Chapter 275
Chapter 275
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Prague Spring (2)
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Pyongyang and Washington remained silent in response to Czechoslovakia's plea for help.
Of course, that didn't mean there were no internal debates within the countries.
"Leaving the reds to trample on freedom? What kind of bullshit is this?"
In the United States, Republican hawks tore into the Democratic administration over the issue.
"You think we're just sitting this out because we don't want to get involved?"
Compared to the American debate, the one in Korea was relatively restrained.
"We acknowledge the Soviet Union's concerns that Czech reforms could shake the communist bloc, but we can't just let Prague be crushed."
"Why do you think that?"
"Czechoslovakia advocated for Korean-style reforms. If we allow a country that at least nominally championed Korean-style democracy to be trampled, won't it damage our prestige?"
Those advocating for Korean intervention argued for supporting Czechoslovakia out of concern for Korea's damaged prestige.
"That's not wrong."
"So then."
"Before that, let me ask one thing. What do we always say?"
"Substance over form."
"Think about it from that perspective. Is prestige more important than Daehan's national interests?"
The prestige of a great power sometimes held a position that transcended national interests.
Korea had often operated under such great power logic.
However, the national interests weighing on the opposite side of the prestige scale this time carried considerable heft.
The moment Lee Seong-jun emphasized that weight, the debate became a foregone conclusion.
Pyongyang's policy tilted toward non-intervention.
That said, Korea didn't completely wash its hands of the matter.
'We still have to save face as the leader of the Third World, right?'
The Korean embassy conveyed that they would grant political asylum if the Czech government desired it.
"We appreciate the Korean government's goodwill."
Dubček tasted deep despair at Korea's intention not to intervene.
There would be no support from external great powers.
So what should Czechoslovakia do?
Just because the Warsaw Pact mobilized 200,000 troops didn't mean Czechoslovakia was utterly powerless.
The Czechoslovak Army possessed 18 divisions and a 230,000-strong field army.
If they chose to fight the Warsaw Pact, they weren't without the capability.
Against the hardliners advocating resistance, the appeasers argued for non-resistance.
"Resisting the treaty forces will only increase harm to the people."
The debate didn't reach an easy conclusion.
Dubček watched the debate for a while before finally speaking with difficulty.
"Let's abandon resistance."
Dubček judged that confronting the treaty forces' invasion was pointless.
If they repelled the current 200,000, it was obvious more troops would be mobilized.
The Czech government did not issue orders to the Czechoslovak People's Army to resist the invaders.
However, they continued broadcasting the fact that Czechoslovakia was under 'enemy' invasion.
"The Soviets are attacking us?"
By the time Czech citizens learned of the Soviet invasion and poured into the streets, the Czech government had already been neutralized.
"Arrest them all."
In less than an hour, soldiers from the Soviet 7th Guards Airborne Division entered central Prague, seized the Communist Party Central Committee, and arrested Communist Party First Secretary Dubček.
With that, the treaty forces' primary objective was effectively achieved.
But arresting the Czech government officials didn't mean the Czech state had surrendered.
"You red imperialists! Get the hell out of our land!"
From the early dawn, thousands of citizens and university students surged out, hurling rotten eggs and trash at the Soviet paratroopers in fierce protest.
"What the hell is wrong with these guys?"
The Soviet soldiers couldn't comprehend the hostility from the Czechs.
They had only launched a 'special military operation' to suppress the 'counter-revolution' in Czechoslovakia, yet instead of a welcome, they were being attacked—it was baffling.
"Ungrateful sons of bitches."
The Soviet soldiers couldn't hold back their anger.
Rat-tat-tat.
The Soviet soldiers immediately fired warning shots.
Gunfire, shouts, screams.
Dawn in Prague turned into a battlefield in an instant.
Czech churches rang their bells in protest against such atrocities.
"That won't change anything."
The Soviet occupation forces believed the situation would soon calm down.
Even if one paratroop division couldn't crush Prague, the main force of 200,000 treaty troops arriving would easily subdue the city.
As day broke, the Soviet main force reached Prague.
Columns of Soviet tanks and armored vehicles filled the roads, pouring into the city relentlessly.
The Soviet calculations weren't wrong.
On the surface, the massive number of troops had an intimidating effect on the Czechs.
Now, no Czechs dared confront the Soviet forces head-on.
But the resistance didn't end there.
1. We have learned nothing from the reds.
2. We cannot answer anything the reds ask.
3. We have nothing because of the reds.
4. We have nothing to give to the reds.
5. We know nothing because of the reds.
6. We have nothing to sell to the reds.
7. We cannot do anything for the reds.
8. We do not understand the reds' policies.
9. We do not meet any 'expectations' of the reds.
10. We will never forget the reds' atrocities.
Czechs posted these so-called Ten Commandments of Resistance as posters in every neighborhood.
Of course, did the resistance end with posters?
Naturally not.
The mainstay of resistance was the secret radio stations.
Czech broadcasting staff secretly dismantled transmission equipment from stations to set up the 'Free Czechoslovak Radio' and began broadcasting.
"Look at what these reds are doing!"
They gleefully trashed the Soviets, then evaded pursuit by changing locations every 15 minutes.
"What the hell, these rat bastards?"
Free Czechoslovak Radio relentlessly publicized Soviet atrocities to the world.
"Here's the list of scumbags cooperating with the Soviets."
Citizens exposed the identities of those suspected of collaborating with the Soviets.
They smashed their cars and terrorized their homes with paint.
Road signs were swapped out at random intervals.
"Is this the road to Prague?"
"If you follow the signs, it probably is?"
Relying solely on road signs often led treaty forces astray.
"Huh? Why does this road lead here?"
"Keep going that way, and you'll reach Moscow."
The tricks didn't stop at road signs.
"Where'd the house numbers and addresses go? Does the guy we're supposed to grab really live here?"
By erasing addresses, Czechs threw the invaders into confusion.
This made it hard to arrest fugitive reformist officials.
"Let's stabilize the situation first."
The Soviet Communist Party forced a one-sided treaty on Dubček and the other Czech reformist officials dragged to Moscow.
The Czech delegation was coerced into signing agreements for reorganizing the government and party under the 'Moscow regime,' strengthening control over broadcasting and press, more active support for the Second World, and reinforcing communist theory in policy execution.
Even though the Czech government had effectively declared surrender, civilian resistance continued.
"Let's buy some meat."
"You're Soviet troops, right? We don't sell anything to you."
Soviet troops couldn't even glimpse bread, meat, or water in Czechoslovakia.
They had to bring everything from Poland, Hungary, and East Germany.
These subtle, nerve-grating Czech resistance tactics annoyed the Soviets immensely.
"Goddamn bastards."
The Soviet government trembled with rage at the Czech people's resistance.
Of course, not everyone engaged in such passive resistance.
Some Czechs manufactured Molotov cocktails and attacked Soviet tanks.
Soviet soldiers were killed or wounded in the process.
"Czechoslovakia—I'm so sick of it now."
The Soviets worried that Czech resistance would become chronic.
'If Czechoslovakia turns into a second Hungary, that'll be a headache.'
In the past, after the Soviets crushed the Nagy Imre regime by force, Hungary saw ongoing anti-Soviet movements.
If Czechoslovakia became a second Hungary because of this, it would inevitably strain Warsaw Pact unity.
The increasingly cold gaze from Western European leftists over the incident was also a burden.
"Those Eastern reds would do this. What kind of leftists are you? You're red fascists."
Casualties from sporadic protests couldn't be ignored.
After much deliberation, the Soviet Communist Party came up with this measure.
"For the time being, let's keep Dubček's name in place and just replace the one exercising real power."
If they left the leader supported by Czechs on the surface, wouldn't resistance lessen?
The Soviets attempted to resolve the situation with this calculation, but it wasn't easy.
"Dirty red imperialists, get out to Moscow!"
Czech youths committed self-immolation in the squares as a protest against the Soviet troops.
Such shocking suicides were inevitably followed by massive demonstrations.
"Another self-immolation?"
Then, more protests.
The treaty forces felt burdened by the rising civilian casualties.
"We'll withdraw now."
Hungary and Poland, which had deployed alongside them, began pulling out troops, citing domestic public backlash against the intervention.
But the Soviets couldn't do that.
Showing withdrawal here would be worse than not intervening at all.
Let's hold out to the end.
Until the Czechs submit.
The military's argument was straightforward.
"If we grit our teeth and hold on for about a year, they'll submit."
The Soviet Communist Party had no choice.
Moscow resolved to brace for a prolonged Czech crisis.