Soviet invasion

• what did Warsaw Pact countries do to intimidate Dubcek?

  conducted military exercises in Czech late June 1968. 14th-15th July leaders of USSR, Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, Poland expressed concerns of Czech reforms by writing a letter to Czech officials.

  • argued challenges to socialism within a country means a threat to the entire socialist movement and won't be tolerated
• what was hoped for during 6 meetings regarding actions in czech?

  • Soviets hoped to provoke split in Czech communist party, and that a pro-soviet government would emerge asking for military assistance to maintain order

  this did not happen, Brezhnev pressured Dubcek to repeal reforms but Dubcek continues with his liberalising path regardless of his promises
• when did Warsaw Pact forces invade Czech?

  20th-21st August 1968
• response to soviet invasion of Czech?

  • some protests in China and Romania against the invasion
  • NATO didn't feel threatened by invasion

  it was apparent that the USSR had violated the integrity of Czech, invasion undermining that ant change would be achieved through party-led reform