Both Mark Kurlansky’s, The Year That Rocked the World:1968 and Josef Koudela’s, Invasion 68 Prague gallery show the utter despair, hopelessness and desperation that was going on in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The invasion of Prague by the Soviet Union contributed to melancholy way the world was at the time. With the Vietnam War in America and the Soviet led invasion in Prague, things seem hopeless. For rebel against Alexander Dubcek’s liberation reforms, and the Soviet Unions need for communism, they invaded Prague, devastating the lives of many inhabitants.
The Soviet Union was an ally of Czechoslovakia and many wondered why they invaded the country. With Alexander Dubcek and his liberation reforms, the communists felt as if Prague was the next nation to rid themselves of Communism. The Soviets were not happy with all that was going on, coming up with possible solutions. Either they would get Dubcek to commit to their demands, or invade Prague. They felt as if Prague was going to “drift out of orbit,” and not commit to the communist ways. Despite these thoughts by the Soviets, Czechoslovakia was a country of communism, even so during the time of 1968 (Kurlansky 247.)
Josef Koudela’s exhibition contained many pictures of Prague during their desperate time. There were pictures of people protesting, drawings of graffiti, and many with utter hopelessness and fear upon their faces. The photographs showed the intensity of the invasion and exactly what it was like during those times. One picture that sticks out in my mind is one that was on your right-hand side when walking into other room of the exhibit. It is that of a train that is broken down with sayings in Russian on it. One part of the saying, once translated said, “Why do you shoot friends, we don’t have any guns.” I believe that this saying shows exactly how the people of Prague were feeling. They felt as if they were being taken advantage of for no reason at all. For their country to be invaded and the...