[ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE 1968 SOVIET INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA] Group of fourteen original black and white photographs from the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion.

[Prague and Olomouc, 1968]. Vintage prints, various sizes, from 9 × 14 to 18 × 23.8 cm. One image with pencil labeling to verso. Three of the larger images with some alteration of the emulsion layer; otherwise about very good. Item #54801

Group of fourteen original photographs, likely taken by an amateur bystander, documenting the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Prague, none of which appear to be known published images based on our research. The arrival of Russian troops on tanks on August 21, 1968 heralded the onset of the so-called Normalization period, presided over by Gustáv Husák; it marked the end of the years of political and cultural liberalization in the mid to late 1960s. Nearly 150 Czech citizens were killed during the invasion, and many more wounded during protests. The response of the public was one of non-violent, but active resistance: soldiers were misdirected, street signs were removed, food and water were denied the occupants, and anti-Soviet posters and slogans appeared overnight.

Aside from one photograph, which depicts a demonstration in Olomouc in favor of the election of Čestmír Císař as president, the photographs show street scenes in Prague, especially burning Russian tanks. Two shots are duplicated in various sizes. Other images show anti-Russian Czech graffiti on a wall ("Wake up, Lenin, Brezhnev has gone mad!"), the damage on the facade of the Czech National Museum after Russian shelling, as well as bystanders looking at burning cars. A scarce memento of the immediate post-invasion days.

Price: €600.00

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