Europe 313
315 Czechoslovakia/365 Russia
MID#346
Dispute Number: 346
Date(s): May 9, 1968 to December 15, 1968
Participants: 265 German Democratic Republic, 290 Poland, 310 Hungary, 355 Bul-
garia, 365 Russia/315 Czechoslovakia
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Czech delegates at the World Communist meeting in Budapest threatened
the Soviet Union that if they continued to interfere in Czech internal affairs they
would walk out. This meant that Czechoslovakia was prepared to embrace renegade
status within the Communist community along with Albania, Yugoslavia, and Roma-
nia. The Soviet Union had been supporting the opposition party in Czechoslovakia,
led by a much more conservative, Soviet-aligned figure. This was a stark contrast to
the more liberal first secretary, Alexander Dubcek, who wanted to move the Czechs
toward increased liberalization. On May 10, 1968, Soviet troops were mobilized and
moved toward Czechoslovakia through Poland and East Germany. On May 20, the
Soviet Union demanded that the Czechs let Soviet and Polish troops inside their bor-
ders as part of the Warsaw Pact.
On June 4, the opposition party was outvoted in parliamentary elections. That same day
Soviet tanks arrived for military training in Czech territory. Warsaw troops were scheduled
to leave, but Soviet and Polish troops stalled on July 14. The Soviet Union, East Germany,
Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria held another Communist summit conference, the fourth
since the January 1 appointment of Dubcek. All five sent letters to Czechoslovakia stat-
ing their “fears about the fate of Czechoslovak socialism.” On July 25, Poland confirmed
that it was involved in major military preparations, and on July 26, Bulgaria pledged full
military support to Russia during the Czech crisis. On August 21, all five forces moved
into Czechoslovakia, and one day later they detained Dubcek and six of his colleagues.
Twenty-three civilians were killed in clashes. The Soviets continued their occupation of
Czechoslovakia, and on November 17, the Soviets forced the Czechs to reorganize their
regime and form a government more closely aligned with Soviet communism.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 23, 1968. End Date changed from
November 12, 1968.
316 Czech Republic/345 Yugoslavia
MID#4137
Started in February 1998. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/345
Yugoslavia dyad dispute list.
MID#4186
Started in February 2000. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/345
Yugoslavia dyad dispute list.