Background

• In 1948, Stalin had supported a coup in Czechoslovakia which removed non-communists from power and established a pro-soviet, communist government under the leadership of Klement Gottwald.
• • Life under the communist rule of Gottwald was difficult for Czech people - the country was effectively ruled by the Soviet Union and the secret police kept control
  • Additionally, the Czech economy was run for the benefit of the Soviet Union and there were few consumer goods for Czech people.

  There was no freedom of speech and radio, newspapers and television were censored.
• • The Czech government regularly carried out purges between the years of 1949 and 1954, under the orders of Stalin. These purges targeted democratic politicians, military leaders, catholics, jews, etc.
  • Protests about the low standards of living and the lack of freedom grew which showed just how unpopular the government was