Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968

[Catalpa]

On the night of the 20/21st of August 1968 the forces of the Warsaw Pact (except Rumania) invaded the Republic of Czechoslovakia and crushed the Government of Alexander Dubjek.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring

The people were taken completely by surprise and there was no resistance by the military forces.

This is the only time in post War Europe until the Fall of the Soviet Union that a Government was overthrown and replaced through the medium of Invasion and Occupation by the Armed Forces of other States.

The 'Prague Spring' came to an end and Communist Europe had to wait another 21 years for a thaw to set in.

It is a fascinating 'What If' to consider what might have happened if it had been allowed to continue.

The Czechs and Slovaks did take to the streets in popular protest but it was case of 'too little too late'.

Did they do the right thing by submitting and saving their State from ruin or should they have taken up arms against the Soviet juggernaught?

Personally I was always a bit disappointed that they gave in so easily.

[emmet100]

This is the only time in post War Europe until the Fall of the Soviet Union that a Government was overthrown and replaced through the medium of Invasion and Occupation by the Armed Forces of other States.

To be fair, that exact situation also occured in Hungary in 1956 when imre Nagy's government was forcibly overthrown by the Red Army. As far as I know, Soviet troops were based in Czechslovakia at the time, so any popular uprising would have been crushed Hungary-style with executions, imprisonment and oppression by the Soviet Union.

[Catalpa]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_Hungarian_Revolution

As far as I know the Soviets had at least a technical claim to 'intervene' as Kadar invited them in to crush the Revolt.

Perhaps the severity of the counter reprisals that followed made the C&S think twice before going down the same road.

Unlike the Hungarians the Czechs and Slovaks don't have a great military tradition and are fairly pacific peoples.

Whether that has played to their advantage or otherwise is a moot point but they always seem to end up under someone elses boot!

[pogo]

Did they do the right thing by submitting and saving their State from ruin or should they have taken up arms against the Soviet juggernaught?

Personally I was always a bit disappointed that they gave in so easily.

Unless you believe in the purifying, magical powers of the cult of blood sacrifice they did the right thing.

Solidarity were right to oppose communism non-violently.

They ultimately succeeded.

[Pidge]

Solidarity were right to oppose communism non-violently.

Don't equate 1950s/60s Soviet Policy with that of the 1980s. Solidarity wouldn't have been allowed to continue - regardless of its tactics - in the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era.

They ultimately succeeded.

Meanwhile, thirty or so years pass and another generation live and die under the Soviet yoke.

[campbeca]

Don't equate 1950s/60s Soviet Policy with that of the 1980s. Solidarity wouldn't have been allowed to continue - regardless of its tactics - in the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era.

I think the policies of the two eras are entirely comprable. If Jaruzelski didnt do the necessary the Soviets may well have.

[pogo]

Don't equate 1950s/60s Soviet Policy with that of the 1980s. Solidarity wouldn't have been allowed to continue - regardless of its tactics - in the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era.

I think the policies of the two eras are entirely comprable. If Jaruzelski didnt do the necessary the Soviets may well have.

Agreed.

I believe Jaruzelski to have been one of the great unsung heroes of history.

[campbeca]

Don't equate 1950s/60s Soviet Policy with that of the 1980s. Solidarity wouldn't have been allowed to continue - regardless of its tactics - in the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era.

I think the policies of the two eras are entirely comprable. If Jaruzelski didnt do the necessary the Soviets may well have.

Agreed.

I believe Jaruzelski to have been one of the great unsung heroes of history.

I hear that is a regular and divisive topic of conversation in Poland. Like Jack Charlton v. Pope John Paul II here

[Pidge]

Don't equate 1950s/60s Soviet Policy with that of the 1980s. Solidarity wouldn't have been allowed to continue - regardless of its tactics - in the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era.

I think the policies of the two eras are entirely comprable. If Jaruzelski didnt do the necessary the Soviets may well have.

I doubt it. If we're talking about Gorbachev's time in power, then I can't see him sending in the tanks. It'd be out of line with his Sinatra doctrine.

[campbeca]

Don't equate 1950s/60s Soviet Policy with that of the 1980s. Solidarity wouldn't have been allowed to continue - regardless of its tactics - in the Khrushchev/Brezhnev era.

I think the policies of the two eras are entirely comprable. If Jaruzelski didnt do the necessary the Soviets may well have.

I doubt it. If we're talking about Gorbachev's time in power, then I can't see him sending in the tanks. It'd be out of line with his Sinatra doctrine.

We were discussing 5 years before MG took over. If we're on the same page