Why The Soviet Union Invaded Their Ally Czechoslovakia In 1968

On the 20th of August 1968, 2000 tanks and 500,000 troops from various states rolled into Czechoslovakia. Curiously, however, these invading states were not Czechslovakias enemies. They were in fact fellow members of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. So how did Czechoslovakia prompt such extreme reaction from the Soviet Union and its surrounding communist neighbours?
This tragic and often forgotten piece of Eastern European history begins with the election of a new Czechoslovakian leader, Alexander Dubcek. As a young man, Dubcek had taken part in anti-Nazi resistance during World War 2. Starting as a factory worker he joined communist groups. Later he graduated in law and made progress in the Czechoslovakian communist party and by the 1960’s he was a significant leader.

Dubcek was elected first Secretary of the communist party (KSC) in January 1968. Dubcek replaced Antonin Novotny. Novotny was a Stalinist communist who had survived a German concentration camp and had taken a leading role in the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948, gaining the presidency in 1964. However, Novotny’s close cooperation with Moscow went against the growing calls for internal reform within Czechoslovakia itself. When Novotny became unpopular and was forced to resign in early 1968 Dubcek took over control. From his election in January 1968 Alexander Dubcek brought a period of liberalisation reform known as the Prague Spring.
Dubcek tried to create “socialism with a human face” and his radical reforms included:
· Greater freedoms for the media,
· Greater freedom of speech and a commitment to democratisation of the Government
· Removal of travel restrictions – allowing people to move outside the Iron Curtain;
Greater autonomy for Slovakia
· Implementing a mix of planned and market economics: and
· Maintaining good relations with western Countries whilst cooperating with the Soviet Union.
Dubcek did not seek to weaken communism but to strengthen it by giving it more popular support. His reform manifesto was titled “Czechoslovakia’s Road to Socialism”. In July 1968 he stated his commitment to both the Warsaw pact and socialism. His popular socialism did not impress Moscow.

A big thank you to the following for the use of their images/video footage:
Public Resource.org
   • Czechoslovakia Post World War II  
   • Czechoslovakia's Invasion by the Soviets  
   • Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia  
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