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Lesson 27 of 30
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The Brezhnev Doctrine

I can explain the impact of the Brezhnev Doctrine.

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View unit
Lesson 27 of 30
New
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  • AQA

The Brezhnev Doctrine

I can explain the impact of the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Download all

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Brezhnev Doctrine justified the invasion of Czechoslovakia.
  2. The Brezhnev Doctrine claimed reforms in one communist country affected all communist countries.
  3. The Brezhnev Doctrine helped the USSR maintain its control over Eastern Europe.
  4. Some communist states became less trusting of the USSR.

Keywords

  • Doctrine - a statement of government policy

  • Anti-socialist - actions which are considered hostile towards or inconsistent with communist beliefs

  • Sphere of influence - a region of the world in which one state is dominant

  • Deterred - to make someone less likely to do something, or to make something less likely to happen

Common misconception

All communist states fell under complete Soviet control because of the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Some states such as China, Yugoslavia, Romania and Albania became less trusting of the USSR and made increased efforts to develop their own independent relations to protect themselves against it.

Students start of the lesson by scoring Soviet control over certain communist states (i.e. Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, China) circa mid-1968 out of 5. Students then do the same after the lesson for the end of 1968 and explain any changes.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Write the misisng word. The Pact was an alliance of communist countries duirng the Cold War.

Correct Answer: Warsaw, warsaw

Q2.
Whcih of the following countries did not support the Prague Spring?

Correct answer: East Germany
Correct answer: Poland
Romania
Correct answer: USSR
Yugoslavia

Q3.
How many troops invaded Czechoslovakia in August 1968?

5000
50 000
Correct answer: 500 000

Q4.
Write the missing country name. At the same time that Czechoslovakia was invaded, the USA was busy fighting a costly war of its own in {}}.

Correct Answer: Vietnam, vietnam

Q5.
A meeting between Alexander Dubček and which other leader in August 1968 increased Soviet concerns that Czechoslovakia was about to leave the Warsaw Pact?

Fidel Castro
Correct answer: Josip Tito
Lyndon B. Johnson
Mao Zedong

Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.

1 - Warsaw Pact was signed.
2 - Hungary planned to leave the Warsaw Pact.
3 - Soviet forces invaded Hungary.
4 - Prague Spring were reforms introduced.
5 - Soviets led an invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Write the missing word. A region of the world in which one state is dominant is known as a sphere of .

Correct Answer: influence, Influence

Q2.
What was the name of the policy used to justify the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968?

Correct Answer: The Brezhnev Doctrine, Brezhnev Doctrine, the Brezhnev Doctrine, the brezhnev doctrine, Brezhnev doctrine

Q3.
What claim did Brezhnev make about the independence of individual communist countries?

Correct answer: Protecting communism at home and abroad was more important.
Protecting communism at home and abroad was equally importantly.
Protecting communism at home and abroad was less important.

Q4.
Which country left the Warsaw Pact after the invasion of Czechoslovakia?

Correct answer: Albania
East Germany
Poland
Yugoslavia

Q5.
Why did the Brezhnev Doctrine deter pressure for reform in Eastern Europe?

Correct answer: The USSR had made it clear it saw reforms as a threat.
The USSR made it clear it saw reforms as a waste of time.
The USSR made it clear that reforms were necessary.

Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.

1 - Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe established
2 - Warsaw Pact formed
3 - Hungarian Uprising
4 - Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956
5 - Prague Spring
6 - Czechoslovakia invaded
7 - Brezhnev Doctrine published

Additional material

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Lesson appears in

UnitHistory / Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972

AQAHistory

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