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Antoin Novotny becomes president
The chief representative of the first crisis of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia belonged to the generation which grew up during the First Republic. He became a prominent member of the Czechoslovak Communist Party following the "bolshevisation" in 1929 and then rose to power after the World War II. -
Reformist Alex Dubcek comes to power.
Alex Dubcek was elected the First Secretary of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. He tried to liberalise the country's communist regime by introducing free speech and freedom of assembly. -
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring of 1968 is the term used for the brief period of time when the government of Czechoslovakia led by Alexander Dubček seemingly wanted to democratise the nation and lessen the stranglehold Moscow had on the nation’s affairs. The Prague Spring ended with a Soviet invasion, the removal of Alexander Dubček as party leader and an end to reform within Czechoslovakia. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Soviet Union and other members of the Warsaw pact invaded Czechoslovakia to halt reforms. More than 100 people were killed, and the Communist leaders, including Alexander Dubcek, were arrested and taken to Moscow. -
Czechoslovakia splits
After national discussion of dividing the country into a federation of three republics, Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia and Slovakia, Dubček oversaw the decision to split into two, the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. This was the only change that survived the end of the Prague Spring. -
Attack on Novotny's government
In April 1968 the Communist Party Central Committee published a detailed attack on Novotny's government. This included its poor record concerning housing, living standards and transportation. It also announced a complete change in the role of the party member.
