Prague Spring

Question 1

When did Czechoslovakia become communist?

Answer 1

1948

Question 2

What happened as a result of Czechoslovakia becoming communist?

Answer 2

Czech people saw their rights and freedoms taken away. There was no freedom of speech, the media was censored, and the secret police were used to control the population. The economy of Czechoslovakia was also run for the benefit of the USSR, who
spent huge sums of money on arms. Like other communist nations, this resulted in shortages of goods in Czechoslovakia, causing people’s living standards to drop.

Question 3

How did the people of Czechoslovakia react to their drop in living conditions?

Answer 3

These problems encouraged Czech students to rise up in protest in 1966, demanding more freedoms and rights.
This proved the unpopularity of
Czechoslovakia’s communist government.

Question 4

What became clear by 1968?

Answer 4

By 1968, it had become clear that the leader of Czechoslovakia, Antonin Novotny, would need to be replaced.

Question 5

Who was appointed in 1968 and what was he determined to do?

Answer 5

In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek was appointed the new leader of Czechoslovakia.
Dubcek recognised how unpopular his government was, and was determined to improve people’s living standards to increase support for communism.

Question 6

What did Dubcek introduce in April 1968?

Answer 6

Dubcek introduced a series of reforms in April 1968, known as the ‘Prague Spring’. As a result of the reforms, censorship was reduced and the Czech people were given the freedom to criticise the government. In addition, Dubcek announced his intention to increase trade with the West and to make it easier for Czechs to travel abroad.

Question 7

How did the people react to the Prague spring?

Answer 7

The Czech people responded with enthusiasm to the reforms.

Question 8

What were Brezhnevs concerns about the Prague spring?

Answer 8

However, the reforms made Brezhnev concerned about the vulnerability of the USS’s ‘buffer zone’. Brezhnev warned Dubcek not to endanger communism, who reassured him that
Czechoslovakia would stay within the Warsaw Pact.

Question 9

What provoked the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

Answer 9

Brezhnev’s concerns grew when Dubcek invited Romania’s leader to Czechoslovakia.
At the time, Romania was refusing to attend Warsaw Pact meetings. So, Brezhnev and the communist leaders of East Germany and Poland became increasingly concerned that Czechoslovakia might leave the Warsaw Pact. This urged Brezhnev to take action.

Question 10

Describe the invasion of Czechoslovakia

Answer 10

On 20th August 1968 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded
Czechoslovakia to stop the Prague Spring reforms. There was little opposition to the invasion, as Brezhnev ordered the Czech army not to fight back. This resulted in Dubcek’s arrest and replacement with Gustav Husak - a communist leader loyal to Moscow.

Question 11

How did the US react to the invasion?

Answer 11

The USA expressed their outrage at the USSR’s invasion, but failed to take further actions. There was an attempt to pass a UN resolution (judgement) to condemn the invasion, but this was vetoed by the USSR. At this time, the USA was involved in a costly war in North Vietnam and was also beginning to adopt a policy of détente (peace) with the USSR.

Question 12

How was the reputation of the US affected by the invasion?

Answer 12

Other countries saw that the USA wanted to criticise the Soviet invasion but was not willing to take military action against them. As with the Hungarian Uprising, the USA’s reputation was weakened.

Question 13

How was the reputation of the US affected by the invasion?

Answer 13

Other countries saw that the USA wanted to criticise the Soviet invasion but was not willing to take military action against them. As with the Hungarian Uprising, the USA’s reputation was weakened.

Question 14

What was the Brezhnev doctrine?

Answer 14

Instead, the events in Czechoslovakia encouraged Brezhnev to take steps to guarantee the security of the US’s ‘buffer zone’.
Therefore, he announced the Brezhnev Doctrine in 1968, which stated that the USSR would put a stop to all future reforms in communist countries, as the actions of one country affected the stability of all other communist nations. Therefore, after the Prague Spring. Brezhnev strengthened the USSR’s control over Eastern European countries, as communist leaders were now aware of the consequence if they tried to reforms.