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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 21. 5th September 1973

[Introduction]

Photo of dancers holding a wreath

Late on the night of August 20, 1968. Warsow Pact countries led by the Soviet Union, dispatched large numbers of aircraft, tanks and ground troops to occupy Czechoslovakia. The invasion had no support from any leading body in the Czechoslovak Communist Party or Government and was opposed by the overwhelming majority of Czechs. One of their bitter jokes ran: "We have been deepening our friendship with the Soviet Union for 20 years. Now at last we have hit rock bottom." What has been miscalled "socialism with a human face" ended with the Dubcek group being kidnapped in handcuffs to Moscow where the Khrushchovites dictated to them their new policies.