Assess the importance of the political and military considerations
The Novotny regime in Czechoslovakia fell in December 1968 due to lack of economic reforms unresolved political problems of the Slovak part of the country, and Novotny's failure to deal with growing friction between the regime and the country's intellectuals and students. Dubcek was appointed the new president, however during the Prague Spring, the reforms that were brought in by the new leadership began to pose many problems. Although, according to several sources, Moscow felt it necessary to introduce some economical reform in Czechoslovakia, one of the most faithful Warsaw allies, the extent to which the Spring went proved too far for the orthodox leaders of the Soviet Union. After trying to put pressure on Dubcek to make him halt back the reforms, USSR came to the final decision - invasion. On August 21st Czechoslovakia was invaded by the Warsaw Pact troops. This essay looks at the situation that developed in Czechoslovakia during the memorable Spring of 1968, and focuses on the factors that finally pushed USSR towards invading one of its allies. Behind the invasion were sets of considerations, political as well as military. I will assess the importance of these considerations in the essay.
The Czechs realized the need to assuage Moscow's doubts, and Dubcek went to Moscow in early May. The following was said by Josef Smirkovsky (Chairman of the Czech parliament): "We must understand the fears of the Soviet Union which has in the mind not only Czechoslovakia, but also the security of the whole socialist camp. Even so, the Soviet comrades declared [on Dubcek's visit to Moscow] that they do not want and will not interfere in Czechoslovakia's internal affairs." Poland and Eastern Germany put the Soviet Union under pressure. The leaders of these countries, Gomulka and Ulbricht, insisted on USSR's interference into Czechoslovak affairs, as they were worried about the effect the reforms had on their regimes. It was decided to hold a meeting in Cierna on July 29th. According to sources, the Czechs displayed solidarity and support for Dubcek's regime. Moscow's calculation that the Czech leadership will crack under pressure and ask for USSR's intervention proved to be wrong. It was agreed that USSR would withdraw the troops from Czechoslovakia in the near future. He also states that June 27th can be identified as one of the major turning points in the Soviet response to Czechoslovak reforms. "From the early days of July throughout the remainder of the month, Moscow mounted a steadily intensified war of nerves against the Dubcek regime, against the backdrop of military moves which implied that the Soviet Union was preparing for an armed intervention should the Czechs persist on their democratization course".
Some common words found in the essay are:
Warsaw Pact, Soviet Union, TW Wolfe, Action Program, Hungary Poland, Germany USSR, Crisis July, April Dubcek, Mooney Dubcek's, Czechoslovakia Brezhnev, warsaw pact, soviet union, action program, west germany, czechoslovak reforms, 2000 words, reforms ussr, hungary 1956, czechoslovak leadership, cierna bratislava conferences, military considerations, warsaw pact troops, warsaw pact maneuvers, warsaw pact allies, relations west germany,
Approximate Word count = 3225
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)
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