First Secretary
Becomes party leader and begins the Prague Spring.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1968 in Czech Republic
Explore 57 historical events and records for Czech Republic in 1968.
Historical records for Czech Republic in 1968
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 57 unique records.
57Unique records
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January
Prague Spring
Starts when Alexander Dubcek comes to power and runs until August 20 when the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies (except for Romania) invade the country
Warsaw Pact
Starts when Alexander Dubcek comes to power and runs until August 20 when the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies (except for Romania) invade the country
April
Action Programme
Launches reforms known as socialism with a human face.
Central Committee
Appointed Member of Central Committee
First Cernik Government
Begins the First Cernik Government in Prague and serves as Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.
Prague Spring
Dubcek launches an Action Programme of liberalisations which include increased freedom of the press, emphasis on consumer goods, and the possibility of a more democratic multi-party Government
May
Prague Spring
Announces the Fourteenth Party Congress will convene on September 9 and incorporate the Action Programme into the party statutes, draft a federalization law, and elect a new Central Committee
June
Member of Secretariat of the Communist Party
Appointed Member of Secretariat of the Communist Party
Prague Spring
Brezhnev and the leadership of the Warsaw Pact countries are concerned about Dubcek's reforms, which they fear weaken the position of the Communist Bloc during the Cold War
Prague Spring
Warsaw Pact military practice manoeuvres are held in Czechoslovakia in late June. Russia agrees with Czechoslovakia to withdraw their troops (still stationed in Czechoslovakia since the June maneuvers) and permit the September 9 Party Congress.
Prague Spring
Representatives from Russia, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia meet in Bratislava and sign the Bratislava Declaration
Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact military practice manoeuvres are held in Czechoslovakia in late June. Brezhnev and the leadership of the Warsaw Pact countries are concerned about Dubcek's reforms, which they fear weaken the position of the Communist Bloc during the Cold War
August
Bratislava Declaration
In the Bratislava Declaration Russia expresses its intention to intervene in a Warsaw Pact country if a bourgeois system-a pluralist system of several political parties is ever established
Bratislava Declaration
The Bratislava Declaration aaffirms unshakable fidelity to Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism and declares an implacable struggle against bourgeois ideology and all antisocialist forces.
Declaration of Bratislava
In the Bratislava Declaration Russia expresses its intention to intervene in a Warsaw Pact country if a bourgeois system-a pluralist system of several political parties is ever established
Declaration of Bratislava
Representatives from Russia, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia meet in Bratislava and sign the Bratislava Declaration.
Declaration of Bratislava
The Bratislava Declaration aaffirms unshakable fidelity to Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism and declares an implacable struggle against bourgeois ideology and all antisocialist forces.
Prague Spring
In the Bratislava Declaration Russia expresses its intention to intervene in a Warsaw Pact country if a bourgeois system-a pluralist system of several political parties is ever established
Warsaw Pact
In the Bratislava Declaration Russia expresses its intention to intervene in a Warsaw Pact country if a bourgeois system-a pluralist system of several political parties is ever established
Arrest of Alexander Dubcek
Dubcek, who had been arrested on the night of August 20, is taken to Moscow for negotiations, it was agreed that Dubcek would remain in office and that a program of moderate reform would continue
German Occupation
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
German Occupation
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.
German Occupation
Dubcek calls upon his people not to resist
German Occupation
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.
German Occupation
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.
Prague Spring
The Soviet Press prints an unsigned request, allegedly by Czechoslovak party and state leaders, for immediate assistance, including assistance with armed forces
Prague Spring
Dubcek calls upon his people not to resist
Prague Spring
Dubcek, who had been arrested on the night of August 20, is taken to Moscow for negotiations, it was agreed that Dubcek would remain in office and that a program of moderate reform would continue.
Prague Spring
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.
Prague Spring
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.
Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia
Appointed Prime Minister of Czech Rep
Reform of Government
Tries to introduce more contact with the west and socialism with a human face
Warsaw Pact
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
Warsaw Pact
Forms a Government after Warsaw Pact occupation
First Secretary
Appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czech
Warsaw Pact Invasion
Warsaw Pact armies invade Czechoslovakia.
Constitution of Czechoslovakia
Dubcek returns from the Kremlin announces the repeal of democratic reforms
German Occupation
The Russians increase their occupation force to 650,000. Dubcek returns from the Kremlin announces the repeal of democratic reforms
German Occupation
The Czech National Assembly declares the Soviet occupation illegal
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.