Czechoslovakia

In 1968 the “Prague Spring” began with the government of Czechoslovakia attempting to make reforms. It ended with a Russia Invasion, a new enforced leader. Czechoslovakia  was part of the USSR after the 2 world war.

What causes the demand for reform?

• In 1960s, the Czechoslovakian economy struggled
• Changes began when the government loose the control son business, that mean that companies could now have more control over setting prices and wages, this is very different to communist rule.
• Dubcek replaced Novotny

He proposed the abolition of censorship, freedom of speech, members of the party had not to be loyal to the government, but they have to be honest about how the country was run, the creation of workers councils in industry, increased rights for trade unions, rights for farmers, a recognition of Slovak national identity and customs and freedom of movements for all people.

Dubcek let clear that he had no intention to leave the Warsaw pact.

In July 1968 the Soviet leadership had evidence that Germany wanted to attack and Dubcek refused to accept the red army for protection and after that, countries across the War saw pact invaded. Dubcek had no chances so he did not reset the invasion. His reforms known as the “The Prague spring” were crushed.

Brezhnev was worried that Czechs ideas expand. And the eastern countries were afraid that people asked the same freedom Dubcek allowed.

Brezhnev doctrine consisted in: a one country system in each country and that they could not leave the Warsaw pact (communist countries). If this was not like this the USSR could use military forces to re-established control. In 1969 Dubcek was replaced.

Warsaw Pact

Communism was seen by many as corrupt and Soviet industry and agriculture inefficient.
The Soviet Union was in economic crisis. Food shortages were everywhere. Large sums of money were being spent on defence at the expense of many citizens living in poverty. An expensive war was being fought in Afghanistan in 1979.

Crisis in Soviet Union and communism played its part: Communism is based on equality and fairness but many had lost faith in it as there was much corruption; Industry and agriculture were inefficient leading to significant levels of imports; Large sums of money were being spent on defence and the Afghanistan war.
Warsaw Pact countries were clearly behind western countries in both economic and social development. The economy of the Soviet Union was failing.

Corruption ran too deeply for the changes to happen. His withdrawal of Red Army support for other communist countries resulted in one by one the communist governments coming to an end.

Communist governments in E. Europe could no longer expect support from Red Army to exercise control.
There was much corruption with Party members living in luxury whilst the workers were living in poverty.
The people no longer had faith in their government as they saw the West getting richer.

External factors

There were another factors apart from Gorbachev's actions that lead to the collapse of Soviet control.

• The war in Afghanistan

Originally it was an attempt to take control of Afghanistan, but they Afghan militia engage the Soviet in what became a guerrilla-style war in 1979. The war badly overstretched their economy and demoralised their military. The war led to widespread condemnation by other countries and pressure to withdraw.

• The role of the USA

Reagan (president from the USA) and Gorbachev encouraged an end to the Cold War. Both signed treaties to limit nuclear weapons and also encouraged people-led movements in Eastern Europe. Moreover USA increased the "arm race" and the Soviet Union could not respond respond to it, so they needed to securing peace through diplomacy.

Gorbachev, USSR leader

Gorbachev proposed that the Soviet economy should be improved by “perestroika” – restructuring, including capitalist practices. More competition in industry was encouraged.

Interest in free market capitalism and trade with the West increased. This also increased Soviet awareness of better standards of living in the West.
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In 1989, communist regimes of eastern Europe toppled one by one as Gorbachev's reforms signalled that the Soviet Union could no longer intervene.

BUT: The problem was that the reforms were introduced too quickly and without preparation. The Soviet Union was in confusion and economic chaos.

Poland (Solidarity)

The government in Poland had lost the confidence of the people and Solidarity showed that a Communist government could not solve Poland’s economic problems.

Solidarity began calling for greater political and religious freedoms. As it was strong, the government feared to take action, as did the Soviet Union. The USSR did not use force to ensure this unlike in Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

The movement showed that tough moves of threats, banning and imprisonment did not work. Solidarity only grew stronger. In the free elections of 1989, Solidarity won massive support and Walesa became first non-communist President.

This set an example to communist control for the rest of eastern Europe.

Czechoslovakia (Prague Spring)

The USSR thought they would lose control as Dubcek launched reforms known as the “Prague Spring”. Dubcek planned to modernise communism with “Socialism with a human face” by introducing free expression and ending rule of terror by secret police. There was talk of setting up the Social democratic Party as a rival to the Communists. The USSR thought this would threaten their control of Eastern Europe.
Dubcek assured Brezhnev that he did not want to leave the Warsaw Pact but Brezhnev knew that if control was lessened in one country others would follow. This would undermine Soviet control. The USSR feared that Czechoslovakia would ally with Yugoslavia and Romania.
Czechoslovakia was too important to the security of the Soviet Union as it had borders with West Germany and the USSR.

Brezhnev was the new Soviet leader and he was just as determined as previous leaders to maintain Soviet control of eastern Europe and he felt this control was being threatened.

Berlin

It was a physical barrier. It split Berlin. West Berlin was cut off from East Berlin.
If you tried to cross you were shot. It took no account of roads and buildings.
The East German authorities said it was to keep spies from the west out of East Berlin.
To try to help the Soviet Union maintain control of its east European satellites.