The Prague Spring

The Prague Spring was a period in 1968 when Czechoslovakia briefly relaxed its communist control, allowing reforms like greater political freedoms, freedom of speech, and economic changes. Led by Alexander Dubček, it aimed to create "socialism with a human face," encouraging more openness and reform. However, the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries viewed these changes as a threat to their control. In August 1968, they invaded Czechoslovakia to halt the reform movement, ending the brief period of liberalization. The Prague Spring remains a symbol of resistance to oppressive regimes and the desire for more democratic freedoms.