The Prague Spring. Czechoslovakia, Summer of 1968.

Czechoslovakia, Summer 1968. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev arrives by train and is greeted by Czech leader Alexander Dub?ek and other politicians. Negotiations take place. Railway station in Eastern Slovakia becomes centre of nation's interest as the talks continue. Agreement is reached. Dub?ek and Brezhnev embrace and kiss.

Two days later in Bratislava, a common declaration is formally signed by six socialist states, members of the Warsaw pact with Romania absent.

The following week Marshal Tito, President of Yugoslavia, visits Prague and is greeted by Dub?ek. Czechoslovakian people wave Yugoslavian flags. August 12th, East German leader, Walter Ulbricht, arrives at airport and is welcomed by Dub?ek. August 15th, Romanian leader, Nicolae Ceau?escu, arrives with motorcade. Political leaders shake hands.

Prague streets, churches, landscape.

Wednesday August 21st, 1968. Tanks on streets of Prague. Special announcement of the presidium of the Czechoslovakian Communist Party: "To all people of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic: Yesterday at 11 pm, the armed forces of the Soviet Union; the Polish People's Republic, German Democratic Republic, Hungarian People's Republic and the Bulgarian People's Republic have crossed the borders of the Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic. This happened without the knowledge of the President of the Republic, Chairman of the National Assembly, Prime Minister, First Secretary of the party as well as the organisations they represent."

Centre of Prague filled with people. Tanks approach. Man climbs on top of tank. Crowds surround tank and gesticulate. Young men on motorbikes ride through city streets carrying Czech flags.

Long shot of Soviet cargo planes bringing in heavy battle equipment to Prague airport. Building of the central committee of the party, surrounded by tanks. Bridges blocked. Czech people and Russian tank crews talk to each other, sub-titled in English. Tanks circulate around square full of people. Gunfire can be heard in the background. Buses ablaze and blocking streets. Tanks remove barricades. Buildings on fire. Casualties carried away on stretchers. Helicopters bring reinforcements. Infantry follow with mortar shells. Fire engines attempt to put out fires. Broadcasting Centre occupied by Russian soldiers.

Blood spluttered Czech flag is waved in front of a Russian tank. Man with bloodied face leads procession of young people with Czech flags. Young people sing Czech national anthem.

Cut to tank being driven down streets. Cars smashed by tanks. People carrying flags protest. At noon a two minute protest strike is called. Carhorns blare as crowds congregate at the monument of King Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia.

Supply convoys arrive. More footage of tanks on streets and smouldering cars and buildings. Hospital ward with men covered in bandages, their faces only partially visible. Interior of Czech National Assembly as politicians discuss events.

Thursday, August 22nd. Convoy of armoured vehicles making its way into Czechoslovakia. Czech citizens attempt to reason with Russian soldiers. Young men hold placards demanding that the soldiers go home. Mother holding a child cries as tanks move past her. Shot of makeshift barricades.

Southern Bohemia. Crowds given newspapers by motorcyclist distributing special edition of south Bohemia Pravda. Banners in support of Dub?ek being raised.

Helicopters landing at airport. Shot of Russian cargo plane which has crashed in a mushroom field.

Border with Austria peaceful. Man and woman arrive in motorbike and sidecar. Footage of South Bohemian towns with home made signs and banners telling the Russian soldiers to go home. Column of the Holy Virgin. Czech flag flying at half mast in Lidice. Mothers of Lidice hold home made posters asking Russian troops not to kill them and their children.

At the monument of King Wenceslas crowds gather and Olympic sportsman, Emil Zátopek, appeals to fellow sportsmen to refuse entry to the Olympics to countries that have taken part in the invasion.

Czech hippies stage demonstration. Buildings of Czechoslovakian television studios are occupied. Over 1000 delegates attend the Plenary vote from all parts of the Republic.