Czech Society and Soviet Army 1968-1991. Some issues from the Soviet perspectives.

Abstract. This paper explores the memories of Soviet participants in the presence of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia after 1968. Based on previously existing and new sources, information on the state of the media in the Central Group of Forces is summarized. At the same time, memories and assessments of events by their witnesses are given. Next, the historical myth about the presence of units of the National People's Army of the GDR on the territory of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and their actions against the local population was studied. An attempt is made to interpret this "false memory", widespread in the memoirs of Soviet narrators, to identify the causes of such a myth and its symbolic meaning for those who remember and listen. Also, it is discussed the problem of interpretation and evaluation of the events of 1968 in Czech and Russian collective memories, the attitude of both sides to the definition of the troop's invasion as an act of occupation. Revealed a diametrically opposite perception of this problem by both parties. This discussion naturally brings to the issue of the differences in Czech and Russian historical memories regarding the events of May 1945 and August 1968, the place of these events in symbolic memory and the reflection of these differences in relation of both sides to monumental..