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Czechoslovakia had been a communist country, controlled by Moscow, since the end of the World War Two.

Twelve years after the brutal suppression of the Hungarians, Czechoslovakia posed a similar challenge to the Soviet Union.

In 1964, Khrushchev had been ousted from power, and was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev.

In 1968, the Czech people attempted to exert some control over their own lives and reform the communist system to create 'socialism with a human face'.

This attempt, known as the Prague Spring, lasted for four months until it was crushed by the Soviet Red Army

• The Czech economy was in recession.
• Workers remained in poor housing and had the most basic of lifestyles.
• Farmers also had to follow Communist Party rules with regards to agriculture.
• Industrial products were being exported to the USSR.

• Students were resentful of the restrictions on their freedom.

• By the 1960s there was poverty, mainly due to inflation, food shortages and falling living standards.

In January 1968, Alexander Dubček became the new communist leader of Czechoslovakia.

Although Dubček was a committed communist, he believed that communism did not have to be as restrictive as it had been.

He agreed to introduce reforms in April 1968 which would provide ‘socialism with a human face’.

These included:

• less censorship.
• more freedom of speech
• legalisation of political opposition groups
• reduction in the activities of the secret police
• a reintroduction of capitalist elements into the Czech economy

The reforms, when they were introduced in April 1968, led to a greater feeling of hope among the population.

This became known as the 'Prague Spring'.

However, Dubček stressed that they would remain in the Warsaw Pact and Comecon, but these reassurances were not enough to prevent a Soviet invasion.

Dubček’s reforms began to worry the Soviets because although he claimed to be a committed communist, his proposals went against their control.

The Soviets also feared that the liberal ideas from these reforms would spread across Europe and cause instability on Russia’s side of the Iron Curtain.

• April 1968: Dubček introduced reforms.
• July 1968: 4 countries within the Iron Curtain, alongside the USSR, wrote to Dubček to express their concern. He sent them back assurances.
• 20 August 1968: 500,000 troops entered Czechoslovakia after Brezhnev received a letter from four Czech communists requesting help.
• The Czech government called upon their people to enact passive resistance with peaceful protest tactics such as standing in front of tanks and offering flowers to soldiers.
• Dubček was arrested and taken to Moscow. When he returned he declared the Prague Spring was over.The pro-Soviet, Gustáv Husák, was installed as the new Czech leader. He quickly reversed Dubček’s reforms.

Brezhnev declared that the USSR would not allow the countries of Eastern Europe to reject communism, "even if it meant a third World War."

This became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.

The USSR feared liberal ideas would spread to other Eastern European states causing instability and threatening the security of the Soviet Union.

They feared growing trade links between Czechoslovakia and West Germany would lead to an increase in Western influence in Eastern Europe.

To the USSR, it was important to hold onto Czechoslovakia which had the strongest industry in the Eastern bloc.

The Western powers did nothing to actively support the Czechs in their ‘Prague Spring’, although there was widespread international criticism of Moscow’s actions in Czechoslovakia.

• The USA accepted that the Soviets were taking this action in their own sphere of influence.
• The USA was not going to consider any intervention that would constitute rollback of communism in Eastern Europe, or an 'act of war.'
• The USA was more focused on the Vietnam War.
• The USA would have been surrounded in Czechoslovakia had they sent support.
• President Lyndon B Johnson did not want to provoke Moscow.

• The Brezhnev Doctrine seemed to bring an end to peaceful co-existence.
• The revival of traditional Cold War tactics was a setback for improving international relations.
• Relations deteriorated further as both the USA and the USSR continued to stockpile their weapons.
• Some progress was made and agreements were signed including the Helsinki Accords and SALT 1.
• The USSR’s action in Czechoslovakia suggested that their grip on their satellite states was weakening. Romania moved towards a more independent foreign policy and strikes followed in Poland in 1970.