The Prague Spring, 1968

Front Cover
Jaromir Navratíl, Antonín Benčík
Central European University Press, 1998 M01 1 - 644 pages
This is the first ever documented account of a Cold War crisis as seen from both sides of the Iron Curtain. Based on unprecedented access to the previously closed archives of each member-state of the Warsaw Pact, this book offers a unique look at a deeply divisive intra-bloc crisis.
Presented in a highly readable form, the book offers top-level documents from Kremlin Politburo meetings, multi-lateral sessions of the Warsaw Pact leading up to the decision to invade, and even transcriptions of KGB-recorded phone conversations between Leonid Brezhnev and Alexander Dubcek. Once highly classified American documents from the National Security Council, CIA, and other relevant agencies acquired through the U.S. Freedom of Information Act have also been included.
In order to provide a historical and political context, the editors have included an introductory essay for each section of the volume. A chronology, glossary, and bibliography offer further background information for the reader. As members of the commission appointed by Václav Havel to investigate the events of 1967-1970, the editors have a unique Czech-Slovak perspective to offer to foreign audiences.
 

Contents

A SUN SUDDENLY RISEN A PRELUDE TO THE PRAGUE SPRING OF 1968
1
FROM JANUARY TO DRESDEN
27
REVISION REFORM REVOLUTION?
83
THE JUL Y CRISIS
183
AUGUSTTHE MONTH OF INTERVENTION
309
THE AFTERMATH
437
DOCUMENTARY EPILOGUE
571
MAIN ACTORS
577
SELECTED ORGANIZATIONS
581
BIBLIOGRAPHY
583
INDEX OF NAMES
591
photo gallery
597
back cover
605
Copyright

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About the author (1998)

Jaromír Navrátil holds a Ph.D. in military history from the Military Political Academy, Moscow, and a Doctorate of Law from Masaryk University, Brno.

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