MHM Forum

<ChristineBE> 20th of August 1968 : USSR invasion of Czech Republic. Do you observe a splitting amongst the national newspapers ? 
<Anonymous> cupello
<orzeuPL> In Poland we didn't observe a splitting
<majoranaorvieto2> there were however some newspaper that apparently gave an objective point of view
<marikafr> as for invasion of Czech Republic, the condemnation is unanimous whatever the political side but the exploitation of this event is different according to the political trend
<irenaPL> one voice!!!! 
<michalPL> We didn't have any splitting at the issue- one voice.
<majoranaorvieto2> in Poland there is a newspaper against the invasion
<majoranaorvieto2> and another neutral
<ilseGE> we don´ have different views in FRG- newspapers.
<marikafr> in the Soviet Block, Was Polish press free to condemn ?
<michalPL> People were rather engaged in a negative way towards the events in Czechoslovakia.
<NicolasBE> Was the polish press free ?
<michalPL> I mean the invasion in Czechoslovakia, off course
<irenaPL> The people were against the invasion but not the official press. 
<monaco> no, the polish press wasn't absolutely free
<orzeuPL> In our press we had mainly articles reprinted from Moscow newspaper "The Truth"
<michalPL> We reprinted the materials which castes the negative flash on the intervention.
<marikafr> How were the facts treated by the official press in POLAND ?
<majoranaorvieto2> yes because Poland justified the USSR invasion
<marikafr> how ?
<monaco> it was  agree to the invasion
<marikafr> why
<marikafr> what were their real reasons ,
<monaco> because it was URSS
<monaco> USSR
majoranaorvieto2> because USSR will help workers and communist party
<marikafr> In France even the communist party condemned it 
<irenaPL> The invasion was explained as a help towards friends communists.
<majoranaorvieto2> yes it is!!!
<cecoslovacchia>   
<michalPL> In official Polish press it was described as the help towards the friends- communists.
<ChristineBE> In Belgium, the left-newspapers such as “le Drapeau Rouge� seem to be caught in the crossfire : on one hand they condemn the Soviet intervention and sympathize with the Czech people, they also fear a reaction of the liberal governments; on the other hand, they don’t want to disappoint their communist electorate if they break away with Moscow. Thenceforth they only show a bashful opposition to the Russian intervention.
<ilseGE> The press and official meaning in German Democratic republic (Eastern Germany) did support the invasion of the soviet and other armies, but not in the western part of Germany.
<tommasoisuc> in Italy it represented the definitive emancipation from the Soviet Communist party
<tommasoisuc> in was a process already begun, but in that moment it definitely exploded
<NicolasBE> What was the reaction of far left political groups in the various countries ?
<NicolasBE> For Belgium, the official communist newspaper is ambiguous. 
<majoranaorvieto2> in the various country there were a sense of embarrassment  shared by a big part of left parties
<NicolasBE> Why? 
<monaco> as Poland was doing the far political groups in the other countries of Europe didn't agree the way in which USSR imposed its power
<tommasoisuc> in Italy, in that moment, we couldn't already talk about extreme left wing groups. it was the beginning of the student's movement in 1968 and the beginning of students and worker's protest
<marikafr> French communist press reports, condemns, but stress very quickly his interest in VIETNAM WAR in order to condemn the USA
<ilseGE> The "non parliament opposition" (APO) supports the Prague spring. The German communinist party only has a small influence. 
<michalPL> Polish people treated the Czechoslovakian event like the following insurrection- after Poznan, Budapest. Later The Polish- Radom, Ursus and Płock, then Gdansk.
<cecoslovacchia> we can pass to second question, please?
<majoranaorvieto2> Poland left forces justify the invasion of CSSR
<ChristineBE> We are at the third question!
<NicolasBE> The Communist newspaper reflects the vision of the Belgian communism which develpod within a democratic country.
<majoranaorvieto2> the Germany show the fear for a birth of a real war during the cold war
<michalPL> The Poluish left oriented side goes away from the justification of the intervention
<ilseGE> The Eastern German officials supported the USSR, but there were a lot of people who were against that invasion and round about 500 were set in prison.
<NicolasBE> Next question ?
<ChristineBE> Yes!
<majoranaorvieto2> in Belgium also communists newspaper condemn the invasion, but with moderation
<NicolasBE> Do the national newspaper focus on the situation in Czechoslovakia ?
<NicolasBE> Or do they stress more on the reactions caused by these events ?
<michalPL> You mean now or then?
<monaco> the national newspapers focused their attention on the reactions caused by this events because they wanted to criticize the whole Soviet Union operations
<majoranaorvieto2> most of national press talked about this event in a larger perspective including it in the cold war
<NicolasBE> Some Belgian newspaper focus more on the situation in Czech republic and on the sad destiny of the population, as many pictures shows
<majoranaorvieto2> but other newspaper like "la citè" (a Belgian journal) talks about all of the invasion the check sustained
<ilseGE> Before the invasion the newspapers on the right wing hoped that the communist regime will be destroyed with follows for German situation.
<irenaPL> Polish press used the propaganda language; we helped our "brothers" to maintain the only proper political system
<michalPL> The Polish press indicated the German threat for Czechoslovakia in case of lack of the Eastern Block's intervention.
<NicolasBE> Some other are more interested in the international reactions.
<orzeuPL> Polish press didn't present exact situation in Cz either didn't present reactions caused by the events. 
<NicolasBE>  They are afraid of an escalation of tension between USA and USSR in Cuba
<ilseGE> The liberal newspapers wanted the "socialism with the human face" as model in contrast to the Socialism in Eastern Germany. 
<majoranaorvieto> the polish press saw the invasion of Czech. as an aid of Russia to the Czech workers and communist party. To prevent them from falling under the control of the capitalistic block (and western Europe).the polish saw the as an effect of local antisocialist forces capable of destabilizing the country and following the check. Communist party to call for help from  other socialist countries.
<ilseGE> That means: after the invasion all were very disappointed and afraid about the fact that Russian tanks are at the German border.
<orzeuPL> Lack of free press in Poland caused that Poles had to listen independent radio station "Free Europe" 
<michalPL> The Polish citizens recognized the reactions of the West thanks to the so calling Radio Wolna Europa (Free Europe)from Munich
<monaco> the national press put this event on a wider perspective that is to say the relationship between USA and USSR
<NicolasBE>  Next question ?
ilseGE> German newspapers focus also of the situation in Berlin 1953, and Budapest and so on....
<NicolasBE> Do the national press put these events in a wider perspective (cold war and relationships between USA and USSR? Or do it focus on the events of 1968
<NicolasBE> Sorry, PUT these events...
<michalPL> The Polish press intimidated the wider perspective of The Prague's event as in March 1968 we had our Polish Protests from the side of Polish students.
<marikafr> iN FRANCE, all this was considered in a world perspective
<majoranaorvieto2> we have already answered...the most of national press focused attention in a wider perspective
<NicolasBE> In Belgium, the national press worry about the impact of this event n the world obviously refer to the cold war
<ilseGE> I described it above - they were afraid of a hot war in Germany.
<majoranaorvieto2> but some newspaper talked about only on this vent
<NicolasBE> The left newspaper fear a reaction from the liberal government which would be the same as the reaction of Moscow (in the case of Cuba)
<cecoslovacchia> French, English, German and Italian press didn’t compare the invasion of the Czech Republic of 1956 to that of 1938. the only exception was "la cité" that compared  the two inasions but without giving much importance.
<marikafr> In France, some newspaper fear the coming back of the cold war and Stalinia  rigor or harshness
<NicolasBE> How?
<Anonymous> German and Belgium press were concentrated on the Czech invitation. Instead french and italian press were interested  even in the political reactions in the own countries and in the Europe. the only newspapers that justified Russian invasion were the polish once.
<NicolasBE> Last question : do the newspaper compare these events with the invasion of Budapest in 1956 and with the annex of Sudetes en 1938? If so, how?
<marikafr> with the getting back of the military force - Such an event as Budapest  was seen as  something 
<marikafr> improbable.
<marikafr> there were no references about SUDETES , only about BUDAPEST.
<michalPL> No comments on The sudetes in this context in our press. Only according to Budapest.
<majoranaorvieto2> it's true
<majoranaorvieto2> yeah!!!!!
<marikafr> But Budapest was regarded as PAST
<ilseGE> Nothing about Sudetes but according Berlin and Budapest... 
<cecoslovacchia> bye bye................
<ChristineBE> We invite you to put your answers in the Forum
<majoranaorvieto2> bye bye
<ChristineBE> All questions are published in the MHM Forum
<ilseGE> It means that USSR won´t accept own ways of the countries in their influence sphere
<marikafr> SAME IN FRANCE
<ilseGE> I remember the night of invasion: I heard radio the whole night and I was very very sad and disappointed and furious..
<NicolasBE> in Belgium, Czech people are seen as "martyred people"
<marikafr> Was it really unexpected ?
<ilseGE> No but people had hope
<marikafr> Hence the disappointment of people from right or left wing
<michalPL> We have to finish by now. It was very nice to share opinions. Good bye.
<irenaPL> we have to finish, thank you for chat, bye,bye
<ilseGE> Bye Irena!!!
<AnnaPixel> Thank you to everyone - it was a very successful chat