Timeline Tuesday 20 August 1968

Events on Tuesday 20 August 1968 2

• 1968 Prague Spring reforms begin Alexander Dubcek launches liberalization of Czechoslovak communism Alexander Dubcek became First Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and initiated a program of political liberalization known as "socialism with a human face," easing censorship and travel restrictions. The reforms drew alarm from the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact states. The period ended abruptly with the August invasion.
• 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Soviet-led forces crush the Prague Spring Roughly 200,000 troops and 2,000 tanks from the Soviet Union and four other Warsaw Pact states invaded Czechoslovakia to halt Alexander Dubcek's reforms. Czechoslovak citizens engaged in widespread but nonviolent resistance. Dubcek was removed from power the following year and hardline rule was restored.