Dubček

Leader of the "Prague Spring," who championed "socialism with a human face."

Life

Slovak

Dubček was a Slovak who spent his childhood with his parents in the Soviet Union and took part in the Slovak National Uprising during World War II. In January 1968 he became First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.

Prague Spring

He pursued reforms, relaxing press censorship, permitting open debate and proposing "socialism with a human face" — the period known as the "Prague Spring." In August 1968 the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia; he was taken to Moscow, removed from office the following year, and later worked as a laborer in the forestry service.

Forestry worker

After the Velvet Revolution of 1989 he was elected Chairman of the Federal Assembly. He died in a car crash in 1992.

Legacy

Dubček was the symbol of the Prague Spring, and in 1989 he received the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize.

Did you know? For nearly twenty years after his removal from office, he worked an ordinary job in Slovakia's forestry service.

Key dates

• 1968Became First Secretary and pursued reforms
• 1969Removed from his posts
• 1989Elected Chairman of the Federal Assembly
• 1992Died in a car crash