Invasion of Czechoslovakia

Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968

Cause

• Dubcek’s Prague Spring Reforms in 1968 were changing communism into a less radical political system. 
• He wanted to give greater political freedom including freedom of speech and abolition of censorship
• He also wanted to reduce the power of the secret police and allow trade with the West. 
• He wanted to give the Czechoslovakian people a greater say in running their country.
• This led to 'socialism with a human face'

What Happened

• Since Czechoslovakia was in Eastern Europe, USSR didn't want them to leave the Warsaw Pact, as then their soviet sphere of influence would diminish.
• Their reforms could spark radical reforms in other satellite states.
• So Soviet Union were under pressure from other Warsaw Pact leaders to stop the reforms in Czechoslovakia, as it would destabilise the spread of communism.
• This resulted in an invasion - 100,000 troops from Warsaw Pact members entered and brutally put down the opposition
• There were violent scenes as students tried to resist, but not armed
• Few were killed.

Consequence

• Dubcek and other leaders arrested and Dubcek was replaced by a more a hard line communist called Gustav Husak.
• This also gave rise to the Brezhnev Doctrine stating that USSR would intervene if communism was at risk. It was the policy of maintaining communism.
• Rivalry between USSR and China increased because China didn’t approve of the way USSR attacked a fellow communist nation.
• This led to the Sino-Soviet split