• The reforms began in January 1968. Alexander Dubcek wanted to give Communist rule 'a human face'. He removed censorship, restricted the activities of the secret police and brought in economic reforms.
  
• At the same time, he was loyal to Moscow and had no intention of leaving the Warsaw Pact.
  
• Dubcek's reforms were popular and successful in Czechosloakia. However, they alarmed Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. He took over in 1964 and was not a reformer like Khrushchev had been.
  
• Khrushchev was pressured by Communist leaders in East Germany, Poland and Romania to stop Dubcek. They were worried that their own people would demand reforms if Dubcek carried on without the USSR stopping him.
  
• Khrushchev tried to pressure Dubcek in a series of tense meetings in the Summer of 1968. Tensions seemed to be easing when Soviet tanks suddenly entered Czechoslovakia in August 1968.