HIS242H1 Lecture : Lecture - 3:27:12.rtf
Document Summary
Reform communism and the prague spring (january-august 1968) This breaks the silence of stalin"s crimes. Stalin acted by imposing his concepts and expecting absolute obedience. Anyone who tried to criticize was removed and killed. Stalin"s methods went against the ideas of the revolution. This was a secret session, however the words of course got out. Kruschev made his viewpoint well known and open. Flew to belgrade and embraced tito as a comrade. This hit the satellite states like a bombshell. It was the source of their power. Hungarians wanted their own idea of communism. Had opposed show trial and execution of lazlo raich. Purges had decimated political leadership in hungary, so he was brought back in 53. But people wanted him back in 59. Many hungarians flee the country and go into exile. Kruschev"s speech was a great opening, however, it lead to a swift and brutal retaliation. It represented a potential new beginning for the czech republic.
