The Prague spring 1968 : a national security archive documents reader / compiled and edited by Jaromír Navrátil, chief editor ; Antonín Benčík [and others] members and associates of the former Czechoslovak Government Commission for Analysis of the events of 1967-1970 ; translation by Mark Kramer, Joy Moss, Ruth Tosek ; headnotes and additional documents provided by Mark Kramer ; editorial coordination by Malcolm Byrne, Peter Kornbluh.

Map on lining papers.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

In addition to revealing the events surrounding the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, this is the first book to document a Cold War crisis from both sides of the Iron Curtain. It is based on unprecedented access to the previously closed archives of each member of the Warsaw Pact, as well as once highly classified American documents from the National Security Council, CIA, and other intelligence agencies. Presented in a highly readable volume, the book offers top-level documents from Kremlin Politburo meetings, multilateral sessions of the Warsaw Pact leading up to the decision to invade, transcripts of KGB-recorded telephone conversations between Leonid Brezhnev and Alexander Dubcek. To provide a historical and political context, the editors have prepared essays to introduce each section of the volume. A chronology, glossary and bibliography offer further background information for the reader. The editors have a unique perspective to offer to foreign audiences since they are members of the commission appointed by Vaclav Havel to investigate the events of 1967-1970.