Prague Spring, 1968

What was the Prague Spring?

The Prague Spring is the term used for the brief period when the government of Czechoslovakia wanted to democratise the nation and reduce the control the USSR had on the country.

When was the Prague Spring?

The Prague Spring took place between 5th January and 21st August in 1968.

Who was responsible for the Prague Spring?

Alexander Dubček, the new leader of Czechoslovakia, introduced the reforms.

What were the causes of the Prague Spring?

There were 6 main reasons for the Prague Spring.

• ❖ Since 1957, Czechoslovakia had been led by Antonin Novotný, who was very unpopular because he was a hard-line communist.
• ❖ Novotný did not bring in reforms, despite Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation policy.
• ❖ By the 1960s, the Czech economy was struggling and the standard of living was dropping.
• ❖ When the leader of the USSR, Brezhnev, visited Czechoslovakia in December 1967, he withdrew his support for Novotný because he was so unpopular.
• ❖ Novotný was replaced by Dubček as the leader of Czechoslovakia on 5th January, 1968, in the hope that this would reduce discontent.
• ❖ Dubček wanted to reform communism to create 'socialism with a human face'. This would enable the public to be more involved in the government and, hopefully, increase support for communism.

What were the reforms of the Prague Spring introduced by Dubček?

Dubček brought in 7 main reforms.

• ❖ Censorship was relaxed in April 1968, which allowed more criticism of communism.
• ❖ Free speech was allowed.
• ❖ Political parties other than the Communist Party were allowed to exist.
• ❖ Work councils were set up to represent workers and improve working conditions.
• ❖ The secret police had their powers restricted, so their ability to arrest and detain people without trial was reduced.
• ❖ Some capitalist elements were even allowed, to create a form of 'market socialism' economy.
• ❖ Travel restrictions were lifted, so Czechs could travel abroad.

Which Soviet policies did Dubček keep in the Prague Spring?

During the Prague Spring, Dubček tried to reassure the USSR that his reforms would not threaten its power. He publicly declared that Czechoslovakia:

• ❖ Dubček publicly declared that Czechoslovakia would not leave the Warsaw Pact.
• ❖ Dubček declared that Czechoslovakia would keep its alliance with the USSR.
• ❖ Dubček declared that Czechoslovakia would not change its foreign policy.

What was the response from the Czechoslovakian Communist Party to the Prague Spring?

The response from the leaders of the Czechoslovakian Communist Party was not enthusiastic.

• ❖ Many were horrified at Dubček's reforms, believing they were a threat to communism.
• ❖ On 3rd August, 1968, 5 leading opponents of the Prague Spring reforms sent a letter to Brezhnev outlining their concerns and asking him to intervene.

Why were Eastern Bloc leaders concerned during the Prague Spring?

Brezhnev, the leader of the USSR, and Erich Honecker, the leader of East Germany, were very worried for 3 main reasons.

• ❖ Romania would not attend Warsaw Pact meetings.
• ❖ Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, did not want the USSR to control his country.
• ❖ They feared the Prague Spring would lead to calls for reform elsewhere in the Soviet Union's sphere of influence.

What was Brezhnev's response to the Prague Spring?

Brezhnev and the Eastern Bloc responded in 12 main ways.

• ❖ In July 1968, the USSR claimed to know of plans by West Germany to invade the Sudetenland, and asked to send Soviet troops to protect Czechoslovakia. Dubček refused.
• ❖ The USSR considered economic sanctions for Czechoslovakia, but didn't want the country to seek help from the West.
• ❖ In July, the entire Soviet Politburo (cabinet) visited Czechoslovakia to put pressure on Dubček to reverse the reforms.
• ❖ Warsaw Pact troops from the USSR, Poland and East Germany completed manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia in the summer, to put more pressure on Dubček.
• ❖ On 15th July members of the Warsaw Pact sent a letter to Dubček, warning him the reforms were dangerous to the Eastern Bloc.
• ❖ On 20th-21st August, 1968, 500,000 Soviet-led Warsaw Pact troops entered Prague to arrest the reformers.
• ❖ Nobody in Czechoslovakia was expecting an invasion, especially the armed troops who were completely unprepared.
• ❖ Dubček and other leaders were arrested. They were taken to Moscow to meet Brezhnev.
• ❖ Dubček was forced to sign the Moscow Protocol, which stated that Czechoslovakia would protect communism and the reforms would be reversed.
• ❖ All the reforms were reversed when Dubček returned to Czechoslovakia.
• ❖ In August 1968, the Brezhnev Doctrine was created. The USSR had the right to invade any country in its sphere of influence which threatened the stability of eastern Europe.
• ❖ The USSR wanted to ensure it had full control over Czechoslovakia. In 1969, therefore, it replaced Dubček with Husak, a hard-line and reliable communist.

What happened during the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring?

There were 5 main events during the invasion:

• ❖ Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia on 20th August, 1968.
• ❖ Nobody in Czechoslovakia was expecting an invasion, especially the armed troops who were completely unprepared.
• ❖ There was little resistance, but the Czech public refused to cooperate with Soviet troops.
• ❖ Dubček and other communist leaders were arrested and taken to Brezhnev in Moscow.
• ❖ All the reforms of the Prague Spring were reversed.

What were the results of the Soviet invasion in the Prague Spring?

There were 5 key results of the Soviet invasion:

• ❖ All reforms of the Prague Spring were reversed, and life in Czechoslovakia returned to the way it had been before.
• ❖ Dubček was forced to sign the Moscow Protocol, which stated that Czechoslovakia would protect communism and the reforms would be reversed.
• ❖ Dubček was demoted and ended up working as a clerk in a lumber yard for 20 years.
• ❖ The mood in Czechoslovakia, which had previously been optimistic, became more resentful of the USSR.
• ❖ Several Czech students, including Jan Palach, committed suicide by publicly setting fire to themselves in protest.

What was the reaction of the West to the Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

The West reacted in 3 key ways.

• ❖ The UN wanted to condemn the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops, but the USSR vetoed this.
• ❖ The USA and the West condemned the invasion.
• ❖ However, the USA did nothing because it was distracted by Vietnam, there was a US presidential election, and it was the beginning of détente.

What was the reaction of the communist world to the Prague Spring and the Soviet invasion?

The communist world reacted in 5 main ways.

• ❖ Communists in western countries condemned the invasion and created their own version of communism, called Eurocommunism.
• ❖ In France and Italy, the Communist Party condemned the USSR's actions.
• ❖ Yugoslavia and Romania spoke out against the USSR's invasion, which worsened their relationship with the Soviet Union.
• ❖ Poland and East Germany were very supportive of the invasion, as they were trying to control reformers in their own countries.
• ❖ Communist China condemned the USSR invasion of Czechoslovakia, and the relationship between the two countries greatly deteriorated.

What was the importance of the Prague Spring?

The Prague Spring and the invasion by Soviet troops were important for 3 key reasons.

• ❖ They led to the creation of the Brezhnev Doctrine, which increased USSR control over eastern Europe.
• ❖ It split the communist world, as communist parties in western Europe became independent of USSR control and communist China condemned the invasion.
• ❖ It highlighted that, while the USA would condemn the USSR's actions, it wouldn't take any steps to stop them.