Time Period: January 5 - August 21, 1968
Background:
During the Cold War, Socialist countries were ruled by repressive and dogmatic communist parties under Soviet influence. In Czechoslovakia, Alexander Dubček became Czechoslovakia’s leader as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) in January 1968.
Actions:
- Dubček gradually started to ease restrictions on the media, freedom of speech, and travel by Czechs and Slovaks to non-communist countries.
- Censorship was relaxed and the rehabilitation of victims of the past purges took place.
- Some political prisoners were freed and restrictions were eased for cultural activities.
- Some limited economic and political reforms were introduced.
- The country's name was officially changed to the Czechoslovak Federative Republic.
- The movement for liberalization came to be known as the "Prague Spring".
Reaction:
- In August, the Soviet Union (along with Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and East Germany) decided to intervene by force to support the conservative elements in the Party who opposed Dubček's reforms. The Warsaw Pact armies quickly occupied Czechoslovakia and ousted Dubček in April 1969.
- During the invasion about 108 Czechs and Slovaks were killed and 500 wounded.
- Over 100 thousand people emigrated to the West in 1968 and 1969.
- The event is viewed as a major moment in the decline of communism in Europe as it marked the end of the Czechoslovak era of relative democratic and personal freedoms.
