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
