact entered Prague and Dubcek was arrested. Dubcek was flown to Moscow.
- Nobody in Czechoslovakia was expecting an invasion, especially their armed troops, who were completely unprepared. Before his arrest, Dubcek urged Czechoslovakians not to resist the invasion with violence.

Czechoslovakia after Dubcek

Czechoslovakia became a strictly-run Soviet satellite state again, led by Gustav Husak.
- The process of rolling back Dubcek's proposed reforms was called “normalisation”.
Unlike in Hungary, where Imre Nagy was killed, Dubcek returned to the Czechoslovakian government in a less important position. He lived until the age of 70, dying in 1992.

The Brezhnev Doctrine

Doctrine is defined as 'a belief or group of beliefs'.
The Brezhnev Doctrine installed the policy or belief that the Soviet Union would use Warsaw Pact troops to maintain their position of influence in Eastern Europe. Anyone threatening the status quo, proposing reforms, or threatening communism in the Soviet Union's sphere of influence was likely to be invaded.

International reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine

The Doctrine was condemned by America and Britain, but again the West did not want to go to war over a relatively peaceful invasion within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence.
However, the Brezhnev Doctrine and the invasion of Czechoslovakia harmed the Soviet Union's brand of communism internationally.
- The CIA's report into the 'World Communist Reaction to the Invasion of Czechoslovakia' said that 'that Yugoslavia, Romania, China, and Albania would be opposed was never in question' and that French Communist leader, Waldeck-Rochet and Italian Communist leader, Longo, both opposed the invasion.

The Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine

France and Italy

Communist leaders in France (Waldeck-Rochet) and Italy (Longo) broke off their ties with the Soviet Union.
The CIA's report into the 'World Communist Reaction to the Invasion of Czechoslovakia' said that 'that Yugoslavia, Romania, China, and Albania would be opposed was never in question' and that French Communist leader, Waldeck-Rochet and Italian Communist leader, Longo, both opposed the invasion.
The French Communist Party had previously supported the invasion of Hungary under Imre Nagy.

Europe

No other countries tried to make liberal reforms after the invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
Adopting a hard communist line caused problems in Poland, with people protesting against communist rule.
According to the CIA 'Moscow received virtually no support from West European Communism'.

Romania, Yugoslavia and China

Romania (under Nicolae Ceausescu) and Yugoslavia (under Josip Tito) divided the communist world by signing partnerships with China (led by Zhou Xiangyu).
The Chinese Communist Party and media, who you would have expected to be supported called Brezhnev and Soviet leaders 'a pack of robbers'.

Illustrative background for USA ?? "content

USA

The USA and West Germany were critical of the Soviet Union’s actions in Czechoslovakia. However, the USA didn't get involved in Czechoslovakia. It did not want a nuclear war and was already fighting Communists, with no success in Vietnam. 58,220 US troops would die in the Vietnam War.
Fundamentally, there wasn't much damage to the US-Soviet relationship.

Latin America

Latin American nations, like Fidel Castro's Cuba, usually supported all Soviet action. However, Mexico, which had previously supported the Soviet Union broke away.
This was not hugely significant but was a blow for the Soviets. It reflected that using military force to maintain your influence is not a popular strategy.

1The Cold War

1.1Early Tension

1.1.1The Grand Alliance

1.1.2Yalta & Potsdam Conferences

1.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Potsdam Conference

1.1.4Ideological Differences Between the Superpowers

1.1.5Early US-Soviet Relations

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Early Cold War Tension

1.1.7Grade 9 - Early Tension

1.2The Development of the Cold War

1.2.1The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan

1.2.2East-West Boundaries

1.2.3End of Topic Test - East & West

1.3The Cold War Intensifies

1.3.1The Arms Race

1.3.2The Hungarian Uprising

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Developing Tension

1.3.4Grade 9 - The Development of the Cold War

1.3.5Exam-Style Questions - Hungarian Uprising

1.4Cold War Crises, 1958–70

1.4.1The Berlin Wall

1.4.2Czechoslovakia

1.4.3The Cuban Missile Crisis

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Cold War Crises 1958-70

1.4.5Grade 9 - Cold War Crises

1.5Attempts to Reduce Tension Between East & West

1.5.1SALT & Helsinki

1.5.2End of Topic Test - SALT & Helsinki

1.5.3Grade 9 - SALT & Helsinki

1.5.4Exam-Style Questions - Helsinki Accords

1.6The End of the Cold War

1.6.1Flashpoints

1.6.2Reagan & Gorbachev

1.6.3The Collapse of Soviet Control

1.6.4End of Topic Test - Reducing Tensions and The End

1.6.5Grade 9 - The End of the Cold War

1.6.6Exam-Style Questions - Eastern Bloc Collapse

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