Prague 1968

• In 1968 Khrushchev was replaced by the more hard line Leonid Brezhnev.
• In 1968 the people of CZECHOSLOVAKIA were unhappy with their communist leaders.

  •  They wanted more freedom and greater prosperity.  
  • A new leader was appointed.  His name was Alexander DUBCEK.  
  • Dubcek wanted Czechoslovakia to remain communist but also realised that reforms would have to be made.  
• Brezhnev and the USSR were ANGRY and WORRIED about Dubcek's reforms and did not agree with them.

  • They FEARED OTHER COMMUNIST COUNTRIES in Eastern Europe would FOLLOW Czechoslovakia and this would result in the COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM.
  • Brezhnev ordered 400,000 Warsaw Pact troops into the country.
  • He claimed he was doing this because he had 'been asked for help by others in the communist government' in Czechoslovakia who were unhappy with Dubcek’s reforms
• • Dubcek realised that the Czech people could not stand up to the invading troops. 
  • He told the Czech people not to resist with violence.  Instead, he told them to use passive resistance.
  • Brezhnev ordered Dubcek to come to Moscow for a meeting. 
  • When Dubcek returned to Czechoslovakia he told the people that the ‘Prague Spring’ was over. 
  • He resigned soon after and was replaced by a more hard line leader.
• Just like in Hungary in 1956 the WEST ignored the Prague Spring and DID NOT INTERVENE.