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	HU OSA 391
Fonds 391:	Photographs of Gabriel Bodnar on the 1968 invasion of Kosice

Date(s) 1968

Extent and medium 38 photos in 1 oversized box

Name of creator(s) Gabriel Bodnar

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Gabriel Bodnar, Kosice, Slovak Republic

Scope and content

38 furtively taken B&W photographs on the Warsaw Pact troops entering Kosice in eastern Slovakia in 1968. The Soviet and Bulgarian forces arrived in town on August 21; the local population showed scattered resistance: they threw stones at the military and their carriers, and at places mounted barricades from rail carriages. Even though there was no armed resistance, seven local people died during the invasion.

The close-ups vividly show the consternation and shock of the citizens. Anti-Soviet slogans and posters rapidly appeared on the sidewalks and buildings of the town. On one of the trucks someone quickly drew a swastika in white chalk.

The troops participating in the invasion were withdrew to their original bases in November 1968.

Accruals Not expected

Conditions governing access Open for research

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The prints were digitized, see online gallery below

Finding aids

• Related OSA Reference Information Paper available. (RIP 7: The Prague Spring, 1968)
• Online photo gallery

Related units of description

• HU OSA 300-30-14 Collection of Documents on 1968, 1968

Note

Keywords: Soviet invasion, Warsaw Pact, Czechoslovakia 1968, resistance

Date(s) of descriptions

Arranged and described by Miklós Tamási and Csaba Szilágyi in June 2007
Online version updated 19 April 2012