Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia

• The USSR had been trying to get control over the Warsaw Pact since its formation, but it was not until 1968 that they were able to do so.
• In january 1968, Dubcek became the leader of the communist party. He wanted to reform communism and make it more democratic
• In April 1968, Dubcek brought in an Action programme Which increased investment in consumer goods and reduced central controls on what was produced.
• His political reforms were extensive. other parties were allowed to share some power and censorship was Almost completely removed
• Removing censorship meant people had free speech, which people used to criticise the communist party and the soviets
• on the 17th of July 1968, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and other leaders sent Dubcek a letter warning him of their concerns about threats to communism.

  Dubcek replied that he was loyal to the Warsaw pact and agreed to bring back Censorship.
• When dubcek tried to reverse his changes, there was significant demonstrations. When the police broke up the demonstrations, Strikes were organised which looked like an uprising to Brezhnev
• on the 20th of August 1968, 120,000 soviet troops and 80,000 troops from Other Warsaw pact Countries invaded Czechslovakia
• Petrol bombs were thrown at soviet tanks and around 100 people were killed
• protests continued into April 1969