EASTERN EUROPE IN THE 60’S

And the Prague Spring, or how Brezhnev killed the heart of Communism and then stabbed it for good measure

Khrushchev’s Thaw

Khrushchev’s speech denouncing Stalin gave hope to EE

The peaceful outcome of the Polish uprising in 1956 had a price to pay. The Catholic Church was allowed to remain Writers had some free voice, but opposition to

the Polish Communist Party was restricted

Summer 1964 Poland

Two Grad students at Warsaw University (Kuroń and Modzelewski) wrote a political and economic critique of the government. They were expelled.

They wrote an open letter to the Party and were arrested and charged with trying to overthrow the government

1967 the gov. announces a play written by Poland’s national poet in 1832 would be cancelled because it showed people struggling against oppression

Adam Michnik sent letters out about what happened to Western press (Radio Free Europe and newspapers) and was expelled

Students began a strike in solidarity (WORKERS DO NOT JOIN THEM)

The strike is violently crushed

Anti-Semitism

After Stalin’s death anti-Semitism was kept out of communist rhetoric, however it was not erased from people’s minds

1967 the Six Day War between Israel and Arab states renewed anti-Semitism in Poland, since USSR supported the Arabs

Gomulka stated: “I wish to announce that we shall not prevent Polish citizens

of Jewish nationality from returning to Israel if they wish to do so. Our position is that every Polish citizen should have one country: the People’s Poland…Let those who feel these words are addressed to them draw the proper conclusion. We do not want a Fifth Column in our country.”

Thus, Jews were again the scapegoat for Europe’s problems.

Jews were targeted for being behind the opposition to the Communist Government.

A flood of prejudice and violence swept Poland against their Jews

1968 parents and relatives of Jewish students were arrested or expelled and fired from their jobs

The government was able to divide the country, the student protestors from the working classes and crush their rebellion

Czechoslovakia

1960’s Czechs were caught in between national Stalinism and reform Communism

1950’s had show trials (much later than other countries)

Victims of these trials were released in the 60’s and many received membership back into the Party

Czech leader, Novotny waited after Khrushchev’s speech to see how Czechs would react to it before implementing de-Stalinization

Czechoslovakia

Czechs had achieved full Socialism at an economic price that was bad even by Soviet standards

The rehabilitated people, the de-Stalinization and prospect of mild economic reforms opened Pandora’s Box

Teachers, workers, writers, filmmakers began openly criticizing the government

The desire to speak, discuss the past, was taking center stage and the government could not shut them up…and Brezhnev was listening…(visions of Hungary 1956…)