University of Virginia Library

Professor Describes Action
During Slovak Occupation

A University professor who
watched the Russian tanks rumble
into Prague, Czechoslovakia, last
month says Russian civilians in the
city appeared ashamed of the
Soviet-led invasion.

Richard S. Mitchell, head of the
University's geology department,
heard the Russian planes roar
overhead on the night preluding the
lightning-fast invasion of August 20
from his hotel room near the heart
of the city.

Big Russian tanks jerked along
the avenues as Czech citizens stood
in sadness, some taunting the
Russian soldiers, he said. Others
argued with the Russians. Trying to
reason with them, young Czechs
passed out underground newspapers
to the Russian troopers.

Mr. Mitchell had arrived in
Prague on Monday, August 19,
where about 500 American
geologists and their wives were
attending the International
Geological Congress.

Mr. Mitchell, who visited
Rumania, Hungary, Russia and
Poland before entering
Czechoslovakia, said he was
impressed by the Czech mode of
life under liberalization.

"Compared to what we saw in
other member states of the Soviet
bloc, the people seemed to be
better dressed; the shops better
stocked. There were also Hippie
types that were not in evidence in
the other countries. That in itself is
an expression of more personal
freedom," he said.

Then the bubble burst on
Wednesday. Lively discussion over
mugs of Pilsen beer subsided and
was replaced by more sober
reflections.

"None of the Americans were
particularly worried," Mr. Mitchell
said. "But nobody knew what the
future held in store."

Cars and buses crumpled by
Soviet tanks were grim evidence of
the Russian move, he said. He heard
from a friend that the impressive
facade of the Museum of Natural
History on Wenceslas Square "now
carried the scars of a shelling.
Apparently the interior was not
damaged, however."

Mr. Mitchell had visited the
museum on the day before the
invasion and had seen its excellent
mineral collection. "It was in the
center of where the action was," he
said.

During nights of Soviet
occupation, the University
professor witnessed a weird
fireworks display of tracer bullets
against the blackness.

Day came and he sensed the
sadness on the streets: "Some
people were crying - one
Communist, who had fought for
the Russians during the war, said
that so far as he was concerned,
Communism was dead.

"'They are supposed to be our
brothers,' the man said."

The Russian delegates at the
congress were apparently ashamed
of their country's action, said Mr.
Mitchell. "They removed tags
identifying them as Russians."