FIVE COUNTRIES INVADE CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 1

FIVE COUNTRIES INVADE CZECHOSLOVAKIA

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PRAGUE, August 21. At least five Czechoslovaks were reported to have died after Soviet, East German, Polish, Hungarian and Bulgarian tanks, troops and jet planes occupied Czechoslovakia today. The deaths came in sporadic clashes after the overnight invasion of the former Soviet satellite to smash its programme of liberal reforms, United Press International said.

In the city’s main square, a United States diplomat saw two Czechoslovak soldiers crushed by a Russian tank, the agency said. A woman was killed by Soviet m achine-gun fire. A West German radio correspondent said he saw two more Czechoslovak civilians shot to death by the invaders in the Wenceslas Square violence. The Czechoslovak Communist Party, led by the First Secretary (Mr Alexander Dubcek) denounced the invasion, but asked citizens not to fight and to offer only “passive resistance.”

However, crowds, waving nqWnial flags and shouting for the Russians to go home, swarmed round the invaders.

In a dramatic radio message President Ludvik Svoboda appealed for calm and told the people he could offer no explanation for the invasion, N.Z.P.A.-Reuter reported.

In an early report on the invasion, Prague Radio said at 6 a.m.: “At the most difficult hour of our life, we here at Prague Radio fully back our President, our legal Government and the central committee headed by Comrade Dubcek.

“This may be the last report you hear because most of the technical facilities are no longer in our hands. Therefore, we appeal to you who are hearing us to spread the word that has come from the Central Committee, which is constantly in session although the Central Committee building is already surrounded by foreign units.

“Comrade Dubcek. whom we fully trust, is sending the following message: ‘We are convinced that the best line is to return to your work this morning. This is an appeal and a request. Please, at this time it is the only possible solution’.” N.Z.P.A. . Reuter said Prague television was occupied at about 7.30 a.m. and the image was wiped off the screen.

More reports of shooting outside Prague Radio came from office workers reaching the centre of the city.

N.Z.P.A.-Reuter reported that crowds outside Prague Radio drove two ten-ton mobile eranes across the path of a Russian T 54 tank and two armoured troop-carriers.

For more than 15 minutes the Soviet armoured vehicles were penned in whilst the crowds booed and shouted “Fascists, cattle, Fascists.”

i The tank raised its cannon i and steamrollered into the | barricading vehicles blocking I the path. After several attempts to burst its way through the barricading vehicles, the three armoured vehicles broke through and swept down towards Wenceslas Square. Machine-gun Fire As they did so the infantry loosed off burst after burst of quick-fire machine-gun volleys, aimed at the upper floors of surrounding buildings.

Hundreds of Czechoslovaks

hurled themselves to the ground or dodged behind stone parapets as the gunfire rattled across the city sky. But the Russians seemed to be deliberately aiming over their heads—but only a few yards over the heads of the fleeing crowd. As the tanks and armoured vehicles roared at high speed down Wenceslas Square the crowd pursued them shouting again “Fascists . . . Fascists.” Large crowds of Czechoslovaks in the square told the Russian troops “Russki go home.” The Russians stared stolidly back, apparently under strict orders not to cause bloodshed. Czechoslovaks even climbed on top of the tanks to talk to the Russians and urge them to go away and leave the country alone. Trucks flaunting the Czechosolovak flag drove up

and down filled with people carrying banners saying: “We demand the withdrawal of allied troops.” Other placards read “Your life, too, is at stake.” 1939 Recalled The Associated Press reported that after broadcasting the National Anthem, the radio resumed its transmission and could be heard in the central part of Prague, according to the news agency, C.T.K., which said music was being broadcast. In a statement broadcast by the radio, Alois Polednak, member of the presidium of the Czechoslovak Parliament, said: “In the history of our country-. we remember only one similar day, that of March 15. 1939,” when Nazi troops invaded Czechoslovakia. C.T.K. published a growing number of statements of support for Mr Dubeck and the

“legal leadership” including one from the agency’s own party committee.

C.T.K. reported that "infantry of the Soviet Army is passing the C.T.K. building in armoured cars and with tanks.”

N.Z.P.A.-Reuter reported that Russian light aircraft were landing in parks near the centre of the city. At 8.10 a.m. a man ran into a hotel lobby and said: “The whole of Wenceslas Square is full of tanks.” From hundreds of yards away people could hear a storm> of whistling, booing and jeering. Appeal For Calm President Svoboda, making a personal appeal over Prague Radio for calm, told the Czechoslovak people that he could offer no explanation for the Soviet invasion. The President, in his message shortly after 8 a.m., said: “During the last few hours a complicated situation has arisen in our country. At the moment I am unable to say more to clarify it. “As President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic I address you with the full responsibility which I accepted when I took over my office and I ask you urgently to maintain reason and complete calm. “Aware of your civic responsibility and in the interests of our Republic, do not allow any unpremeditated actions to occur.

“Maintain the dignity and discipline which you have shown during the last few days and wait further measures by the constitutional authorities of the Republic.” Outside the radio building, a tram filled with passengers —some plainly terrified—was stuck in the road as a Soviet tank lunged forward time and again with the snout of its cannon smashing the tram's windows.

Food Rationed Food shops in Prague instituted makeshift rationing when they opened this morning. Housewives waiting in long queues were allowed only half a pound of butter and one pound of flour and sugar.

United Press International reported that the invading forces had entered every major city and border point in the country. According to U.P.1., the last words broadcast by Radio Prague before it was seized were “Dubcek, Dubcek, Dubcek . .

The C.T.K. news agency said invading forces had smashed into the radio building. Then the news agency announced that its own building was being invaded. The Associated Press reported that at 8.45 a.m. Prague Radio was still broadcasting President Svoboda’s speech. It was not known where he made it.

The Communist Party organ “Rude Pravo” and the Socialist Party newspaper “Svobodne Slovo,” published special editions which appeared and were distributed this morning. They contained the statement of the party presidium which, when broadcast over Radio Prague, gave Czechoslovaks the first word of the occupation. Press Support “Rude Pravo” said: “We are convinced the measures of the allied armies are a result of bad information of the other Socialist countries on our true internal situation.” It expressed full support for Mr Dubcek. The editor-in-chief of “Rude Pravo” is a Presidium member, Oldrich Svestka, who is

regarded as an orthodox Communist, although he recently rejected that label. United Press International reported that President Svoboda was in Prague’s hilltop Hradcany castle, which was surrounded by Russian armour, when he broadcast by telephone on a makeshift network.

C.T.K. said the presidium was in its headquarters, surrounded by the “occupation troops and cut off from the world.”

The Associated Press reported that firing broke out around the United States Embassy in Prague.

Observers in the Embassysaid it seemed to be sub-machine-gun fire, but no-one could see who was firing. Officials ordered the Embassy gates shut.

They had been kept open to receive Americans and other foreigners seeking refuge. N.Z.P.A. - Reuter reported that workers throughout Czechoslovakia were to stage a two-minute token strike at midday in support of their country’s reformist Government, according to Radio Plzen (Pilsen), monitored in Vienna.