The Use of B. Shmelev’s Memories “Prague Autumn” in Publications of the Czech Project “Invasion of 1968. Russian View”

The article analyzes the use of literary memoirs of former Soviet paratrooper Boris V. Shmelev “Prague Autumn” as a historical source. Those memoirs describe the Soviet Union airborne troops involvement in “Danube” operation. During the “Danube” operation the Warsaw Pact forces entered Czechoslovakia to suppress the “Prague Spring”. Boris Shmelev’s memories, as well as interviews with him were used in the Czech historical and journalistic project “Invasion 1968. Russian View”. The authors of the project wanted to influence the historical memory of the Czech people, to help the Czech people look at the tragic events of 1968 broader, to evaluate those events more objectively. Their main goal was to overcome bad relations between the Czechs and the Russians, which were a result of the tragic events of 1968. In the collection of memoirs and journalistic works published in the Czech Republic and Russia, as well as in the television movie the authors of the project have modified the fragments in Boris Shmelev’s memories, as well as fragments of interview with him. Consequently they gave the readers and viewers their own interpretation of his personality and his participation in the invasion of Czechoslovakia. The article concludes that the obvious advantages of the “Prague Autumn” as a historical source and as a literary work were used to achieve the objectives of the project insufficiently.

Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Prague, “Prague Spring”, Soviet Army, airborne forces, paratrooper, military invasion, operation “Danube”, historical memory

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