In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek became leader of Czechoslovakia and instituted democratic reforms, which were initially popular. However, in August 1968, Soviet forces invaded Czechoslovakia to end the reforms, arresting Dubcek and forcing him to renounce his policies. Though the Soviets claimed they were responding to fascist threats, they faced widespread non-violent protests from Czech civilians. After a week of occupation, Dubcek was released but forced to invalidate the reforms and reimpose censorship and control over unions and media. The Soviet occupation lasted until 1991 and spurred further anti-communist resistance in Czechoslovakia.

1. End of a Dream The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia – August 1968

2. Map of Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic (CSSR)

3. Reform Communist Party leader Alexander Dubcek

4. The Prague Spring - 1968 In January 1968, the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) elected a young Slovakian moderate Communist by the name of Alexander Dubcek to lead the Czechoslovak state. He immediately began to reform the entire Communist Party apparatus and over a period of eight months abolished censorship, opened the borders and allowed freedom of assembly as well as independent writers and trade unions to flourish. The population reacted with complete enthusiasm by supporting Dubcek’s initiatives. Instead of fleeing abroad, they stayed in the country and discussed, debated and wrote how the people could reform Communism and give it a “human face”.

5. Prague and the Vltava (Moldau)

6. St. Charles Bridge on the Vltava (Moldau)

7. The Invasion On the night of August 20 th 1968 Soviet forces supported by Communist satellite states invaded the reformist Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) in order to put a stop to the reform movement. They arrested Dubcek and flew him to Moscow where he was tortured and forced to recant his heresy from Stalinist orthodoxy. The Soviets and their associates feared that the reformist movement could spread to other fraternal Communist states in Eastern Europe and hence question Soviet hegemony in the region. In order to justify its intervention, the Soviet leadership told their armed forces that they were intervening against Czech Fascists who were attempting a Putsch with assistance from CIA agents and West German Neo Nazis.

8. Soviet forces arriving in the night of August 20 th 1968

9. Soviet troops confronting angry Czechoslovak civilians

10. Czechoslovaks wake up in amazement to Occupation – 21 August 1968

11. Thousands of Czechoslovak citizens confronted Soviet tanks

12. The masses surrounding Soviet tanks on Wenceslaus Square

13. “ To the entire people of Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic!”- A message from the CSSR Presidium informing the populace of the invasion and calling for calm

14. Bewildered Soviet troops surrounded by Czechoslovak crowd – Nowhere were Fascists , CIA agents or West German Neo Nazis to be found

15. Soviet tanks surrounded by unarmed Czechoslovak civilians

16. Students and demonstrators try to question evasive Soviet soldiers

17. Young Soviet soldiers are confused with the actual situation in the CSSR

18. Young Soviet soldiers pause alongside Czechoslovak civilians

19. Young Soviet soldiers caught up in the confusion of the early hours

20. Czech students writing protest posters

21. Civilians climb on Soviet tanks claiming them as trophies

22. Czech girl showing that there was no Fascist coup attempt

23. Czechoslovak civilians climb on Soviet tanks at Wenceslaus Square as symbolic peaceful conquest of the invading forces

24. Soviet troops with anti-aircraft guns occupying Jan Hus Square

25. Czechoslovak students defying Soviet forces by placing signs and posters protesting the invasion and demanding the return of Dubcek

26. “ I am with you!” - Protest Poster showing the kidnapped Dubcek was still present in the minds of his people

27. Czech students protest on a terrace of the National Museum overlooking Wenceslaus Square

28. Soviet tanks on Wenceslaus Square with National Museum in the background

29. “ Is this friendship? – Departure of the Occupier, Sovereignty, Neutrality”

30. Czechoslovak demonstrator demanding neutrality for her country

31. Road signs were defaced in order to confuse the invading forces

32. The Fairy Tale of the Five Brothers in front of the frightened Czech Republic

33. Czechoslovak protestors and journalists climb on Soviet tanks and claim them by waving Czechoslovak flags over them

34. Civilians demanding a reason for the invasion

35. Civilians climbing on tanks and confronting Soviet soldiers

36. Students surround Soviet soldiers and criticize their intervention

37. Defiant students burn Soviet propaganda leaflets and posters

38. Protestors jeering at the Soviet occupiers

39. Czechoslovak protestors whistling at the Soviets occupiers

40. The crowds in a stand off with the Soviet occupying forces

41. Signs begin to appear for the Soviets to leave Czechoslovakia

42. Czechoslovak demonstrators used trucks to spread leaflets and block tanks

43. The Soviets responded by crushing everything in their path

44. Passive resistance turns into violent confrontation as Molotov cocktails are thrown at Soviet tanks

45. Czechoslovak student claims victory over a Soviet tank

46. Soviet soldier aiming machine gun at an unarmed civilian after his tank had been hit by a Molotov Cocktail

47. Protestor taunts Soviets to shoot him. His body was later found in an alley.

48. Czech demonstrator on top of a Soviet tank while another burns beside it

49. Soviet tanks charging through the crowd in the smoke filled streets

50. Soviet attack at the Czechoslovak National Radio station

51. Aftermath of the street battle between Soviet armed forces and Czech civilians

52. Poster criticizing censorship after Soviet take over of National Radio and TV

53. Czechoslovak protestors throw rocks at Soviet tanks

54. Tending to the dead and the wounded

55. Protestors stain Czech flags with blood and show them to Soviets and the press

56. Demonstrators showing the Soviets the blood stained Czechoslovak flags

57. Civilians carrying out the dead and the wounded

58. Satire of the brutal repression of the Soviet “Liberator” of 1945 towards the Czechoslovak Republic in 1968

59. Burial of the first victims of Soviet repression

60. Mourner overcome by grief at the burial procession

61. Mourners at the public burials of fallen protestors

62. Czechoslovak civilians showing blood stained flags to indifferent Soviet soldiers

63. Soviet troops on top of tanks indifferent to the anger of the crowd

64. A frustrated Czechoslovak soldier demands a reason for the Soviet invasion

65. Soviet tanks in a moment of pause before further orders

66. Massive protests against the violence and repression of the Soviet occupation

67. Civilian demonstrations against the foreign oppressor

68. Independent press showing population condemning Soviet invasion

69. Empty streets for an announced Pro-Soviet rally

70. 150 000 Czechoslovaks fled their country as the borders were left open

71. AFTERMATH August 27 th 1968 Reform Party Secretary Alexander Dubcek was released and returned to CSSR but only after he and his reform associates were forced to sign a statement on August 25 th in which they renounced to their political, economic and social reforms. August 30 th 1968 – 14 th Party Congress of CSSR declared invalid and all reforms are declared null and void . Censorship is reintroduced and independent writers and trade unions are banned. The borders are closed. In protest to the Soviet occupation and lack of support from West, 20 year old Jan Palach sets himself on fire in downtown Prague.

72. 20 year old Jan Palach who protested the Soviet occupation by setting himself on fire in public in January 1969

73. Memorial Collage dedicated to Jan Palach

74. Memorial site of Jan Palach’s self-immolation in Prague

75. The temporary Soviet occupation lasted until 1991. By then the countries of East Central Europe had toppled their respective Communist regimes in 1989 and had dissolved the Warsaw Pact in 1991.