2.3: The Prague Spring

What were 4 causes of the Prague Spring?

lack of political freedom, economic problems, Stalin’s purges, the rise of protests

Why was there a lack of political freedom in Czechoslovakia?

Czechoslovakia was ruled by the USSR so there was no freedom of speech and radio, newspapers and television were censored

Why were there economic problems in Czechoslovakia?

The Czech economy was run for the benefit of the USSR, so there were few consumer goods for the Czech people, which meant that standards of living were low

What were Stalin’s purges?

Stalin forced the Czech government to carry out purges in Czechoslovakia, the victims included politicians, military leaders, Catholics, Jews and people with connections to the West

When were Stalin’s purges?

Between 1949 and 1953

What did student demonstrations in 1966 show?

How unpopular the communist government was

Which protests grew in Czechoslovakia?

Protests against the low standard of living and lack of freedom

Who was elected as leader of the Czech government in January 1968?

Alexander Dubcek

What did Dubcek believe, even though he was a committed communist?

That communism should not make people’s lives miserable

What was the ‘Prague Spring’?

A series of reforms from April 1968 introduced by Dubcek

What did the reforms include?

Reducing censorship and allowing criticism of government action, greater trade with the West, making it easier for Czechs to travel abroad, discussing the possibility of democratic elections

Who were the reforms popular with?

The Czech people

Who was concerned by the reforms?

The Soviet Union, even though Dubcek reassured Brezhnev that Czechoslovakia would remain in the Warsaw Pact

Why did Brezhnev take action?

Dubcek invited the leader of Romania to Prague for talks

What happened on the 20th of August 1968?

500,000 Warsaw Pact troops from East Germany, Hungary and the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia and ended the Prague Spring

Why was there little opposition to the invasion?

Brezhnev had ordered the Czech army not to fight back

What happened to Dubcek?

He was arrested and sent to Moscow

Who was Dubcek replaced by?

Husak, who was very loyal to Moscow

Why was Brezhnev worried about the Prague Spring?

1. Other Warsaw Pact countries may want similar reforms

2. At the same time, Romania was refusing to attend Warsaw Pact meetings and Brezhnev was worried that Dubcek would be influenced by Romania and would also consider leaving

What were 2 consequences of the Prague Spring?

The Brezhnev Doctrine, USA’s reputation weakened

What did the Brezhnev Doctrine emphasise?

Members of the Warsaw Pact were under the close control of the Soviet Union

What did the Brezhnev Doctrine say?

1. All communist countries would be stopped from introducing reforms to make their country more liberal or to gain independence from Moscow

2. Any action that was a threat would have to be stopped by all Warsaw Pact countries (not just the USSR)

Why was the Brezhnev Doctrine welcomed by many communist governments, such as East Germany and Poland?

It made them feel more sure that they would not be challenged by reformers in their own countries

Why was the USA’s reputation weakened as a result of the Prague Spring?

Other countries saw that while the USA was keen to criticise the USSR, they were not prepared to take action against them in Europe

Even though the USA protested strongly to the USSR, what did they not do?

They did not take direct action to oppose the invasion