Czechoslovakia 1968 Lesson starter Describe the Hungarian Uprising

Czechoslovakia 1968 Lesson starter: Describe the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. Today we will understand the events of the Czechoslovakia Uprising in 1968

Today we will… • Understand the events of the Czech uprising in 1968 • Compare this to the Hungarian Uprising in 1956

I can… • Use my recall knowledge to answer a 5 mark question on Czechoslovakia 1968 • Compare two sources on Hungary/ Czechoslovakia

• The Hungarian Uprising showed the USSR would not tolerate rebellions against Communism • Next country who tried to get independence was Czechoslovakia • USSR control had kept Czech poorer than it should have been • Protests against Communist Party • 1968 – new leader of Communist Party Alexander Dubcek

• Dubcek is liberal • Has new ideas for Czech and introduces reform; • Allowing political parties • Freedom of religion • Trade unions allowed • End of press censorship • Basically more freedom • ‘The Prague Spring’ • He assures Brezhnev (USSR leader) that Czech will not leave the Warsaw Pact (military alliance of Eastern European countries)

• Czechs supported Dubcek, as did Yugoslavia and Romania • USSR didn’t • Scared of Czech leaving Warsaw Pact • Scared other countries would want the same • Soviets planned to invade Czechoslovakia • Sent tanks • By July 1968, 75, 000 Soviet troops on Czech border

• July – USSR told Dubcek to change his policy • He did not – he didn’t believe USSR would invade • USSR apparently received a letter from Czech Communists asking for help • Night of 20 th August 1968, Soviet troops enter Czechoslovakia • There were also troops from Poland, Bulgaria etc making it look like a Warsaw Pact invasion

• Czechs did not resist – no point – they had seen thousands killed in Hungary • Got on with daily business • Placed flowers on tanks and on soldiers • Some small resistance • Students destroying street names to confuse troops • Anti-Soviet radio • Dubcek arrested and force to sign a contract ending his reforms • New leader – Gustav Hasak – pro-Soviet

Hungary and Czechoslovakia • • Similarities? Sick of USSR control New Anti Soviet Leaders – Nagy/Dubcek USSR military invasion No help from West • • • Differences? Hungary started with riots – Czech had peaceful changes Dubcek said he would stay in Warsaw Pact, Nagy did not Dubcek still communist, Nagy not Hungary fought back, Czechs did not Nagy killed, Dubcek was not Hungary lasted only a few days – Czech four months

Homework Question – WED 9/1 1. Describe the events of the Czechoslovakian Uprising in 1968. 5 marks (no source, all points from your own knowledge)

Source A Source B In Hungary in 1956, students Czechoslovakia tried to break free from Soviet control in protested against 1968. Dubcek introduced Communist rule and ousted liberal reforms and announced the government. The Czechoslovakia would NOT leader, Imre Nagy leave the Warsaw Pact. Soviet announced he was leaving Tanks rolled into Prague but the Warsaw Pact. The were met with little violence – Soviet Red Army invaded. the Czechs used passive Intense violence erupted resistance. Dubcek was and 20, 000 were killed. The replaced by a new pro- Soviets showed how much leader. The Soviet reputation control they had over was tarnished as their invasion satellite states. Nagy was seemed to be unnecessary. executed for his part in the attempted revolution. 1. How far do Sources A and B disagree on uprisings in the Soviet Union 1956 -1968? 4 marks