Městská organizace Československé strany lidové v Brně v letech 1968–19172

The aim of the study is to examine the history of the city organization of the Czechoslovak People’s Party (ČSL) in Brno in the period of 1968–1972 in the context of the Prague Spring and the following period of normalisation. The Czechoslovak People’s Party had a significant position in the region of southern Moravia until February of 1948, which relied on a strong historical tradition and numerous classes of Roman Catholic citizens. After February 1948, ČSL became one of the satellite organizations which was given a restricted scope of authority by the ruling the Communist party (KSČ) in The National Front. The rise to power of the reforming leadership lead by A. Dubček in KSČ at the beginning of 1968 opened a possibility of a quick emancipation regarding ČSL’s subordinate position in the National Front. The study describes the clash of the reform efforts of the membership in the city, which grew to 1500 members by 1969, with contradictory interests of the former deputies and high functionaries of the apparatus. In April 1969, the city organization reached a promotion to an independent county organization, which was an important political success. Partial reforming successes were stopped by the rise to power of G. Husák as a leader of KSČ in April 1969. Prodemocratic and proreform functionaries and members gradually resigned from their position and they either voluntarily left or were removed from ČSL in 1970–1971.