Alexander Dubcek20 August 1968
The Dubcek reforms go too far for Russia and Russia invades. Russian troops and vehicles cross the Czech border at 18 points without any resistance
Czech Republic · Government / Communist Party Government. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
The Dubcek reforms go too far for Russia and Russia invades. Russian troops and vehicles cross the Czech border at 18 points without any resistance
The Soviet Press prints an unsigned request, allegedly by Czechoslovak party and state leaders, for immediate assistance, including assistance with armed forces. The relaxation after the Prague Spring ends when 200,000 Soviet troops invade Czech.
Dubcek calls upon his people not to resist
Eastern Bloc armies from 5 Warsaw Pact countries invaded the CSSR, Russian tanks ranging in number from 5,000 to 7,000 fill the streets, followed by Warsaw Pact troops ranging from 200,000 to 600,000.
The occupation is followed by a wave of emigration, unseen before and stopped shortly after (estimate: 70,000 immediately, 300,000 in total), typically of highly qualified people.
The Russians increase their occupation force to 650,000. Dubcek returns from the Kremlin announces the repeal of democratic reforms
The Czech National Assembly declares the Soviet occupation illegal
Dubcek bans political clubs
At the 14th KSC Party Congress (conducted secretly, immediately following the intervention), it was emphasised that no member of the leadership had invited Russian intervention
Czech leaders visit Moscow and agree to dismantle reforms
Russia and Czech sign a Treaty on the withdrawal of Warsaw Pact forces from Czech
This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.