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NARRATOR:
Prague, 1964.
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00:00:06,705 --> 00:00:09,185
Nikita Khrushchev visits
Antonio Novotny,
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00:00:09,241 --> 00:00:12,688
the loyal communist ruler
of Czechoslovakia.
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00:00:17,116 --> 00:00:19,153
Khrushchev boasted that
the Soviet system
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00:00:19,218 --> 00:00:21,129
was dynamic
and healthy.
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[speaking Russian ]
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Communists were brothers,
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00:00:24,757 --> 00:00:26,395
members of
the same family,
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00:00:26,458 --> 00:00:30,668
sharing resources,
sharing a joke.
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00:00:30,729 --> 00:00:33,642
[ laughter ]
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But only four years later,
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the Soviet Union
returned to Prague
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00:00:41,073 --> 00:00:43,280
with tanks.
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♫
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NARRATION:
Khrushchev brimmed with confidence.
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He hated formality --
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he acted on impulse --
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he loved a fight.
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He wanted to make
the Soviet Union happy
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as well as glorious.
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[ Man speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER: He believed that
socialism had to be liberated
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from the debris
of Stalin's rule
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and from bureaucracy.
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It should be made
more democratic.
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00:02:02,288 --> 00:02:03,733
The gates should be opened,
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00:02:03,789 --> 00:02:05,996
but gradually
step by step.
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Because for him,
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00:02:06,959 --> 00:02:10,873
socialism was
like paradise on earth.
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NARRATION:
To show his confidence,
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Khrushchev allowed
ah American exhibition
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into Moscow
in 1959.
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For the first time,
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00:02:21,373 --> 00:02:24,149
Russians could touch and taste
American achievement.
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NARRATOR: Some of the women complained
sometimes it smelt like benzine,
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00:02:37,957 --> 00:02:41,495
and men wanted to know
if it would make them drunk.
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00:02:43,395 --> 00:02:45,602
NARRATION: But Khrushchev
knew that the Soviet Union
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00:02:45,664 --> 00:02:49,009
was beating America
in the space race.
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For Khrushchev,
here was evidence
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that communism meant
not just power
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but technical progress.
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The first generation
of Soviet cosmonauts --
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Gagarin, Titov,
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and the first woman
in space,
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Valentina Tereshkova,
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became instant
national heroes.
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They personified Khrushchev's
vision --
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a modernized,
vigorous Soviet Union
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which would lead the world
into the future.
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The Soviet Union's natural
resources seemed limitless.
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Khrushchev believed that
the Soviet people would work
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even harder if they were freed
from fear and poverty.
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[speaking Russian ]
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NARRATION:
But the cold War's pressure to rearm
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kept the old priority
for heavy industry alive,
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especially in
the expanding defense sector.
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[Woman speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER: They would shout,
"Come on, come on, speed up!"
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But sometimes we used
to get irritated
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00:04:35,841 --> 00:04:38,219
because we knew
even without their orders
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00:04:38,277 --> 00:04:42,020
that we had to
hurry up.
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We knew that there
was a threat
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that bombs and missiles
could reach us --
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so we had
to defend ourselves.
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There was no feeling
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that we were on
equal terms with the West,
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or that we could come
to any agreement.
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NARRATION: The Cold War also kept
huge armed forces in the field.
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Khrushchev tried
to out them back,
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but the generals resisted.
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[ Man speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER:
it was very prestigious to join the military.
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First, because you earned
a higher wage.
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00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,060
When I graduated
I was paid 240 roubles,
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00:05:25,124 --> 00:05:29,869
and an engineer
only got 120 roubles.
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00:05:29,928 --> 00:05:33,000
Also, I received
five uniforms
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and that mattered.
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And in the military
you got an apartment.
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NARRATION:
Cities like Sverdlovsk,
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00:05:43,408 --> 00:05:45,581
900 miles east
of Moscow,
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were dominated by
giant armament plants.
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00:05:49,882 --> 00:05:52,226
Production was a matter
of fulfilling --
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00:05:52,284 --> 00:05:53,820
or outstripping --
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targets set by
the planners in Moscow.
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00:05:57,022 --> 00:05:59,901
Patriotic propaganda kept
the workers straining
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00:05:59,958 --> 00:06:03,929
to produce
more and faster.
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[speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER: We believed that it
was our duty to the motherland
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and we worked
very hard.
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A lot of young people
worked at our factory.
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About 3,000 young communists --
Komsomol members.
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We had our own committee
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and we created
youth brigades
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which competed
against each other.
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The best brigades were
awarded pennants and trophies.
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NARRATION:
Khrushchev and the Party still relied
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on propaganda and patriotism
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to keep the economy going.
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[speaking Russian ]
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[speaking Russian ]
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People forgave us a lot
because of the Cold War.
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00:07:18,770 --> 00:07:20,681
The West didn't
only harm us,
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it also helped us.
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Because by frightening us,
it played into our hands.
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We could say to the people,
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"Tighten up your belts,
be patient,
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we have to wait
for a better life
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and be prepared
for the worst."
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And we used that.
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[speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER:
We had such a huge country,
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with vast resources,
all the people worked.
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So why were we dressed
so badly
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in whatever we could
lay our hands on,
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and ate whatever there was,
and not what we wanted?
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The explanation was simple --
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Uncle Sam
and the imperialists are
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00:08:03,649 --> 00:08:06,061
making an atomic bomb,
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00:08:06,118 --> 00:08:10,828
so we had to make two
in order to frighten them.
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If they made two bombs,
we had to produce four.
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♫ [orchestra plays] ♫
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NARRATION: Government films celebrated
the onward march to communism.
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But most people
in the Soviet Union still lived
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in hardship and overcrowding.
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[speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER:
They were mainly communal flats.
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In one flat there were
2 or 3, sometimes 4 rooms,
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00:09:07,346 --> 00:09:11,192
and in each room
lived a whole family.
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Can you imagine
a whole family in one room?
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There was
only one kitchen
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and only one of all
other conveniences.
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It was an awful life.
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NARRATION:
Khrushchev was impatient to see
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00:09:27,599 --> 00:09:30,375
Soviet people living
as well as Americans --
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or even better.
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He tried to shift
the planned economy
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towards light industry
and consumer needs.
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But the Soviet Establishment,
set in its ways,
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resisted change.
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[speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER: He understood
that politics is about people.
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The basis of his policy was
to improve people's lives.
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He knew he had
to deal differently
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with the outside world,
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00:10:00,966 --> 00:10:03,572
that change was needed.
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00:10:03,635 --> 00:10:06,514
He understood it as a man
with a lot of common sense,
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00:10:06,571 --> 00:10:10,417
peasan's common sense.
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He had very strong
instinctive gut feelings
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and he followed them.
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But professional politicians
and diplomats at the time
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were horrified.
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They said, "What is he doing?"
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NARRATION:
To solve the housing shortage,
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00:10:30,962 --> 00:10:33,966
prefabrication seemed
the answer.
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00:10:34,032 --> 00:10:36,603
In the 1960s,
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apartment blocks shot up
around every Soviet city.
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For millions of Russians
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00:10:55,287 --> 00:10:58,166
it was an opportunity
for a new life.
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[speaking Russian ]
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00:11:07,632 --> 00:11:09,111
Of course we were happy.
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We had waited every day
for this apartment
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00:11:11,336 --> 00:11:13,282
like a cake
out of the oven.
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We were fed up with lodging
with three other families.
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When we moved here,
we thought it was paradise.
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We've lived here ever since
and it's fine.
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NARRATION:
Living conditions improved,
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00:11:27,953 --> 00:11:31,526
but there was still a shortage
of goods in the shops.
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[ Nedoboyeva speaking Russian ]
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INTERPRETER:
We were quiet hard up.
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I can't say we were rolling
like cheese in butter.
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We had to queue
for a loaf of bread.
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Such products as cereal,
pasta, and bread --
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they were all rationed.
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00:11:56,848 --> 00:12:00,193
NARRATION:
To solve the food shortage,
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00:12:00,252 --> 00:12:04,359
Khrushchev rushed through
agricultural reforms.
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00:12:04,422 --> 00:12:07,335
He launched
the Virgin Lands campaign,
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00:12:07,392 --> 00:12:10,771
which ploughed up the natural
grasslands of central Asia
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00:12:10,829 --> 00:12:14,106
and planted them
with wheat.
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00:12:14,165 --> 00:12:17,078
Khrushchev boasted
that he would overtake America
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00:12:17,135 --> 00:12:19,342
in meat, milk, and grain.
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00:12:23,241 --> 00:12:25,687
Volunteers poured out
to the Virgin Lands
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00:12:25,744 --> 00:12:27,883
with the old
communist zeal.
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00:12:27,946 --> 00:12:31,291
[woman speaking Russian ]
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00:12:31,349 --> 00:12:36,628
INTERPRETER: The Virgin Lands
and Khrushchev are inseparable.
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00:12:36,688 --> 00:12:39,726
He was such a vivacious,
enthusiastic person.
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00:12:39,791 --> 00:12:41,862
He woke up
the whole country.
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He inspired people.
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It was exciting
and romantic.
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00:12:47,132 --> 00:12:48,941
Though that sounds naive now,
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00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,244
it was
a wonderful time.
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00:12:53,305 --> 00:12:55,307
NARRATION:
But there were not enough fertilizers,
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00:12:55,373 --> 00:12:58,911
rail road cars,
or grain silos.
193
00:12:58,977 --> 00:13:02,049
Much of the harvest
was wasted.
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00:13:02,113 --> 00:13:04,491
[speaking Russian ]
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00:13:04,549 --> 00:13:07,462
INTERPRETER: It was hard
to get meat in our town
196
00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:11,296
so we had
to go to Moscow.
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00:13:11,356 --> 00:13:14,064
We took huge rucksacks
and we went on a bus,
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00:13:14,125 --> 00:13:17,129
120 kilometers to Moscow.
199
00:13:17,195 --> 00:13:20,267
We went to Gum,
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00:13:20,332 --> 00:13:22,903
the central department store
on Red Square
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00:13:22,968 --> 00:13:26,211
and spent
a whole day shopping.
202
00:13:26,271 --> 00:13:28,615
We bought sausages,
cookies --
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00:13:28,673 --> 00:13:30,710
all the delicacies.
204
00:13:30,775 --> 00:13:32,049
We held our rucksacks open
205
00:13:32,110 --> 00:13:33,987
while our mothers
did the shopping.
206
00:13:34,045 --> 00:13:36,150
Then we went back
on the bus.
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00:13:36,214 --> 00:13:39,923
It was a real celebration.
208
00:13:39,985 --> 00:13:42,727
Moscow got the bulk
of the supplies.
209
00:13:42,787 --> 00:13:46,234
The provinces were
sausageless and meatless.
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00:13:50,462 --> 00:13:53,534
NARRATION:
Moscow, the showcase capital city,
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00:13:53,598 --> 00:13:56,545
was allowed
special supplies.
212
00:14:02,641 --> 00:14:05,622
[ Merzlikina speaking Russian ]
213
00:14:05,677 --> 00:14:10,387
INTERPRETER:
We had no advertising.
214
00:14:10,448 --> 00:14:14,658
We just looked at
what the others were wearing.
215
00:14:14,719 --> 00:14:17,131
We tried to keep
in step with fashion.
216
00:14:21,226 --> 00:14:24,070
We normally bought only
inexpensive clothes and shoes,
217
00:14:24,129 --> 00:14:26,769
but we tried to get
something modern.
218
00:14:26,831 --> 00:14:29,903
We wanted to look good,
219
00:14:29,968 --> 00:14:32,949
not to look old-fashioned.
220
00:14:44,115 --> 00:14:46,095
NARRATION:
People wanted more out of life,
221
00:14:46,151 --> 00:14:50,293
and found ways
to get it.
222
00:14:50,355 --> 00:14:52,335
Russians who worked
in the defense industry
223
00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:55,030
got special privileges.
224
00:14:55,093 --> 00:14:58,506
Soviet home movies recorded
changing behavior --
225
00:14:58,563 --> 00:15:00,702
the company picnic.
226
00:15:18,316 --> 00:15:20,592
[speaking Russian ]
227
00:15:20,652 --> 00:15:22,632
We used to go
in very large groups,
228
00:15:22,687 --> 00:15:26,260
about 40 people.
229
00:15:26,324 --> 00:15:27,667
We used to buy food,
230
00:15:27,726 --> 00:15:31,697
and cook in large pots
on open fires.
231
00:15:31,763 --> 00:15:33,538
We slept in tents.
232
00:15:33,598 --> 00:15:37,603
That's how we spent
our time.
233
00:15:37,669 --> 00:15:40,172
NARRATION:
Resorts were run by the Party
234
00:15:40,238 --> 00:15:42,149
and the trade unions.
235
00:15:45,443 --> 00:15:49,118
Millions of families
took a free vacation.
236
00:15:54,152 --> 00:15:55,859
Official films
showed the world
237
00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,925
a new image of modern
Soviet man and woman.
238
00:16:01,526 --> 00:16:04,700
Western lifestyles
were alluring.
239
00:16:06,998 --> 00:16:09,342
[ Moskalenko speaking Russian ]
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00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,906
INTERPRETER:
Fashion did penetrate our country.
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00:16:13,972 --> 00:16:15,747
In the late '50s
and the beginning of the '60s,
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00:16:15,807 --> 00:16:17,081
when we got trousers,
243
00:16:17,142 --> 00:16:20,646
we changed them to make them
very narrow and flute-like.
244
00:16:20,712 --> 00:16:22,385
You could only get them
on and off
245
00:16:22,447 --> 00:16:26,486
by using soap
on your legs.
246
00:16:26,551 --> 00:16:29,930
We were punished severely
for wearing them.
247
00:16:29,988 --> 00:16:32,434
[ Projector running ]
248
00:16:36,361 --> 00:16:38,204
[ Man speaking Russian ]
249
00:16:38,263 --> 00:16:40,072
INTERPRETER:
I think that the "war of the trousers"
250
00:16:40,131 --> 00:16:43,601
was of great importance.
251
00:16:43,668 --> 00:16:46,410
People suddenly started
allowing themselves something
252
00:16:46,471 --> 00:16:48,815
they could not have
during all of those decades
253
00:16:48,873 --> 00:16:52,150
of Soviet Power.
254
00:16:52,210 --> 00:16:55,316
The young people who did this
were rounded up.
255
00:16:58,283 --> 00:16:59,626
[speaking Russian ]
256
00:16:59,684 --> 00:17:02,688
There were special patrol guards
with red bands on their arms.
257
00:17:02,754 --> 00:17:04,756
And if they saw that someone was
dressed English style,
258
00:17:04,823 --> 00:17:06,598
not Soviet style,
259
00:17:06,658 --> 00:17:08,296
he was pulled
out of the crowd
260
00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,361
and taken to the militia
station
261
00:17:10,428 --> 00:17:13,238
where they out the trousers,
then out their hair,
262
00:17:13,298 --> 00:17:16,677
and then let them off home.
263
00:17:16,734 --> 00:17:20,910
That's how they fought against
Western fashion.
264
00:17:20,972 --> 00:17:23,578
NARRATION:
But the new sounds, the new dances,
265
00:17:23,641 --> 00:17:25,780
still found their way in --
266
00:17:25,844 --> 00:17:30,520
the twist with a glance
over the shoulder.
267
00:17:30,582 --> 00:17:32,892
New portable radios could
sometimes pick up
268
00:17:32,951 --> 00:17:36,160
forbidden programs
from abroad.
269
00:17:40,625 --> 00:17:43,265
[speaking Russian ]
270
00:17:43,328 --> 00:17:45,365
Society was trying
to crawl out
271
00:17:45,430 --> 00:17:49,003
from under the stones
of totalitarianism.
272
00:17:53,338 --> 00:17:55,579
You couldn't get
any discs here,
273
00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,814
and to record them off air
was almost impossible
274
00:17:58,877 --> 00:18:01,915
because the radio
was jammed.
275
00:18:05,083 --> 00:18:08,292
But, I don't know how,
276
00:18:08,353 --> 00:18:11,266
some were smuggled in.
277
00:18:11,322 --> 00:18:13,165
Copies were made
on X-ray plates
278
00:18:13,224 --> 00:18:16,671
and sold illegally.
279
00:18:16,728 --> 00:18:18,901
It was music
on X-rays.
280
00:18:18,963 --> 00:18:24,504
You played it on the bones
of your relatives.
281
00:18:24,569 --> 00:18:27,106
[speaking Russian ]
282
00:18:27,171 --> 00:18:31,119
INTERPRETER: We used to go from
one end of town to the other,
283
00:18:31,175 --> 00:18:34,247
paid crazy money
for them.
284
00:18:34,312 --> 00:18:36,622
Each record cost
one rouble.
285
00:18:36,681 --> 00:18:41,323
That was a lot of money
at the time.
286
00:18:41,386 --> 00:18:44,526
So I skipped lunch at school
for a week,
287
00:18:44,589 --> 00:18:46,364
for two weeks.
288
00:18:46,424 --> 00:18:49,530
Several of us would
save up the money together
289
00:18:49,594 --> 00:18:53,167
and go and get a record,
get back,
290
00:18:53,231 --> 00:18:56,075
put the record on
and listen to Rock and Roll --
291
00:18:56,134 --> 00:19:00,173
to Elvis Presley.
292
00:19:00,238 --> 00:19:03,014
That was really something.
293
00:19:04,842 --> 00:19:06,822
NARRATION:
But most ordinary Russians received
294
00:19:06,878 --> 00:19:08,824
only what the state approved.
295
00:19:17,588 --> 00:19:20,091
[speaking Russian ]
296
00:19:20,158 --> 00:19:21,569
INTERPRETER:
We made sure our people were getting
297
00:19:21,626 --> 00:19:25,073
only what we believed
they needed,
298
00:19:25,129 --> 00:19:27,507
and what we thought
was beneficial
299
00:19:27,565 --> 00:19:29,704
and necessary for our State,
300
00:19:29,767 --> 00:19:31,542
our system,
301
00:19:31,602 --> 00:19:33,980
and the policy
of our Party,
302
00:19:34,038 --> 00:19:38,680
which played the leading role
in our society.
303
00:19:38,743 --> 00:19:41,485
[speaking Russian ]
304
00:19:41,546 --> 00:19:46,325
They interfered
in all spheres of our life.
305
00:19:46,384 --> 00:19:49,661
If a man behaved badly
in the family,
306
00:19:49,721 --> 00:19:52,725
if he was drinking
or had another woman,
307
00:19:52,790 --> 00:19:54,792
then his wife would
tell the Party
308
00:19:54,859 --> 00:19:59,831
or Komsomol organization,
309
00:19:59,897 --> 00:20:03,743
and he would be called
before a party meeting.
310
00:20:06,137 --> 00:20:07,616
NARRATION:
The young were trying to make up
311
00:20:07,672 --> 00:20:11,415
their own rules.
312
00:20:11,476 --> 00:20:13,683
The old Russian family
was losing control
313
00:20:13,745 --> 00:20:16,021
of its children.
314
00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,458
In vain, the communist
youth movement tried
315
00:20:18,516 --> 00:20:22,191
to preserve
traditional morals.
316
00:20:22,253 --> 00:20:24,995
[speaking Russian ]
317
00:20:25,056 --> 00:20:27,058
To have sex before marriage,
318
00:20:27,125 --> 00:20:29,901
for us was
very bad manners.
319
00:20:33,564 --> 00:20:37,273
The first night was
normally after the wedding.
320
00:20:40,972 --> 00:20:43,578
Of course, there were
some young people
321
00:20:43,641 --> 00:20:46,178
who did not stick
to this.
322
00:20:47,912 --> 00:20:50,950
They behaved freely...
323
00:20:54,018 --> 00:20:57,227
but they were called
before the Komsomol committee,
324
00:20:57,288 --> 00:21:01,464
where they had
to explain themselves.
325
00:21:01,526 --> 00:21:05,099
We tried to deal
with their emotional conflicts
326
00:21:05,163 --> 00:21:07,074
and give them direction.
327
00:21:07,131 --> 00:21:08,974
♫
328
00:21:25,483 --> 00:21:28,123
[speaking Russian ]
329
00:21:28,186 --> 00:21:31,099
NARRATION:
Writers and artists grew bolder,
330
00:21:31,155 --> 00:21:33,829
challenging
the censors.
331
00:21:33,891 --> 00:21:36,497
The young crowded to hear
new voices,
332
00:21:36,561 --> 00:21:40,509
speaking from
the heart.
333
00:21:40,565 --> 00:21:44,172
MAN:
I'd become popular nationally,
334
00:21:44,235 --> 00:21:48,684
not as a political poet,
as a poet of love
335
00:21:48,739 --> 00:21:52,687
because for many, many
years of Cold War
336
00:21:52,743 --> 00:21:56,987
after 1945,
337
00:21:57,048 --> 00:22:00,962
some poets even didn't use
in the poetry about love,
338
00:22:01,018 --> 00:22:03,020
the word
339
00:22:03,087 --> 00:22:07,433
They were using "we,"
"we love."
340
00:22:07,492 --> 00:22:11,804
"I love you as I love
my country," for instance.
341
00:22:11,863 --> 00:22:16,539
That was typical, you know,
hypocritical quotation
342
00:22:16,601 --> 00:22:19,775
from poetry of that time.
343
00:22:19,837 --> 00:22:22,249
And even poems about...
344
00:22:22,306 --> 00:22:24,308
not political poems,
345
00:22:24,375 --> 00:22:26,321
about loneliness, for instance --
346
00:22:26,377 --> 00:22:28,152
like my poem,
early poem --
347
00:22:28,212 --> 00:22:32,024
it was accused like
anti-Soviet poem,
348
00:22:32,083 --> 00:22:34,063
because if I am
Soviet man,
349
00:22:34,118 --> 00:22:35,859
how I could be lonely
350
00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,026
if I'm member of such
a giant collective
351
00:22:39,090 --> 00:22:42,003
like two millions
of my friends
352
00:22:42,059 --> 00:22:44,061
who are working for
ideals of communism,
353
00:22:44,128 --> 00:22:46,039
something like that.
354
00:22:46,097 --> 00:22:48,099
I remember these
hypocritical articles.
355
00:22:48,166 --> 00:22:52,080
[speaking Russian ]
356
00:22:52,136 --> 00:22:56,050
INTERPRETER: The KGB did not deal
directly with artists and writers.
357
00:22:59,177 --> 00:23:03,489
But if certain facts came
to the attention of the KGB,
358
00:23:03,548 --> 00:23:07,086
and if they discovered
anti-Soviet content
359
00:23:07,151 --> 00:23:10,860
or something that contradicted
our ideology and policies...
360
00:23:14,192 --> 00:23:16,763
then the KGB could
get involved
361
00:23:16,827 --> 00:23:19,501
and try to find out
who started it,
362
00:23:19,564 --> 00:23:21,237
Why,
363
00:23:21,299 --> 00:23:24,974
and what their motives
were.
364
00:23:27,205 --> 00:23:29,879
NARRATION:
The Party was in control everywhere.
365
00:23:29,941 --> 00:23:31,318
In 1962,
366
00:23:31,375 --> 00:23:33,514
hard-liners
persuaded Khrushchev
367
00:23:33,578 --> 00:23:36,991
to visit an exhibition
of modern art.
368
00:23:37,048 --> 00:23:38,994
They hoped
he would be shocked,
369
00:23:39,050 --> 00:23:42,395
and restore even
tighter censorship.
370
00:23:42,453 --> 00:23:45,229
He asked, "These are
some unfinished canvases?"
371
00:23:45,289 --> 00:23:47,291
They send' “No?
372
00:23:47,358 --> 00:23:49,929
"But why they have
no human faces
373
00:23:49,994 --> 00:23:52,668
or landscapes
of our Motherland?" he asked.
374
00:23:52,730 --> 00:23:55,267
And they answered him,
375
00:23:55,333 --> 00:23:57,472
"Because they hate
the faces
376
00:23:57,535 --> 00:24:01,449
of our Soviet workers,
miners.
377
00:24:01,505 --> 00:24:04,145
NARRATION:
The hard-liners succeeded.
378
00:24:04,208 --> 00:24:06,210
Khrushchev exploded
379
00:24:06,277 --> 00:24:09,554
and shouted abuse
at the painters and sculptors.
380
00:24:09,614 --> 00:24:13,960
[ Man speaking Russian ]
381
00:24:14,018 --> 00:24:19,195
INTERPRETER:
The exhibition was a provocation.
382
00:24:19,257 --> 00:24:21,999
It was like
a move in chess
383
00:24:22,059 --> 00:24:26,269
which had several
targets at once.
384
00:24:26,330 --> 00:24:29,277
It was a trap set
for the intelligentsia,
385
00:24:29,333 --> 00:24:31,438
which included a trap
for me,
386
00:24:31,502 --> 00:24:35,006
because I had won
lots of competitions.
387
00:24:39,210 --> 00:24:41,383
And it was also meant
388
00:24:41,445 --> 00:24:43,789
to provoke Khrushchev
into repression.
389
00:24:46,884 --> 00:24:48,886
[speaking Russian ]
390
00:24:48,953 --> 00:24:50,955
He didn't like --
391
00:24:51,022 --> 00:24:53,866
he didn't understand
avant garde art.
392
00:24:53,924 --> 00:24:58,873
He liked opera,
classical music, folk music.
393
00:24:58,929 --> 00:25:01,034
Realistic art where one
could see a forest
394
00:25:01,098 --> 00:25:03,806
and know it was
a forest.
395
00:25:03,868 --> 00:25:06,405
The ideologists told him
he was very wise
396
00:25:06,470 --> 00:25:09,849
not to understand it
397
00:25:09,907 --> 00:25:11,944
because behind it,
398
00:25:12,009 --> 00:25:15,786
bourgeois ideology is
penetrating our pure society,
399
00:25:15,846 --> 00:25:20,124
and it could all
end up rather badly.
400
00:25:20,184 --> 00:25:22,186
[speaking Russian ]
401
00:25:43,374 --> 00:25:45,513
NARRATION:
The censors stifled free speech
402
00:25:45,576 --> 00:25:48,420
in other parts
of the Soviet Empire.
403
00:25:48,479 --> 00:25:50,618
In Czechoslovakia,
404
00:25:50,681 --> 00:25:53,025
where a rigid Stalinist
leadership blocked all reform,
405
00:25:53,084 --> 00:25:55,086
the struggle was
the same --
406
00:25:55,152 --> 00:25:59,999
the free-thinking artist
trying to elude the Party censor.
407
00:26:00,057 --> 00:26:02,059
In those years,
408
00:26:02,126 --> 00:26:04,436
Vaclav Havel began to write
for the theater.
409
00:26:04,495 --> 00:26:07,305
[Speaking Czech ]
410
00:26:07,365 --> 00:26:11,973
INTERPRETER: To criticize communist
ideology was like suicide.
411
00:26:12,036 --> 00:26:14,482
It was better
to find another way,
412
00:26:14,538 --> 00:26:16,347
to write
about human rights,
413
00:26:16,407 --> 00:26:19,820
human freedom
and basic human existence,
414
00:26:19,877 --> 00:26:22,221
rather than enter
into a direct confrontation
415
00:26:22,279 --> 00:26:26,284
with ideology.
416
00:26:26,350 --> 00:26:28,796
You know
the censorship itself,
417
00:26:28,853 --> 00:26:31,800
it's not the worst evil.
418
00:26:31,856 --> 00:26:33,802
The worst evil is --
419
00:26:33,858 --> 00:26:35,860
and that is
the product of censorship --
420
00:26:35,926 --> 00:26:37,928
is the self-censorship
421
00:26:37,995 --> 00:26:39,997
because that twists spines,
422
00:26:40,064 --> 00:26:42,066
that destroys
my character,
423
00:26:42,133 --> 00:26:44,135
because I have to think
something else
424
00:26:44,201 --> 00:26:46,203
and say something else.
425
00:26:46,270 --> 00:26:49,479
I have to always
control myself.
426
00:26:49,540 --> 00:26:53,317
I am stopping
to being honest.
427
00:26:53,377 --> 00:26:55,983
I am becoming hypocrite.
428
00:26:56,046 --> 00:26:57,923
And that is
what they wanted.
429
00:26:57,982 --> 00:27:00,553
They wanted everybody
to feel guilty.
430
00:27:02,420 --> 00:27:04,422
NARRATION:
Whatever went wrong,
431
00:27:04,488 --> 00:27:08,800
the communist system itself
must never be blamed.
432
00:27:08,859 --> 00:27:11,066
Khrushchev had still hot solved
the problem
433
00:27:11,128 --> 00:27:13,540
of food supply,
434
00:27:13,597 --> 00:27:16,635
but he was buoyant
about his grand schemes.
435
00:27:16,700 --> 00:27:19,112
He ordered everyone
to grow corn,
436
00:27:19,170 --> 00:27:21,707
claiming -- wrongly --
that new Soviet varieties
437
00:27:21,772 --> 00:27:24,685
could survive
in cold climates.
438
00:27:24,742 --> 00:27:27,518
[speaking Russian ]
439
00:27:27,578 --> 00:27:30,684
The poor girls and boys
had to warm up the fields,
440
00:27:30,748 --> 00:27:36,255
day and night,
so that the corn would grow.
441
00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,493
They burnt fires
all through the night,
442
00:27:38,556 --> 00:27:42,766
especially if
a frost was forecast.
443
00:27:42,827 --> 00:27:45,000
Sometimes they fell asleep
too close to the fire
444
00:27:45,062 --> 00:27:48,475
and burnt their hands
and faces.
445
00:27:48,532 --> 00:27:52,173
So the corn, for us,
was not the queen of the fields,
446
00:27:52,236 --> 00:27:55,217
but an evil stepmother.
447
00:27:59,577 --> 00:28:01,579
When they couldn't
save the crops,
448
00:28:01,645 --> 00:28:04,592
despite
burning the fires,
449
00:28:04,648 --> 00:28:09,996
the boys would put on
a brave face.
450
00:28:10,054 --> 00:28:13,501
But the girls cried
bitter tears,
451
00:28:13,557 --> 00:28:16,766
because the crop had died.
452
00:28:22,166 --> 00:28:25,340
NARRATION:
In 1963, the harvest failed.
453
00:28:25,402 --> 00:28:29,316
There were bread shortages
and renewed rationing.
454
00:28:29,373 --> 00:28:33,378
Wheat head to be
imported from the West.
455
00:28:33,444 --> 00:28:36,448
[speaking Russian ]
456
00:28:36,514 --> 00:28:41,293
INTERPRETER:
At least we'd always had bread before.
457
00:28:41,352 --> 00:28:43,354
But when suddenly
it disappeared,
458
00:28:43,420 --> 00:28:44,990
thanks to him,
459
00:28:45,055 --> 00:28:47,399
Khrushchev was cursed --
460
00:28:47,458 --> 00:28:51,372
but only at home.
461
00:28:51,428 --> 00:28:55,308
In the street
you had to keep quiet.
462
00:28:55,366 --> 00:28:57,073
But at home,
463
00:28:57,134 --> 00:28:58,909
even though
my father was a communist,
464
00:28:58,969 --> 00:29:02,246
he used to swear
and curse Khrushchev
465
00:29:02,306 --> 00:29:06,482
because he made life
much more difficult for us.
466
00:29:11,549 --> 00:29:14,826
NARRATION: The Soviet people,
officials and citizens alike,
467
00:29:14,885 --> 00:29:17,957
were losing patience
with Khrushchev.
468
00:29:18,022 --> 00:29:22,061
His great plans all seemed
to end in calamity.
469
00:29:22,126 --> 00:29:23,935
Khrushchev's peasant
boisterousness
470
00:29:23,994 --> 00:29:27,168
amused the West,
but it shocked Russians.
471
00:29:27,231 --> 00:29:31,543
They found him clownish,
irresponsible.
472
00:29:33,003 --> 00:29:38,112
Over Cuba, he had nearly
blundered into nuclear war.
473
00:29:40,244 --> 00:29:43,521
[speaking Russian ]
474
00:29:43,581 --> 00:29:49,554
He caused unrest
among the Party elite.
475
00:29:49,620 --> 00:29:52,396
Almost everyone was
dissatisfied with him
476
00:29:52,456 --> 00:29:55,528
but for various reasons.
477
00:29:58,295 --> 00:30:00,297
These could be personal,
478
00:30:00,364 --> 00:30:02,037
or because of
the constant reforms
479
00:30:02,099 --> 00:30:06,047
he introduced
and then cancelled...
480
00:30:07,104 --> 00:30:14,522
or his unsuccessful moves
in politics.
481
00:30:14,578 --> 00:30:18,822
Of course personal reasons
played a part, too.
482
00:30:18,882 --> 00:30:20,884
A lot of people were afraid
483
00:30:20,951 --> 00:30:24,797
that he would undermine
the stability of the system.
484
00:30:26,690 --> 00:30:29,728
[speaking Russian ]
485
00:30:29,793 --> 00:30:32,239
The fruit was overripe.
486
00:30:32,296 --> 00:30:34,207
We had to decide quickly,
487
00:30:34,264 --> 00:30:36,266
before the fruit fell
and started to decay
488
00:30:36,333 --> 00:30:38,939
and infect society.
489
00:30:39,003 --> 00:30:42,576
Because then society would
start to rot.
490
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,952
That is why we made the decision
to depose Khrushchev.
491
00:30:47,011 --> 00:30:51,619
It was done quietly,
without any blood.
492
00:30:51,682 --> 00:30:54,822
NARRATION:
The Politburo selected Leonid Brezhnev
493
00:30:54,885 --> 00:30:57,456
to lead the attack
oh Khrushchev.
494
00:30:57,521 --> 00:30:59,592
In October, 1964,
495
00:30:59,657 --> 00:31:02,137
Khrushchev was deposed.
496
00:31:02,192 --> 00:31:04,035
[speaking Russian ]
497
00:31:04,094 --> 00:31:05,698
INTERPRETER:
I met him.
498
00:31:05,763 --> 00:31:07,538
He gave me his briefcase
499
00:31:07,598 --> 00:31:10,772
and he never
touched it again.
500
00:31:10,834 --> 00:31:14,873
He said,
"it's all finished. I resign."
501
00:31:14,938 --> 00:31:18,044
When they all went to lunch,
I left.
502
00:31:18,108 --> 00:31:21,112
I didn't want
to join them."
503
00:31:21,178 --> 00:31:23,021
I don't think they actually
invited him
504
00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:27,051
to have lunch
anyway.
505
00:31:27,117 --> 00:31:30,064
He was in a state
of nervous stress.
506
00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:33,499
He had tears
in his eyes.
507
00:31:33,557 --> 00:31:35,559
He was very unsettled.
508
00:31:35,626 --> 00:31:38,573
He couldn't find
a place for himself.
509
00:31:38,629 --> 00:31:40,506
He would go
to the dacha,
510
00:31:40,564 --> 00:31:44,876
come back,
sit around.
511
00:31:44,935 --> 00:31:49,077
It was month and a half
before he gradually calmed down.
512
00:31:52,109 --> 00:31:54,214
NARRATION:
Few people missed Khrushchev.
513
00:31:54,278 --> 00:31:57,384
Many wanted a firm hand
on the tiller again.
514
00:31:57,448 --> 00:32:02,761
[ Nedoboyeva speaking Russian ]
515
00:32:02,820 --> 00:32:05,426
INTERPRETER:
Everybody was satisfied with the wiser,
516
00:32:05,489 --> 00:32:07,332
more sensible position
taken up
517
00:32:07,391 --> 00:32:09,200
by the new leadership
518
00:32:09,259 --> 00:32:14,402
and by Brezhnev in particular.
519
00:32:14,465 --> 00:32:17,446
That was our first impression.
520
00:32:17,501 --> 00:32:19,811
It was more acceptable
to the people
521
00:32:19,870 --> 00:32:22,111
because it was
more stable.
522
00:32:22,172 --> 00:32:25,085
Before that, the situation
had been uncertain
523
00:32:25,142 --> 00:32:26,815
and we didn't know
what would happen
524
00:32:26,877 --> 00:32:29,915
from one day
to the next.
525
00:32:31,815 --> 00:32:34,989
NARRATION:
Stability was restored in the Soviet Union,
526
00:32:35,052 --> 00:32:39,023
but unrest stirred
in the Empire.
527
00:32:41,492 --> 00:32:43,233
In Czechoslovakia,
528
00:32:43,293 --> 00:32:45,295
the repressive regime
of Antonio Novotny
529
00:32:45,362 --> 00:32:48,809
still stamped on demands
for a more open society.
530
00:32:50,868 --> 00:32:55,510
They tried to push back
531
00:32:55,572 --> 00:32:58,610
the progress of freedom,
532
00:32:58,675 --> 00:33:01,952
but they didn't succeed
any more.
533
00:33:02,012 --> 00:33:04,151
We made two steps forward
534
00:33:04,214 --> 00:33:06,694
and we were repressed
by one step,
535
00:33:06,750 --> 00:33:09,856
but we gained
one step always.
536
00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:11,922
NARRATION:
By February, 1968
537
00:33:11,989 --> 00:33:14,492
the Czechoslovak reformers
were taking over.
538
00:33:14,558 --> 00:33:16,299
Brezhnev flew to Prague
539
00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:20,331
to size up the new leader,
Alexander Dubcek.
540
00:33:20,397 --> 00:33:23,606
Brezhnev accepted that
some change was inevitable.
541
00:33:27,404 --> 00:33:30,112
Alexander Dubcek seemed
a loyal communist
542
00:33:30,174 --> 00:33:33,781
who would alter only
what was necessary.
543
00:33:33,844 --> 00:33:35,221
By March 1968,
544
00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:38,988
Dubcek and the new President
Ludvik Svoboda were in charge,
545
00:33:39,049 --> 00:33:41,154
but their reforms were already
shocking
546
00:33:41,218 --> 00:33:44,097
the rest
of the Communist world.
547
00:33:46,890 --> 00:33:48,233
The reformers were confident
548
00:33:48,292 --> 00:33:51,535
that they could bring
communism up to date.
549
00:33:51,595 --> 00:33:53,700
The Party would
still lead --
550
00:33:53,764 --> 00:33:58,042
but by consent,
not force.
551
00:33:58,101 --> 00:34:00,240
There would be freedom
to speak and write,
552
00:34:00,304 --> 00:34:02,341
to travel
and organize.
553
00:34:02,406 --> 00:34:05,182
There would even be
a form of market economy.
554
00:34:05,242 --> 00:34:06,949
Dubcek's vision was named --
555
00:34:07,010 --> 00:34:09,957
"Socialism with
a human face."
556
00:34:13,116 --> 00:34:17,258
One of the first changes
was the ending of censorship.
557
00:34:17,321 --> 00:34:19,961
Suddenly the papers were
full of truth,
558
00:34:20,023 --> 00:34:25,496
revealing the crimes
of Stalinist Czechoslovakia.
559
00:34:25,562 --> 00:34:28,543
Everywhere crowds gathered
in an anxious debate.
560
00:34:28,599 --> 00:34:35,244
[ Overlapping conversations ]
561
00:34:35,305 --> 00:34:37,216
[ Applause ]
562
00:34:37,274 --> 00:34:40,414
After two decades
of terror and silence,
563
00:34:40,477 --> 00:34:45,017
Czechs and Slovaks
had found their voice again.
564
00:34:45,082 --> 00:34:47,619
GOLDSTUCKER:
People came in thousands,
565
00:34:47,684 --> 00:34:50,028
and if they didn't get in,
566
00:34:50,087 --> 00:34:54,627
they listened outside
for hours on end.
567
00:34:54,691 --> 00:34:56,693
People suddenly realized
568
00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:59,741
that they can
live more freely.
569
00:34:59,796 --> 00:35:02,436
And they came
570
00:35:02,499 --> 00:35:04,911
very anxious to learn
571
00:35:04,968 --> 00:35:10,919
about the new enlarged
boundaries of their lives.
572
00:35:16,146 --> 00:35:19,821
NARRATION:
Western styles and visitors poured in.
573
00:35:25,188 --> 00:35:29,898
This May Day
there was genuine joy.
574
00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:32,133
Trust was growing
between the people
575
00:35:32,195 --> 00:35:35,199
and their leaders.
576
00:35:35,265 --> 00:35:38,906
But could communism
be reformed?
577
00:35:38,969 --> 00:35:41,813
[Speaking Czech ]
578
00:35:41,872 --> 00:35:43,909
INTERPRETER: On the one hand they
wanted to preserve communism
579
00:35:43,974 --> 00:35:48,047
and socialism
as they called it.
580
00:35:48,111 --> 00:35:49,954
But on the other hand
581
00:35:50,013 --> 00:35:53,290
they wanted to give it
a human face...
582
00:35:56,386 --> 00:36:00,664
which meant that they wanted
to lift the lid a little.
583
00:36:00,724 --> 00:36:04,069
But they hoped that the lid
would not fly off
584
00:36:04,127 --> 00:36:08,405
with the pressure
inside the cooker, as it were,
585
00:36:08,465 --> 00:36:14,074
that they would still be able
to contain the situation.
586
00:36:14,137 --> 00:36:17,277
It was funny that,
you know, before...
587
00:36:17,341 --> 00:36:20,379
you know,
in the '50s and like that,
588
00:36:20,444 --> 00:36:24,915
you know, people were
looking over their shoulders,
589
00:36:24,982 --> 00:36:27,588
you know, who could
be following you,
590
00:36:27,651 --> 00:36:32,657
and if they had somebody
brought from the West,
591
00:36:32,723 --> 00:36:35,260
some newspaper,
it was in the pockets,
592
00:36:35,325 --> 00:36:37,532
deep in the pockets.
593
00:36:37,594 --> 00:36:40,871
In the '60s,
in the euphoria of free press,
594
00:36:40,931 --> 00:36:43,002
everybody was
talking freely
595
00:36:43,066 --> 00:36:46,411
and at the same time
looking over their shoulders,
596
00:36:46,470 --> 00:36:48,211
because it was not...
597
00:36:48,271 --> 00:36:51,252
I think it was
a freedom in spasm,
598
00:36:51,308 --> 00:36:54,346
a spasmodic freedom
that people were really --
599
00:36:54,411 --> 00:36:59,952
it was like a freedom,
unleashed by fever, you know,
600
00:37:00,017 --> 00:37:03,829
it was not really
a comfortable freedom.
601
00:37:03,887 --> 00:37:06,731
It was not.
602
00:37:10,260 --> 00:37:13,264
NARRATION:
In May, a grim Soviet Prime Minister,
603
00:37:13,330 --> 00:37:16,573
Alexei Kosygin,
visited the Czechs.
604
00:37:16,633 --> 00:37:19,045
Soviet dislike of
Dubcek's reforms
605
00:37:19,102 --> 00:37:21,173
had turned to horror.
606
00:37:21,238 --> 00:37:24,447
Moscow feared the Communist
party might lose power.
607
00:37:24,508 --> 00:37:29,719
Worse, Dubcek might change sides
in the Cold War.
608
00:37:29,780 --> 00:37:32,727
A few hard-line
Czechoslovak Communists
609
00:37:32,783 --> 00:37:34,785
agreed with the Kremlin.
610
00:37:34,851 --> 00:37:37,695
[ Bilak speaking Czech ]
611
00:37:41,224 --> 00:37:45,673
INTERPRETER:
They didn't ask for anything special,
612
00:37:45,729 --> 00:37:49,404
just to halt the disintegration
of the party,
613
00:37:49,466 --> 00:37:52,174
stop anti-Soviet activity
614
00:37:52,235 --> 00:37:54,909
and anti-socialist propaganda.
615
00:37:58,508 --> 00:38:00,510
Stop the growing voices
saying that
616
00:38:00,577 --> 00:38:04,457
Czechoslovakia should leave
the Warsaw Pact.
617
00:38:04,514 --> 00:38:08,519
They said quite openly,
"We cannot accept it,
618
00:38:08,585 --> 00:38:11,259
we cannot allow the border
of the West
619
00:38:11,321 --> 00:38:16,066
to come right up
to the Soviet border."
620
00:38:16,126 --> 00:38:18,936
NARRATION:
In the early summer,
621
00:38:18,995 --> 00:38:20,997
Warsaw Pact troops staged
622
00:38:21,064 --> 00:38:24,534
very public maneuvers
in Czechoslovakia.
623
00:38:24,601 --> 00:38:26,603
After the exercise,
624
00:38:26,670 --> 00:38:29,844
they left their signals network
in place.
625
00:38:29,906 --> 00:38:33,581
They warning was not
hard to read.
626
00:38:36,980 --> 00:38:39,119
Threats from Moscow
and the Warsaw Pact
627
00:38:39,182 --> 00:38:44,029
failed to make Dubcek
climb down.
628
00:38:44,087 --> 00:38:47,899
In July, Brezhnev, Kosygin,
and the entire Politburo
629
00:38:47,958 --> 00:38:52,338
arrived from Moscow
with renewed demands.
630
00:38:52,395 --> 00:38:57,071
[ Man speaking Russian ]
631
00:38:57,134 --> 00:39:01,139
INTERPRETER:
The situation was quite tense.
632
00:39:01,204 --> 00:39:03,206
We came to an agreement
633
00:39:03,273 --> 00:39:05,651
that the Czechoslovaks would
themselves carry out
634
00:39:05,709 --> 00:39:10,089
a certain number
of crucial measures
635
00:39:10,147 --> 00:39:12,457
to restore order.
636
00:39:12,516 --> 00:39:16,089
This involved some
changes in personnel,
637
00:39:16,153 --> 00:39:19,794
the introduction of tighter
control over the mass media,
638
00:39:19,856 --> 00:39:23,235
and stricter work among
certain layers of society.
639
00:39:27,764 --> 00:39:30,074
And the imposition
of censorship,
640
00:39:30,133 --> 00:39:33,410
because openly anti-communist,
anti-Soviet publications
641
00:39:33,470 --> 00:39:36,576
and articles
started to appear.
642
00:39:39,943 --> 00:39:41,945
NARRATION:
Two days later,
643
00:39:42,012 --> 00:39:45,016
the Czechoslovak leaders made
some concessions.
644
00:39:45,081 --> 00:39:47,584
But it was too late.
645
00:39:47,651 --> 00:39:50,598
The Soviet Politburo
had already decided
646
00:39:50,654 --> 00:39:54,101
to solve the problem --
by force.
647
00:39:58,328 --> 00:40:00,604
On the night of August 21,
648
00:40:00,664 --> 00:40:04,077
Soviet paratroopers
seized Prague Airport.
649
00:40:06,536 --> 00:40:08,914
Soviet and Warsaw Pact armies
650
00:40:08,972 --> 00:40:12,749
burst through
the Czechoslovak frontiers.
651
00:40:12,809 --> 00:40:17,656
[ Radio announcement
in Czech ]
652
00:40:22,485 --> 00:40:25,489
NARRATION:
As the invasion began,
653
00:40:25,555 --> 00:40:30,265
the Czechoslovak leaders
were meeting in Prague.
654
00:40:30,327 --> 00:40:33,240
[Speaking Czech ]
655
00:40:33,296 --> 00:40:37,176
INTERPRETER: We listened to the
airplanes flying overhead.
656
00:40:37,234 --> 00:40:40,147
Dubcek was waiting
for a telephone message,
657
00:40:40,203 --> 00:40:41,944
but instead
the door suddenly opened,
658
00:40:42,005 --> 00:40:46,283
and paratroopers came in
carrying Kalashnikovs.
659
00:40:48,378 --> 00:40:50,722
They stood behind us
and the commander said
660
00:40:50,780 --> 00:40:52,521
they were taking us
under protection
661
00:40:52,582 --> 00:40:55,825
in the name of the forces
of the Warsaw Pact.
662
00:40:55,885 --> 00:40:58,866
What will happen later,
we will see.
663
00:40:58,922 --> 00:41:02,233
We were prisoners.
664
00:41:02,292 --> 00:41:04,363
NARRATION:
Before their arrest,
665
00:41:04,427 --> 00:41:07,567
the party's leaders managed
to condemn the invasion.
666
00:41:08,999 --> 00:41:10,205
By morning,
667
00:41:10,267 --> 00:41:13,339
Soviet tanks had taken over
the center of Prague.
668
00:41:16,973 --> 00:41:19,977
[chanting in Czech]
669
00:41:33,790 --> 00:41:36,236
[speaking Russian ]
670
00:41:36,293 --> 00:41:39,638
INTERPRETER:
A lot of the population were bewildered.
671
00:41:39,696 --> 00:41:43,542
They were surprised.
672
00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,807
When we had taken up
our positions
673
00:41:45,869 --> 00:41:48,349
in front
of the target buildings,
674
00:41:48,405 --> 00:41:50,351
people starting coming up
to us, asking,
675
00:41:50,407 --> 00:41:53,786
"What's going oh?
What's happened?"
676
00:41:56,646 --> 00:41:58,785
[Woman speaking Czech ]
677
00:41:58,848 --> 00:42:01,021
INTERPRETER:
They came like burglars
678
00:42:01,084 --> 00:42:03,223
and pretended
they wanted to help us.
679
00:42:03,286 --> 00:42:05,823
So we went
to speak to them.
680
00:42:05,889 --> 00:42:07,562
We climbed
on the tanks
681
00:42:07,624 --> 00:42:09,626
and we told them
to go back home,
682
00:42:09,693 --> 00:42:11,502
that they had lost their way
683
00:42:11,561 --> 00:42:14,064
or been sent
to the wrong place.
684
00:42:14,130 --> 00:42:15,871
They were really surprised
685
00:42:15,932 --> 00:42:18,936
and didn't understand what
we were trying to tell them.
686
00:42:25,742 --> 00:42:27,779
[gunshot]
687
00:42:27,844 --> 00:42:30,484
[woman speaking Czech ]
688
00:42:30,547 --> 00:42:33,756
INTERPRETER:
Suddenly we heard a shot.
689
00:42:33,817 --> 00:42:37,458
I saw a boy,
only two meters away from me,
690
00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:41,434
fall to the ground.
691
00:42:41,491 --> 00:42:45,906
The armored car
started to advance.
692
00:42:45,962 --> 00:42:48,340
People moved
to the side streets.
693
00:42:48,398 --> 00:42:50,878
But there were so many of us,
694
00:42:50,934 --> 00:42:54,939
we couldn't all fit
in those narrow streets.
695
00:42:55,004 --> 00:42:57,348
I was at the edge
of the crowd.
696
00:42:57,407 --> 00:43:01,219
The armored car
struck me.
697
00:43:01,277 --> 00:43:03,883
There was nothing
I could do.
698
00:43:03,947 --> 00:43:07,554
It hit my knee
with the front wheel.
699
00:43:12,122 --> 00:43:15,126
[ Gunshots ]
700
00:43:39,649 --> 00:43:41,720
GOLDSTUCKER:
You see, I went through
701
00:43:41,785 --> 00:43:44,766
the Hitler invasion
in 1939,
702
00:43:44,821 --> 00:43:51,397
And I must say that
the Soviet invasion in '68
703
00:43:51,461 --> 00:43:55,136
was even crueller impact
704
00:43:55,198 --> 00:43:57,075
than the Hitler one,
Hitlerite one.
705
00:43:57,133 --> 00:43:59,943
Because Hitler was
our declared enemy,
706
00:44:00,003 --> 00:44:04,816
we didn't expect anything
from him but the worst.
707
00:44:04,874 --> 00:44:10,051
But here, those who
for years and decades
708
00:44:10,113 --> 00:44:15,085
preached they're our
best friends, our brothers,
709
00:44:15,151 --> 00:44:18,189
the guarantors
of our independence,
710
00:44:18,254 --> 00:44:20,461
came with an army
of half a million
711
00:44:20,523 --> 00:44:26,098
to suppress our drive
for a little bit more freedom.
712
00:44:26,162 --> 00:44:29,405
They came to crush it.
They came to murder it.
713
00:44:29,466 --> 00:44:33,972
To murder that attempt
to democratize socialism.
714
00:44:41,845 --> 00:44:46,089
[speaking Russian ]
715
00:44:46,149 --> 00:44:49,961
INTERPRETER:
This action was dictated first of all
716
00:44:50,019 --> 00:44:53,728
by the need...
717
00:44:55,792 --> 00:44:58,773
to preserve the balance of power
718
00:44:58,828 --> 00:45:02,708
in the relations
between the East and West.
719
00:45:05,502 --> 00:45:09,245
And of course we were
interested in preserving there,
720
00:45:09,305 --> 00:45:13,151
the established system.
721
00:45:15,745 --> 00:45:18,385
NARRATION:
Czechoslovakia's kidnapped leaders decided
722
00:45:18,448 --> 00:45:20,758
resistance
was hopeless.
723
00:45:20,817 --> 00:45:22,558
In a tragic broadcast,
724
00:45:22,619 --> 00:45:24,530
Dubcek broke
the news.
725
00:45:24,587 --> 00:45:27,431
[Speaking Czech ]
726
00:45:38,134 --> 00:45:41,479
The Czechoslovak experiment,
the most daring attempt
727
00:45:41,538 --> 00:45:44,280
to marry communism
with democracy,
728
00:45:44,340 --> 00:45:46,342
had failed.
729
00:45:50,245 --> 00:45:54,499
Subtitles ripped, converted and adapted by
Juan Claudio Epsteyn
730
00:45:55,859 --> 00:45:58,964
E-mail:
epsteyn@hotmail.com