REVENGE IN THE ARMY – THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SO-CALLED NORMALISATION PART 1 (FIRST STAGE – FROM AUGUST 1968 TO APRIL 1969)

The question of so-called normalisation in the military environment is divided into two parts. The study examines the period of the first stage of this controversial process based on extensive archival research. It points to the specific ways whereby this process differed from social developments. The aim of the so-called normalisation was to make the army once again a loyal and stabilising pillar of the neo-conservative regime. In addition to the so-called healthy core of military normalisers, a prominent role in the security forces was played by the military counter-intelligence. In the first stage particularly, it took on a key role and permanently exerted pressure to increase the speed of the purges. At the same time, the new party power centre lead by G. Husák was kept in fear of the so-called internal enemy.