WI: Czechoslovakia fights the invasion in 1968?

Sulemain

Banned
Like the title says, what if when the Warsaw Pact invades in 1968, the Czechoslovakian are prepared, or at the very least offer some sort of coordinated military response?
 
It is possible that some of the other Warsaw Pact members would refuse to support the Russian invasion. The Russians could count on only the DDR to support them.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
It is possible that some of the other Warsaw Pact members would refuse to support the Russian invasion. The Russians could count on only the DDR to support them.
Maybe (other than Romania, which was known for its relative independence from the USSR); however, the USSR should have no problem taking care of this by itself.
 
Brezhnev ordered Ulbricht not to send East German troops into Czechoslovakia because even Brezhnev thought that having German military on Czech soil was too soon.
 
The end result would be like OTL Hungary in 1956. A heroic but doomed fight, ultimtatly prolonging the struggle for a few days and thus giving more Czechs the chance to flee the country.
 
Czechoslovakia could not put much organized resistance to Warsaw Pact invasion.
Country was invaded by its allies basically from all directions - length of defended border would need to be longer then it was in 1938.
Most of the country defensive structures as well as combat ready troops and weapons were stationed in west Czechoslovakia.
There were few stand offs between Czechoslovak armored units surrounded in their garrisons where Czechoslovak and Soviet tanks were aiming at each other but it ended up after negotiations.
Air bases were taken over by Soviet paras, Czechoslovak government was captured and flown away.
Best what could happen was some fights in cities and by army in west and then retreat to Germany and Austria.
As bad as it was Soviet prepared and executed their operation well.
By 60-ties standards when army was sent against civilians I would say even civilian death among protesters was relatively low especially if we take into consideration that basically every each town saw protests.. A some of deaths actually occurred when civilian vehicles got into accident with military vehicles advancing across Czechoslovakia.

Funny thing is when Hungarian troops crossed into area of Czechoslovakia with Hungarian majority they expected to be welcome by their fellow Hungarians and were surprised with dismissal from Czechoslovak Hungarians who were expecting much from Prague Spring 1968.

As to East German troops indeed their participation was relatively low. As I understand basically symbolic.
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
The Czechs get rolled while the West can do nothing but watch and wail.
 
The Czechs get rolled while the West can do nothing but watch and wail.
Czechoslovaks. But you are right. From military point of view there was nothing to do. After all Soviets had all the information how their ally military is stationed while Czechoslovaks, at least one who didn't participated on so called "Invitation letter" didn't even suspect something is preparing. Czechoslovakia was more ready in September 1938 then in 1968.
 
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