Changes

"[[Prague Spring]]" was a liberalization movement seeking to reform the Czechoslovak government on principles of freedom of speech and religion.  The "Prague Spring" was a triumph of the democratization movement, a spontaneous manifestation of the tremendous potential energy of the alliance of workers with intellectuals, a drive of the antibureaucratic and antitotalitarian opposition. It was a rapid sequence of events historically unprecedented in Eastern Europe. The local Communist Party could not contain the movement within the narrow institutional limits of Stalinism.  

"[[Prague Spring]]" was a liberalization movement seeking to reform the Czechoslovak government on principles of freedom of speech and religion.  The "Prague Spring" was a triumph of the democratization movement, a spontaneous manifestation of the tremendous potential energy of the alliance of workers with intellectuals, a drive of the antibureaucratic and antitotalitarian opposition. It was a rapid sequence of events historically unprecedented in Eastern Europe. The local Communist Party could not contain the movement within the narrow institutional limits of Stalinism.  

On August 21, 1968 the [[Soviet Union]] and its satellite Warsaw Pact allies invaded Czechoslovakia to crush Prague Spring, and execute its leaders.  

On August 21, 1968 the [[Soviet Union]] and its satellite [[Warsaw Pact]] allies invaded Czechoslovakia to crush Prague Spring, and execute its leaders.  

The invasion resembled the defeat of Protestant Bohemia at the battle of White Mountain in 1620, when the state was incorporated into the Habsburg Empire under terms dictated by the victorious Austrians.  

The invasion resembled the defeat of Protestant Bohemia at the battle of White Mountain in 1620, when the state was incorporated into the Habsburg Empire under terms dictated by the victorious Austrians.  

Moscow saw its empire teetering and desperately needed to control the unpredictable course of events in its satellite. East German and Polish Communist leaders warned that they would not be able to guarantee stability in their countries if order was not restored by force in Czechoslovakia. Like Benes in 1938 and 1948, the Czech leaders did not resist. The immediate impact was adverse for the Soviet Union's international position; it strengthened the resolve of NATO. For the Italian, French, and Spanish Communist parties, Soviet intervention signaled the end of proletarian internationalism and the inspiration for pluralistic socialism.  

Moscow saw its empire teetering and desperately needed to control the unpredictable course of events in its satellite. East German and Polish Communist leaders warned that they would not be able to guarantee stability in their countries if order was not restored by force in Czechoslovakia. Like Benes in 1938 and 1948, the Czech leaders did not resist. The immediate impact was adverse for the Soviet Union's international position; it strengthened the resolve of NATO. For the Italian, French, and Spanish Communist parties, Soviet intervention signaled the end of proletarian internationalism and the inspiration for pluralistic socialism.

===Velvet Revolution overthrows Communism in 1989===

===Velvet Revolution overthrows Communism in 1989===