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| 1954, Dec. 13 |
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| Viliam Siroky formed a new government. | 1 |
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| 1957, Nov. 17 |
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| Following the death of President Zapotocky on Nov. 13, Parliament elected Antonin Novotny to replace him. Novotny retained his post as first secretary of the Communist Party. | 2 |
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| 1958–68 |
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| For a decade, Czechoslovakia to a large extent disappeared from the international scene, being an obedient satellite of the Soviet Union and a key member of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), whose important industries contributed greatly to the economy of the communist bloc. Czech armaments production was used in many Soviet military-aid arrangements in various parts of the world. | 3 |
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| 1960, July 11 |
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| In a new, thoroughgoing communist constitution, Czechoslovakia was designated a “socialist republic,” in recognition of the progress it had made in the direction of communism. Nonetheless, forces of discontent were rapidly developing, and pressure rose for relaxation of the repressive system imposed by the Soviets. | 4 |
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| 1968, Jan. 25 |
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The first break in the Soviets' grip came when President Novotny was replaced as first secretary of the Communist Party by Alexander Dub ek, a young and attractive Slovak leader. | 5 |
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| March 22 |
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| President Novtony resigned at the behest of the National Assembly, the first important move along the road to democratization. | 6 |
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| April 6 |
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General Ludvik Svoboda was elected president, and Oldrich  ernik was appointed premier. The reorganization of the Communist Party was undertaken and a new party program published, pledging freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion. Slovakia was to be given a greater measure of autonomy. These changes evoked widespread enthusiasm throughout the country but were viewed with much concern and distrust by Moscow and some other communist capitals. | 7 |
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| June 27 |
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| Czechoslovak intellectuals criticized the Czechoslovak Communist Party's policies in an open letter entitled “Two Thousand Words.” | 8 |
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| July |
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| The Soviets increased the pressure on Dubek to check the liberalizing tendencies of his regime. Dubek declined invitations to attend conferences in Warsaw or Moscow (July 15), whereupon the Soviet government announced the mission of the entire Soviet Politburo to Prague (July 22). At the same time, Soviet forces were concentrated on the Czech frontiers, ostensibly for maneuvers (July 23–Aug. 10). The Soviet Politburo arrived at the border town of Cierna on July 29. | 9 |
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| Aug. 9–11 |
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Visits of President Tito of Yugoslavia and of President Ceau escu of Romania (Aug. 15–17) to Prague, in a demonstration of support for Dubek and his party and if possible to forestall Soviet intervention. | 10 |
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| Aug. 20–21 |
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| THE INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA by 200,000 Soviet and satellite troops (Romania abstained) to crush the “Prague Spring,” under the pretext of defending socialism. Popular protests and demonstrations threatened to lead to revolution, and the invading forces were soon raised to 650,000. Dubek disappeared for several days, evidently summoned to Soviet headquarters. On Aug. 23 President Svoboda was called to Moscow. | 11 |
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| Aug. 27 |
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| Dubek and Svoboda returned to Prague and announced the annulment of several important reforms. | 12 |
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