2.3 CzechoslovakiaCrisis,1968
Q) Explain two consequences of the election of Alexander Dubcek as First Secretary of the Czech
Communist Party in January 1968. (8)
One consequence of Alexander Dubcek's election was the introduction of the Prague Spring
Reforms to introduce 'socialism with a human face'. It allowed people to express their views in
public and speak out without fear, etc. It removed communisms perceived worst features, to keep
communism popular. It involved a reduction in the secret police, removal of travel restrictions,
improved working conditions in factories and fresh contact with the West (including trade).
A second consequence of Alexander Dubcek's election was the invasion of Czechoslovakia in August
1968. There was a growing USSR suspicion as they were worried about the loss of control and the
Prague Spring Reforms. They were concerned that allowing politicål opposition would weaken
communism in Czechoslovakia. Backed by the Warsaw Pact countries, 500,000 troops entered
Czechoslovakia. This was important because it restored the USSR's dominance.
Q) Explain two consequences of the Prague Spring on relations between the Soviet Union and
Czechoslovakia. (8)
One consequence of the Prague Spring was that reforms encouraged opponents of communism to
demand even more radical reform. In June 1968,the Social Democratsfounded themselves as a
rival party to the communists.
A second consequence of the PragueSpring was that Brezhnev became suspicious of Dubcek and
remained in close contact, asking him not to endanger communism in Czechoslovakia by going too
far with his reforms. He ordered Warsaw Pact troops to carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia to
threaten Dubcek.
Q) Explain two consequences of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia for international relations.
One consequence of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakiawas that Dubcek was replaced by Gustav
as a leader of Czechoslovakia. Dubcek was forced to resign and became ambassador to Turkey.
Czechoslovakia reversed to the same strict communism and the Prague Spring reforms were
reversed. This was important because it restored the USSR's dominance of Czechoslovakia.
A second consequence of the Soviet invasionof Czechoslovakiawas the formation of
Eurocommunism. Communist Parties in Europe were outraged and tried to distance themselves
from the USSR. This was important because it isolated the USSR and the dominance over
communism to the Eastern bloc.
, Writ a ti e accou e e Viet • v Sio c os ova i
1968. (8)
In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek replaced Novotny and became First Secretary of the Czech
Communist Party. Dubcek was committed to the Warsaw Pact and a devoted Communist, and
believed that communism was the right political path but shouldn't make life miserable —'socialism
with a human face'. He introduced the Prague Spring Reforms to remove the communist regime's
worst features. It involved greater political freedom: free speech and abolition of censorship. To
regain control of Czechoslovakia, Soviets sent 500,000 Soviet troops, backed by units from Bulgaria,
East Germany, Hungary + Poland (Warsaw Pact countries) to invade Czechoslovakia. No armed
resistance by the Czechoslovakian army meant that the USSR restored their dominance. However,
Soviets suggested that Prague Spring reforms had still been a serious threat to the security of the
Soviet Union. On 26th September 1968, Leonid Brezhnevjustified the invasion as protecting the
unity of the communist movement in Europe and published this in the soviet newspaper, Pravda,
and it became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine. He insisted the Soviet Union had no choice but to
invade because the actions taken by Dubcek threatened the Warsaw Pact and the stability of
communism in Eastern Europe.
Q) Explain the importance of the 'Prague Spring' for relqtions between the USA and the Soviet
Union. (16)
One importance of the Prague Spring was that the reforms encouraged opponents of communism
to demand even more radical reform. In June 1968, the Social Democrats founded themselves as a
rival party.
A second importance of the Prague Spring was that Brezhnev became suspicious of Dubcek and
remained in close contact, asking him not to endanger communism in Czechoslovakia by going too
far with his reforms. He ordered Warsaw pact troops to carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia to
threaten Dubcek.
Another importance of the Prague Spring was that due to fear that Dubcek would threaten the
security of the Communist satellite states and his ideas might spread to other communist countries
and threaten the security of the Warsaw Pact, Brezhnev ordered the invasion of Czechoslovakia,
using 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops to restore the USSR's dominance.
Overall, the most important factor of the Prague Spring was that it led to the Czechoslovakian
invasion, which had big consequences for Czechoslovakia and the control the USSR had over it.
Q) Explain two consequences of the election of Alexander Dubcek as First Secretary of the Czech
Communist Party in January 1968. (8)
One consequence of Alexander Dubcek's election was the introduction of the Prague Spring
Reforms to introduce 'socialism with a human face'. It allowed people to express their views in
public and speak out without fear, etc. It removed communisms perceived worst features, to keep
communism popular. It involved a reduction in the secret police, removal of travel restrictions,
improved working conditions in factories and fresh contact with the West (including trade).
A second consequence of Alexander Dubcek's election was the invasion of Czechoslovakia in August
1968. There was a growing USSR suspicion as they were worried about the loss of control and the
Prague Spring Reforms. They were concerned that allowing politicål opposition would weaken
communism in Czechoslovakia. Backed by the Warsaw Pact countries, 500,000 troops entered
Czechoslovakia. This was important because it restored the USSR's dominance.
Q) Explain two consequences of the Prague Spring on relations between the Soviet Union and
Czechoslovakia. (8)
One consequence of the Prague Spring was that reforms encouraged opponents of communism to
demand even more radical reform. In June 1968,the Social Democratsfounded themselves as a
rival party to the communists.
A second consequence of the PragueSpring was that Brezhnev became suspicious of Dubcek and
remained in close contact, asking him not to endanger communism in Czechoslovakia by going too
far with his reforms. He ordered Warsaw Pact troops to carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia to
threaten Dubcek.
Q) Explain two consequences of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia for international relations.
One consequence of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakiawas that Dubcek was replaced by Gustav
as a leader of Czechoslovakia. Dubcek was forced to resign and became ambassador to Turkey.
Czechoslovakia reversed to the same strict communism and the Prague Spring reforms were
reversed. This was important because it restored the USSR's dominance of Czechoslovakia.
A second consequence of the Soviet invasionof Czechoslovakiawas the formation of
Eurocommunism. Communist Parties in Europe were outraged and tried to distance themselves
from the USSR. This was important because it isolated the USSR and the dominance over
communism to the Eastern bloc.
, Writ a ti e accou e e Viet • v Sio c os ova i
1968. (8)
In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek replaced Novotny and became First Secretary of the Czech
Communist Party. Dubcek was committed to the Warsaw Pact and a devoted Communist, and
believed that communism was the right political path but shouldn't make life miserable —'socialism
with a human face'. He introduced the Prague Spring Reforms to remove the communist regime's
worst features. It involved greater political freedom: free speech and abolition of censorship. To
regain control of Czechoslovakia, Soviets sent 500,000 Soviet troops, backed by units from Bulgaria,
East Germany, Hungary + Poland (Warsaw Pact countries) to invade Czechoslovakia. No armed
resistance by the Czechoslovakian army meant that the USSR restored their dominance. However,
Soviets suggested that Prague Spring reforms had still been a serious threat to the security of the
Soviet Union. On 26th September 1968, Leonid Brezhnevjustified the invasion as protecting the
unity of the communist movement in Europe and published this in the soviet newspaper, Pravda,
and it became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine. He insisted the Soviet Union had no choice but to
invade because the actions taken by Dubcek threatened the Warsaw Pact and the stability of
communism in Eastern Europe.
Q) Explain the importance of the 'Prague Spring' for relqtions between the USA and the Soviet
Union. (16)
One importance of the Prague Spring was that the reforms encouraged opponents of communism
to demand even more radical reform. In June 1968, the Social Democrats founded themselves as a
rival party.
A second importance of the Prague Spring was that Brezhnev became suspicious of Dubcek and
remained in close contact, asking him not to endanger communism in Czechoslovakia by going too
far with his reforms. He ordered Warsaw pact troops to carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia to
threaten Dubcek.
Another importance of the Prague Spring was that due to fear that Dubcek would threaten the
security of the Communist satellite states and his ideas might spread to other communist countries
and threaten the security of the Warsaw Pact, Brezhnev ordered the invasion of Czechoslovakia,
using 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops to restore the USSR's dominance.
Overall, the most important factor of the Prague Spring was that it led to the Czechoslovakian
invasion, which had big consequences for Czechoslovakia and the control the USSR had over it.
