The Czechoslovakian people slowly resigns itself to its destiny

Source	« Vers l’Avenir », n°203, the 29th of August 1968, Pages 1 and 7.
Event referred to	20th of August 1968 : USSR invasion of Czech Republic
Technological characteristics	Type of file: Image Extension : pdf Characteristics Dimension of the file: < 2000 Ko Availability proposed: pdf document with zoom options
Description of the source	Kind of source: Newspaper article Origin of the source: Archives of the Library of Namur (Belgium) Language: French Copyright issues: reproduction and pedagogical exploitation authorized in the framework of the MHM project
Contextualisation of the source	« Vers l’Avenir » is a popular French-speaking newspaper in Belgium. Founded in 1918, this daily of the social catholic trend is edited in Namur. It belongs partly to the bishopric of Namur. This newspaper is read mostly by the middle class and the working class. In 1967, “Vers l’Avenir” was edited in almost 90.000 copies. (J. GOL, Le monde de la presse en Belgique, édition du Centre de Recherche et d’Information socio-politiques – CRISP- 1970)
Interpretation of the source	The main article takes 25% of the first page, which is divided in 4 parts, covering 4 different events. USSR Invasion of Czech Republic is placed in front, place where the eyes go easily. The reader gets important informations without looking at the page 7. We get also a picture of the most famous place in Prague, the “Place Wenceslas”, where the Czech people is assembled. The page 7 gets more articles talking about the situation in Prague, and gets also 2 pictures. These pictures could shock the reader, because we can see a sovietic engine covered by the nazi symbol. The writers are very interested by the Czech people, talking a lot about his life’s condition. The newspaper talks also about the local press, saying that a part of the ancient press could be edited freely, only with a little control of the authorities. So, this newspaper (social catholic) is more interested by the people life’s condition. This could probably be explained by the political orientation of the readers’ majority.
Original Contents	EXTRAIT: "Si quelque chose a créé un danger pour le socialisme en Tchécoslovaquie, a déclaré M. Hajek (ministre des affaires étrangères tchécoslovaques), c’est l’occupation. Une occupation qui a interrompu la vie économique et sociale en République socialiste tchécoslovaque et a mis les dirigeants dans l’impossibilité d’appliquer les décisions du peuple".
Original Contents (English Translation)	EXTRACT: "If something created a danger to socialism in Czechoslovakia, Mr. Hajek (Czechoslovakian Foreign Minister) declared, it is the occupation. An occupation which stopped the economic and social life in Czechoslovakian socialist Republic and put the leaders in impossibility of applying the decisions of the people".