Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968

The article introduces the publication of the recently declassified archival documents of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History (RGANI) and the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation concerning the stay of a delegation of Soviet military leaders in the Czechoslovak Socialist...

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Autores principales:	I. A. Permyakov, S. G. Antonenko
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN RU
Publicado:	MGIMO University Press 2020
Materias:	monument to marshal konev a delegation of soviet military leaders "prague spring", declassified archives International relations JZ2-6530
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/0316dea522184882b292811c3a4d0b98
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:0316dea522184882b292811c3a4d0b982021-11-23T14:50:42ZAttempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 19682071-81602541-909910.24833/2071-8160-2020-4-73-92-108https://doaj.org/article/0316dea522184882b292811c3a4d0b982020-09-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/1740https://doaj.org/toc/2071-8160https://doaj.org/toc/2541-9099The article introduces the publication of the recently declassified archival documents of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History (RGANI) and the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation concerning the stay of a delegation of Soviet military leaders in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic on May 8-14, 1968, led by Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev. In August 2018, at the initiative of the Prague 6 City Council, metal “information plates” were installed on the pedestal of the monument to Marshal Konev, where among other things it was stated that “In 1968, he personally backed the intelligence surveillance preceding the invasion of the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact into Czechoslovakia". This action was part of measures to prepare public opinion for the removal of the monument. The documents being published show there is not the slightest reason to consider the soviet delegation headed by Marshal Konev as intelligence surveillance operation to prepare for an invasion. The internal political crisis in Czechoslovakia in early May had not yet reached its peak (the famous manifesto "Two Thousand Words" will be published only on June 27). The Soviet leadership, headed by L. Brezhnev hoped that the "Czechoslovak comrades" would be able to cope with the situation, "would rebuff the anti-socialist forces." The delegation of the Soviet military leaders had a symbolic, cultural significance and was intended to revive the memory of the events of 1945, of the victims of the Red Army and the brotherhood in arms of Soviet and Czechoslovak soldiers. In the extremely unstable and confused atmosphere of the “Prague Spring”, the members of the delegation sought to clarify the true state of affairs and public sentiments in the country. As Marshals Konev and Moskalenko admitted themselves, they “had no opportunity to fully understand all the processes”. The so-called "intelligence surveillance", which is mentioned in the Czech press, was carried out by them in a completely open way of meeting and exchanging views with colleagues, speaking at rallies, and communicating with workers. Moscow preferred to act at the time by political methods, gradually shifting to military pressure (the “Shumava” military exercises). The time for tough demands came later (negotiations in Čierna nad Tisou, July 29 – August 1, and in Bratislava on August 3, 1968). The final decision on the intervention was made by the Soviet political leadership after numerous consultations with partners in the socialist camp, largely under the influence of the tough position of the first secretary of the PUWP Central Committee W. Gomulka and the first secretary of the SED Central Committee V. Ulbricht.I. A. PermyakovS. G. AntonenkoMGIMO University Pressarticlemonument to marshal koneva delegation of soviet military leaders"prague spring", declassified archivesInternational relationsJZ2-6530ENRUVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta, Vol 13, Iss 4, Pp 92-108 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN RU
topic	monument to marshal konev a delegation of soviet military leaders "prague spring", declassified archives International relations JZ2-6530
spellingShingle	monument to marshal konev a delegation of soviet military leaders "prague spring", declassified archives International relations JZ2-6530 I. A. Permyakov S. G. Antonenko Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968
description	The article introduces the publication of the recently declassified archival documents of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History (RGANI) and the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation concerning the stay of a delegation of Soviet military leaders in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic on May 8-14, 1968, led by Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev. In August 2018, at the initiative of the Prague 6 City Council, metal “information plates” were installed on the pedestal of the monument to Marshal Konev, where among other things it was stated that “In 1968, he personally backed the intelligence surveillance preceding the invasion of the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact into Czechoslovakia". This action was part of measures to prepare public opinion for the removal of the monument. The documents being published show there is not the slightest reason to consider the soviet delegation headed by Marshal Konev as intelligence surveillance operation to prepare for an invasion. The internal political crisis in Czechoslovakia in early May had not yet reached its peak (the famous manifesto "Two Thousand Words" will be published only on June 27). The Soviet leadership, headed by L. Brezhnev hoped that the "Czechoslovak comrades" would be able to cope with the situation, "would rebuff the anti-socialist forces." The delegation of the Soviet military leaders had a symbolic, cultural significance and was intended to revive the memory of the events of 1945, of the victims of the Red Army and the brotherhood in arms of Soviet and Czechoslovak soldiers. In the extremely unstable and confused atmosphere of the “Prague Spring”, the members of the delegation sought to clarify the true state of affairs and public sentiments in the country. As Marshals Konev and Moskalenko admitted themselves, they “had no opportunity to fully understand all the processes”. The so-called "intelligence surveillance", which is mentioned in the Czech press, was carried out by them in a completely open way of meeting and exchanging views with colleagues, speaking at rallies, and communicating with workers. Moscow preferred to act at the time by political methods, gradually shifting to military pressure (the “Shumava” military exercises). The time for tough demands came later (negotiations in Čierna nad Tisou, July 29 – August 1, and in Bratislava on August 3, 1968). The final decision on the intervention was made by the Soviet political leadership after numerous consultations with partners in the socialist camp, largely under the influence of the tough position of the first secretary of the PUWP Central Committee W. Gomulka and the first secretary of the SED Central Committee V. Ulbricht.
format	article
author	I. A. Permyakov S. G. Antonenko
author_facet	I. A. Permyakov S. G. Antonenko
author_sort	I. A. Permyakov
title	Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968
title_short	Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968
title_full	Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968
title_fullStr	Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968
title_full_unstemmed	Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968
title_sort	attempt to save friendship, or what the liberator of prague did in czechoslovakia in may 1968
publisher	MGIMO University Press
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/0316dea522184882b292811c3a4d0b98
work_keys_str_mv	AT iapermyakov attempttosavefriendshiporwhattheliberatorofpraguedidinczechoslovakiainmay1968 AT sgantonenko attempttosavefriendshiporwhattheliberatorofpraguedidinczechoslovakiainmay1968
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Attempt to save Friendship, or What the Liberator of Prague Did in Czechoslovakia in May 1968

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