Communist Museum of Prague

                                                  #Communist_Museum_Prague  

Here i am inside the Communist Museum located in Prague (established in 2001) showing the hard life lived in Czechoslovakia behind the Iron Curtain with the failed Soviet Union ideology.  

Probably the most "powerful" symbolism of the Communist Rule was the building of the Berlin Wall (which a section of that barrier is here on display at the museum)
It was built in 1961 to separate East & West Berlin to prevent mass emigration of skilled workers plus professionals
It was a powerful sign of the division between the Communist East and the Democratic West during the Cold War

To understand the hardships one needs to learn the theories of Communism
It was basically a classless society with the government owing 100% of major properties, industries, running all economic activity and controlling mass media
It is done as a single party system that suppresses any opposition

This way of governing was widely influential during the 20th century but declined with the Soviet Union breakup in 1991
In todays world China. Cuba, Laos and North Korea are considered communist states but have incorporated more economic freedoms while maintaining a one-party rule
But it still rejects private ownership and free markets for its citizens plus still plays a dominant role in managing the economy and the education system

In 1948 the Czech Government attempted to join the US sponsored Marshall Plan to aid post war rebuilding.
It was to help in economic and political recovery of Western Europe after the World War to prevent the spread of Communism

But the Soviet Union stopped this by installing a government for the next 40 years

During the communist era, Czechoslovakia was a hub of espionage which was run by the State Security (StB) that would crush any dissent among its citizens towards the government
It worked in collaboration with the Soviet Union and its own KGB which had its own operations within the country

The women of Czechoslovakia resisted communism through various means including organizing underground communities, political opposition  and street protests
But because so, they faced significant repression which included psychological and physical threats like the risk of losing their children

But then in the 1960s with changes of leadership in Prague, this led to a series of softer rules within the communist circles 
Not because of a gentler stance, but of economic stagnation
With the loosening of reforms the citizens got a "taste" of  freedom and wanted more

This liberalization led to a violent suppression by the Warsaw Pact invasion in 1968 which rolled back to (again) a hard-line communist regime

The Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia involved troops from the Soviet Union and their satellite countries of Bulgaria, Hungary & Poland 
The invaded force of 500,000 soldiers had little resistance from the locals who blocked some roads, changed the street signs but this was a very small stop gap 
The International reaction was mixed with mostly verbally condemnation plus the United States was involved in the Vietnam War so was occupied with their own drama

The invasion resulted in the deaths of 137 Czechs and Slovaks plus hundreds of injuries but their will would not be broken

 

So after the invasion the Soviet Union justified its new policy and called it the Brezhnev Doctrine
 That was the right to intervene in any socialist country where Communist rule was seen as being threatened

Thus borders were sealed in 1969 with many Czechs & Slovaks that were abroad at the time of the invasion chose not to return

The Peoples Militias
It served as an instrument of power for the Communist Regime mostly guarding buildings and controlling riots
At its height it had 85,000 (boots on the ground) volunteers with membership reaching 120,000 people 
 Initially equipped with rifles and submachine guns it evolved into heavier weapons like anti-aircraft guns, mortars plus RPG-7s

The Velvet Revolution
Finally in 1989 with a series of peaceful demonstrations and strikes against the communist government it led to the collapse of the regime plus the resignation of the leadership

Vaclav Havel became President of Czechoslovakia in December 29th 1989
which finally ended 41 years of repression of one part rule

With the new freedoms came old suspicions as many felt that the promise of equality after communism was not delivered
Citing corruption and a sense that a new elite was created using connections from the old regime
Despite the disillusionment there was a hope for a democratic society where people could work together for the common good

The recovery starts from no more shortages, rationing of goods, repairing of machinery by any means

Czechoslovakia embarked on a rapid liberalization of its financial markets, a program of mass privatization and the establishment of a universal banking system
This period also saw the return of property to the previous owners plus the privatization of small units through auctions for everyone
But the newfound freedom allowed the long standing tensions between Czechs and Slovaks to resurface  
But doing it the proper way like two grown adults they negotiated a peaceful divorce and in January 1st 1993 both were independent countries

From those "dark times" of repression the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary joined NATO in 1999  (Slovakia became a member in 2004) to ensure its external security to transform its military to align with western countries who are also part of this exclusive group

In Closing
The power of sport during those times to give the citizens hope that anything is possible

Jiri Daler won a Gold Medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, set two world records in 1967 which showed his country to BELIEVE  
Other notables: Emil Zatopek in track, Bedrich Supcik gymnastics, Josef Masopust football & Dominik Hasek in hockey