Dymisje ministrów w lutym 1948 r. – jak było naprawdę?
Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość, Bd. 19 Nr. 1 (2012), pages: 495-501
Publication date: 2012-06-30
Abstract
The dismissal of the non-communist politicians was the key event of the February
1948 political crisis in Czechoslovakia. The communists offi cially claimed that
there were 12 dismissals even though on the critical day of 25 February 1948
President Beneš signed the total number of 14 dismissals. He could do
something completely different in that situation to overcome the political crisis. His
unconstitutional decision to support the Prime Minister and Communist Party of
Czechoslovakia leader Klement Gottwald aided the communists’ smooth overtake
of power, which was actually a coup. There are various speculations as to why he
did that. It seems, however, that he was under pressure of Soviet secret agents,
who threatened line with the expectations of the Soviet government and, fi rst and
foremost, of Stalin himself.