On January 16, 21-year-old philosophy student Jan Palach protested the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia by setting his gasoline-soaked clothing on fire.

More than 500,000 mourners attended the funeral services in Prague for Jan Palach.

On April 17, Alexander Dubcek was removed as First Secretary of the Communist Party by the Central Committee, and was replaced by Slovak party leader Gustav Husák. Dubcek retained full membership in the Party Presidium and on April 28 was elected chairman of the Federal Assembly. He was removed as chairman by the Central Committee on September 28, however, and on December 15 he was made Ambassador to Turkey.

SEE ALSO
In the Year 1969
Alexander Dubcek

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This page was last updated on November 02, 2017.