Soviets Invade Czechoslovakia
The excerpt is a statement issued by Alexander Dubček, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, on August 21, 1968. It describes the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armies of the Soviet Union and several other Eastern Bloc countries, which occurred without the knowledge or consent of Czechoslovakia's leaders.
Yesterday, August 20, 1968, around 11:00 p.m., the armies of the Soviet Union, of the Polish People's Republic, of the German Democratic Republic, the Hungarian Peoples Republic, and the Bulgarian Peoples Republic crossed the borders of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. It happened without the knowledge of the President of the Republic, of the Chairman of the National Assembly, of the Prime Minister and of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of CPCz, and of all these organs.
The Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPCz was meeting in these hours and was discussing the preparations for the Fourteenth Party Congress. The Presidium appeals to all citizens of our Republic to keep calm and not to resist the armed forces moving in. Therefore neither our army, security forces or the People's Militias have been ordered to defend the country.
The Presidium believes that this act contradicts not only all principles of relations between socialist countries but also the basic norms of international law.
Statement issued by Alexander Dubeck, First Secretary fo the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, August 21, 1968
Question 1
Describe one way in which the excerpt demonstrates the Soviet Union's dominance over Eastern Bloc countries.
Question 2
Describe one political trend in Czechoslovakia that influenced the Soviet invasion.
Question 3
Describe one way in which the outcome of Prague Spring influenced later anti-communist movements in Eastern Europe.
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