Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 18; CZECHOSLOVAKIA; GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2.pdf/55

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2

1968
 * July-August
 * Czechoslovak Presidium and Soviet Politburo meet at Cierna nad Tisou, on Czechoslovak-U.S.S.R. border.


 * August
 * Soviet bloc leaders ratify Cierna nad Tisou agreement at special summit session in Bratislava.
 * Yugoslav President Tito given rousing welcome during 3-day visit to Prague.
 * East German party boss Ulbricht receives chilly reception during brief trip to consult with Dubcek at Karlovy Vary.
 * Romanian party chief Ceaucescu arrives in Prague to confer with liberal Czechoslovak leadership and to sign 20-year mutual friendship treaty with Czechoslovakia.
 * Soviet press, after 3-week silence, resumes heavy propaganda barrage opposing Czechoslovak reforms.
 * Soviet troops, accompanied by East German, Polish, Hungarian, and Bulgarian forces, invade Czechoslovakia on night of 20-21 August; by morning of 21 August, Soviet military in complete control of Prague and other major population centers. Dubcek and other leaders arrested.
 * Extraordinary "14th" Party Congress convenes clandestinely in Prague factory.
 * President Svoboda journeys to Moscow to negotiate releases of all arrested leaders and agreement on future of Czechoslovakia under occupation. Dubcek is allowed to resume post as Party First Secretary.
 * Party plenum hears Dubcek report on Moscow talks; Presidium enlarged to 22 members; Central Committee also expanded.


 * October
 * Czechoslovak leaders—Dubcek, Premier Cernik, and Slovak party chief Husak—negotiate with Soviet Politburo in Moscow; communique outlines Soviet demands for "normalization."
 * Czechoslovaks and Soviets sign status-of-forces agreement in Prague; pact gives semblance of legality to occupation and calls for removal from Czechoslovak soil of bulk of Soviet bloc invasion forces by mid-December.
 * Czechoslovaks demonstrate in restrained manner on 50th anniversary of founding of Czechoslovak Republic; federalization law transforms Czechoslovakia into two nations—Czech and Slovak—with equal rights.


 * November
 * Anti-Soviet demonstrations mark 51st anniversary of Russian October Revolution.
 * Party plenum announces new middle-of-the-road policies.
 * Czech and Slovak students stage sit-in strikes to protest further compromise of liberal reform program and to support Dubcek leadership.


 * December
 * Czechoslovak and Soviet leaders hold summit conference in Kiyev; Soviets review Czechoslovak progress in fulfilling commitments and impose new demands on Czechoslovak regime.
 * Over one million work threaten nationwide demonstrations and strikes if any leading political figures—especially National Assembly President Smrkovsky—are ousted.

1969
 * January
 * Czechoslovakia is declared a Federal Republic.
 * Czech student Jan Palach protests occupation by setting himself on fire in Wenceslas Square; widespread demonstrations occur in Czech Lands; Prague police disrupt crowds with tear gas.


 * March
 * Victory of Czechoslovak ice hockey team over Soviets sparks popular riots in Prague; mob sacks Aeroflot office rendering position of Dubcek regime virtually untenable.


 * April
 * Leading Communists accused by Dubcek regime of collaborating with Soviets in 1968 are rehabilitated.
 * Central Committee plenum replaces Dubcek with Husak as First Secretary.
 * Dubcek replaces Petr Colotka as Chairman of Federal Assembly.


 * May
 * Central Committee plenum promulgates "Implementation Directive," spelling out Husak's basic policies of establishing tight party discipline and reconciliation with ex-liberals willing to accept party authority. Ota Sik and Frantisek Kriegel, two of Dubcek's closest supporters, are expelled from party.


 * August
 * Large-scale pro-Dubcek demonstrations in Prague on invasion anniversary are brutally dispersed by security forces; regime promulgates Emergency Law temporarily suspending and rule of law.


 * September
 * Party Presidium rescinds its August 1968 condemnation of Soviet invasion.
 * Central Committee plenum removes Dubcek from Presidium; Dubcek refuses to recant; leading Dubcek supporters ousted from Central Committee; Husak eschews punitive measures against liberals.


 * December
 * Dubcek named ambassador to Turkey.

1970
 * January
 * Central Committee plenum revises Presidium; Strougal named federal Premier; Dubcek "resigns" from Central Committee.
 * February
 * Central Committee implements party card exchange program.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110010-2