CSSR–Occupiers 4:3 - An analysis of one March night
CSSR–Occupiers 4:3 - An analysis of one March night

Author(s): Jan Kalous
Subject(s): Post-War period (1950 - 1989), History of Communism, Sports Studies
Published by: Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů
Keywords: Czechoslovakia; CSSR; occupiers; Soviet Union; hokey game; 1969;
Summary/Abstract: In March 1969, events took place in the then Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) that spelled the definitive end of the reform Communist programme of spring 1968. They were provoked by two ice hockey games, respectively the failure to control the situation after the second of them. The demolished office of the Soviet airline Aeroflot on Prague’s Wenceslas Sq. in particular became an unwanted symbol of victory over the Soviets. Incidents at 69 places in the CSSR turned into a clear protest against the reality of occupation. They became one of the dividing lines between the human sacrifices of Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc and clashes on the first anniversary of the occupation in August. The happenings of the night of 28 and 29 March 1969 led to the removal of Alexander Dubček, who was unacceptable to the Soviets, and to the installation of Husák and of an uncompromising party and (according to Moscow) genuine normalisation leadership, which did not wish to and in principle could not allow a fresh escalation of conflict with the occupying power – the Soviet Union.

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