Komunisté nezvedají prst, nýbrž pěst
Communists do not raise a finger but a fist

Summary/Abstract: In the course of Czechoslovakia’s occupation in August 1968, State Security (StB), which acted as the political police of the communist regime, got largely out of control of its superior, the then Interior Minister Josef Pavel. The support granted by some StB officers to the occupiers largely contributed to the successful completion of the occupation. In addition, high StB officers had established contacts with their colleagues from the Soviet KGB long before August 1968, and they later acted according to schemes agreed on earlier, or according to direct commands from Soviet officers. Colonel Viliam Šalgovič, lieutenant colonel Josef Ripl and lieutenant colonel Bohumír Molnár pursued this treasonable activity most eagerly. The latter provided assistance to the occupiers even after Interior Minister Pavel had recalled both his colleagues from their posts. In the period from August 20 to 24, StB employees split into two camps, with one of them assisting Soviet occupiers and the other staying loyal to the legal Czechoslovak government. These loyal employees were exposed to persecution and threats. They were even detained, and released only after an insistent intervention by the interior minister. Meanwhile, those who were assisting the occupiers managed to put radio transmitters out of operation and to arrest and intern Czech National Council Chairman Čestmír Císař. They were permanently ready to serve the occupiers wherever their assistance was needed. The official government representatives soon learned about the effort of Viliam Šalgovič for a putsch at the Prague Directorate of the National Security Corps (SNB), and they took an action against it. Šalgovič was demoted from his position, the interned StB employees were released and the situation – apparently – returned to normal. However, occupation had been already brought to completion and the traitors had fulfilled their role.

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