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- March
- Dubcek suspended from Communist Party.
- May
- Czechoslovak-U.S.S.R. Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, signed in Prague, includes principle of "socialist internationalism" justifying Warsaw Pact invasion, provides for close economic cooperation, implicitly commits Czechoslovakia to side with Soviet Union in case of military confrontation between latter and Communist China.
- Dubcek returns to Prague and semi-isolation.
1970
- June
- Dubcek and ex-Premier Oldrich Cernik are stripped of remaining government positions.
- Party conservatives heighten criticism of Husak's moderate domestic policies and call for more thorough party purge.
- July
- Regime publishes counterattacks on conservative critics, highlighting intraparty feud.
- Regime publishes official interpretation of Dubcek's role in 1968 reform movement, describing his rise to power as aberration in otherwise necessary reform effort.
- August
- Quiet passing of second anniversary of invasion strengthens Husak's political position.
- September
- Party organ Rude Fravo declares party purge over and beginning of effort to restore party discipline—second stage of post-Dubcek "consolidation" campaign.
- October
- Husak fires Czech Minister of Interior and Army liaison officer with Soviet forces to reduce influence of hardliners.
- Czechoslovak and West German officials make preliminary plans to open political talks.
- November
- Regime stresses "reconciliation" with intelligentsia by announcing plans to foster cultural activity, including amnesty for signatories of 1968 political manifestoes.
- December
- Central Committee plenum issues Party's definitive "Lessons" of Czechoslovak history since 13th Party Congress of 1967; Husak announces postpurge Party membership to be 1,200,000; proceedings indicate stand-off between pro-Husak moderates and conservative faction.
- Federal Assembly amends federalization law reducing Slovak economic and administrative autonomy.
1971
- May
- 14th Party Congress convenes; pronounces "end of the crisis period." Minor leadership changes reflect regime's emphasis on party unity. Central Committee undergoes large turnover in party's search for reliable and motivated members. Fifth Five Year Plan (1971-1975) approved.
- November
- Elections held to federal, republic, and local government bodies, first such balloting since 1964 (scheduled 1968 elections indefinitely postponed after invasion). Regime claims 99.8% of 10.3 million eligible voters supported official single slate.
- December
- As result of election "mandate," Husak revamps leadership of Federal Assembly, Czech and Slovak National Councils, and reshuffles respective cabinets. Shifts symbolize final phase of Husak's consolidation of power over government apparatus.
1972
- July-August
- Some 50 former second-string party officials and intellectuals associated with Dubcek tried for subversive and other illegal acts committed during 1970-71 period.
- December
- Foreign Minister Chnoupek visits Romania in effort to heal rifts caused by Bucharest's vehement denunciation of the invasion in 1968.
1973
- February
- Soviet party leader Brezhnev visits Prague on 25th anniversary of Communist takeover. Brezhnev warmly endorses Husak, presents him with Order of Lenin, and declares Czechoslovakia's "normalization" completed.
- March
- Aging General Ludvik Svoboda reelected President by Federal Assembly.
- June
- Czechoslovak-West German treaty initialed in Bonn after Prague dropped persistent demand that Bonn declare 1938 Munich Agreement "void from the beginning."
- U.S. Secretary of State Rogers visits Prague in first such visit since World War II. Event paves way for improving bilateral relations within framework of detente, and symbolizes Czechslovakia's success in gradually breaking out of post-invasion diplomatic isolation.
- October
- Husak's visit to Yugoslavia ends cool relations that followed Belgrade's 1968 denunciation of Warsaw Pact invasion.
- December
- Husak pays official visit to India, in first trip to non-Communist country since assuming power.
- West German Chancellor Brandt visits Prague for formal signing of bilateral good will treaty, opening way to establishment of diplomatic relations.
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