Prague Spring: Warsaw Pact Invasion, 1968

by Phil Carradice

Cold War nadir: January 1968 and in Czechoslovakia the new Communist Party leader Alexander Dubcek has made it clear that this is the opportunity to loosen the Soviet stranglehold on the country. As the Prague winter slowly eases into a Prague spring, it really does seem as if Dubcek has judged it right. Reforms in oppressive censorship laws, improved housing, a lessening of totalitarian oppression, Dubcek promises and delivers on it all. The new regime in Czechoslovakia does seek to destroy communism but it does want to choose its own political destiny.

And then, on the night of 20/21 August the Prague Spring is crushed by the Warsaw Pact invasion: 200,000 Communist troops, mostly Soviet but also Polish and East German, flood the country. The resulting protests and rallies against the invasion, mostly by young people, are violent and bloody. Hundreds die in clashes; self-immolation, in public and before the eyes of the world, brings home the horror and the depth of feeling in the Czech people.

It is the end of the Prague Spring, the reformation of Czechoslovakia having ended in ruins. But despite the brutal crushing of Czech hopes and dreams, the events of 1968 lay the foundations for future change. It will take another two decades but it is, ultimately, where the unraveling of the Communist bloc begins.

Genres: History

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2019

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book answers the question- What do you do with a Military history series- if the episode you are covering actually featured little bloodshed? You get this- where Phil Carradice, realizing that his military story was quite limited, chose to feature the social, media, and political activity in this Cold War episode. We get the pictures of Rioting, Tanks in the streets, and resistance- but the text follows the real action of this story- Alexander Dubcek's attempt to create "Open Communism" with freer press and arts- Brezhnev's reaction to squelch the popular movement, eventually with 500,000 Warsaw Pact Soldiery - and then Dubcek's "Riding the Tiger" successfully stopping bloodshed-but having to give up his reforms and independence. It's not war- but Carradice does well with a taut political thriller with Violence hanging over ever page.

Dubcek wanted to stay communist- he just thought you didn't need the Secret Police and Censored Media to make it work. The Russians, having done it for longer- knew those two elements were both key to the whole concept. The Czechs were given a very short rope- and it was pulled in pretty fast. But I do hope this book will impress those modern idiots who label all Politics they don't like as "Socialism"- and then confuse/conflate that with REAL Marxist-Leninist Communism. THIS book is about what happens when Communism rules- NOT to be confused with the "Social Democrats"that are so prevalent in Western Europe(NATO). It's compelling stuff.

This is about subtle adult political concepts and does have a few episodes of violence that make it best for Junior readers over about 11. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is of little use- unless you game riots and graffiti(does anyone do that?). But it does help you understand the pressures on BOTH sides of the Cold War- with hot wars in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia boiling over. Carradice also does a good job putting you in touch with the culture of the time- so you can put together a "Mixtape" that even includes"The Plastic People of the Universe" the Czech Rock band that were emblematic of the reform movement. A good resource.

[Marcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. I especially enjoyed the numerous photos. 3.5 stars.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall this book provides a decent overview of the events leading up to the Prague Spring and the Soviet crackdown. As a student of history, however, I had an issue with the sources (and their documentation). Following the author’s use of these sources would be a challenge in that some of them don’t identify specific dates of publication and/or page numbers. Additionally I found no less than four errors that should have been caught by the editors prior to publication. Three of these could be chalked up to typographical errors and are generally harmless in nature. The fourth is more problematic in that on page 78 it appears that the author has confused Senator Eugene McCarthy with Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clearly Eugene McCarthy is the one being referred to, however, the author represents him as the senator responsible for the “witch hunts.” For a good introduction to the topic, this book could be useful. For more serious study, I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

[Isaac Clemente ríos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una fantástica visión de la primavera de Praga. El autor considera los aspectos sociales, políticos y militares que rodearon aquel intento de socialismo con rostro humano.

Entretenido de leer, explicativo y bien documentado.

Por poner un pero, tal vez se centra demasiado en Dubcek.

Mi nota: 7,5/10

[Tamtamoc3233 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Good read about the Russians coming in with tanks to the City of Prague in 1968. It was a gift for my Pop who emigrated here to the USA in 1949, to avoid the Communist regime.

[Michael a Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Recap

This is a quick Read that goes far to explain the 1969 Movement!
I highly recommend it to all who are interested....