CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Ideas have always been very powerful. On one level, the Cold War was really a battle of ideas- a war for 'hearts and minds'. The Soviet intervention during the Prague Spring of 1968 summed up what many Czechoslovakians, and indeed what many citizens living in the Eastern Bloc, had long suspected: that Soviet military might was the only thing keeping communism in place in the Eastern Europe satellite states. In this respect, the Communist government in Czechoslovakia ruled without the consent of a large section of the population.
The Czechoslovakian resistance had long been middle class in nature. It was led by students and intellectuals who were unhappy with the of political freedoms. These had been people who were inspired to speak out during the rule of Alexander Dubcek and his desire to introduce 'socialism with a human face.' This did not actually mean they agreed with Dubcek- he was a moderate communist after all. But they felt encouraged to be a part of national debate on the merits of communism in Czechoslovakia.
The Czechoslovakian resistance had long been middle class in nature. It was led by students and intellectuals who were unhappy with the of political freedoms. These had been people who were inspired to speak out during the rule of Alexander Dubcek and his desire to introduce 'socialism with a human face.' This did not actually mean they agreed with Dubcek- he was a moderate communist after all. But they felt encouraged to be a part of national debate on the merits of communism in Czechoslovakia.
The resistance from the intelligentsia was given a boost after the Helsinki Peace Accords, when the USSR pledged to observe human rights. An opposition group known as Charter 77 (one of the members was playwright Vaclav Havel who later become President) was formed which demanded that the Czechoslovakian government abide by the Helsinki Peace Accords and the UN Charter on Human Rights. By the mid-1980's, this group had gained over 1,000 signatures. Charter 77 was joined in their quest for justice and human rights by VONS. Both groups were oppressed by the government.
Another challenge to communist rule in Czechoslovakia was a rock group called Plastic People of the Universe, who were inspired by bands and artists such as the Beatles, the Velvet Underground and Frank Zappa. Their music was heavily censored but they still performed concerts, gaining great popularity with the youth. They were eventually arrested, put on trial and imprisoned.
Despite being the wealthiest of all the satellite states, by the 1980's Czechoslovakia faced severe economic problems. Like in so many Eastern Bloc countries, Gorbachev's reforms provided encouragement to many. President Gustav Husak and First Secretary Milos Jakes, both Stalinists, opposed reforms and disapproved of the implementation of Perestroika and Glasnost in the USSR. In fact, their strategy was to hold out and patiently wait for Gorbachev to be removed by Soviet hardliners.
However, the resistance in Czechoslovakia was more fragmented than in Poland. Solidarity had won support from all walks of Polish life, whereas until the late '80's, the resistance in Czechoslovakia was dominated by students and intellectuals. This began to change when the Archbishop of Prague criticised the regime and brought the Catholic Church in support of the opposition movement. The workers were still not on board though, as the government had always strived to look after them. There was also a divide between the followers of Dubcek, who wanted a different form of communism, and those who opposed it altogether. Dubcek himself appeared unable to relate to many young people, many of whom were not even alive at the time of the Prague Spring.
Ultimately, protester in Czechoslovakia were encouraged by the events occurring in Hungary, Poland and East Germany. The Hungarians were the first to break away from the USSR, dismantling the fence on the border with Austria. Many Hungarians, as well as other Eastern Bloc citizens, used this border as a way of escaping to the West. When East Germans were prevented from going to Hungary, they occupied the grounds of the West German Embassy in Prague instead. In late October, GDR leader Erich Honecker was removed from power, further motivating the Czechoslovakian opposition movement.
The 'Velvet Revolution' officially started on the 17th of November 1989 when police attacked protester marching for International Students Day. False rumours circulated that a protester had been killed. Havel began organizing protest groups, while different groups emerged in Slovakia. The final blow for the regime was the announcement of a national strike on the 27th of November- now the workers were on the side of the opposition. After crowds occupied Wenceslas Square in Prague demanding change, jangling keys and shouting 'your time is up'. Jakes and Husak both resigned by the 10th of December 1989 and power transferred to a new government under Havel. This marked the end of the 'Velvet Revolution', so-called because no one died during it.
Another challenge to communist rule in Czechoslovakia was a rock group called Plastic People of the Universe, who were inspired by bands and artists such as the Beatles, the Velvet Underground and Frank Zappa. Their music was heavily censored but they still performed concerts, gaining great popularity with the youth. They were eventually arrested, put on trial and imprisoned.
Despite being the wealthiest of all the satellite states, by the 1980's Czechoslovakia faced severe economic problems. Like in so many Eastern Bloc countries, Gorbachev's reforms provided encouragement to many. President Gustav Husak and First Secretary Milos Jakes, both Stalinists, opposed reforms and disapproved of the implementation of Perestroika and Glasnost in the USSR. In fact, their strategy was to hold out and patiently wait for Gorbachev to be removed by Soviet hardliners.
However, the resistance in Czechoslovakia was more fragmented than in Poland. Solidarity had won support from all walks of Polish life, whereas until the late '80's, the resistance in Czechoslovakia was dominated by students and intellectuals. This began to change when the Archbishop of Prague criticised the regime and brought the Catholic Church in support of the opposition movement. The workers were still not on board though, as the government had always strived to look after them. There was also a divide between the followers of Dubcek, who wanted a different form of communism, and those who opposed it altogether. Dubcek himself appeared unable to relate to many young people, many of whom were not even alive at the time of the Prague Spring.
Ultimately, protester in Czechoslovakia were encouraged by the events occurring in Hungary, Poland and East Germany. The Hungarians were the first to break away from the USSR, dismantling the fence on the border with Austria. Many Hungarians, as well as other Eastern Bloc citizens, used this border as a way of escaping to the West. When East Germans were prevented from going to Hungary, they occupied the grounds of the West German Embassy in Prague instead. In late October, GDR leader Erich Honecker was removed from power, further motivating the Czechoslovakian opposition movement.
The 'Velvet Revolution' officially started on the 17th of November 1989 when police attacked protester marching for International Students Day. False rumours circulated that a protester had been killed. Havel began organizing protest groups, while different groups emerged in Slovakia. The final blow for the regime was the announcement of a national strike on the 27th of November- now the workers were on the side of the opposition. After crowds occupied Wenceslas Square in Prague demanding change, jangling keys and shouting 'your time is up'. Jakes and Husak both resigned by the 10th of December 1989 and power transferred to a new government under Havel. This marked the end of the 'Velvet Revolution', so-called because no one died during it.
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