Confusion

The events of August 1968. The wounded are lying in the hospital. Tanks and transporters of the occupation troops are passing through the streets. People in the streets post several anti-occupation signs in Czech and Russian and slogans in support of Czechoslovak politicians led by Ludvík Svoboda and Alexander Dubček. They gather at the monuments, trying to communicate with the occupiers. In front of the building of the Czechoslovak Radio on Vinohradská třída in Prague are people trying to protect this institution. On the statue of St. Wenceslas on Wenceslas Square are several banners with slogans. Jerusalem Street, Old Town Square with the statue of Master Jan Hus and Jungmann Square with the statue of Josef Jungmann, as well as Senovážné Square and Republic Square are also occupied by Soviet tanks. Hradčanské Square is also barricaded. Another gathering of citizens occurred in front of the Austrian Embassy in Smíchov. The Vinohrady Theatre is festooned with banners and flags. In a chaotic atmosphere, an extraordinary 14th Congress of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia is taking place in the Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk (ČKD) hall in Vysočany. The participants of the congress fill the hall, negotiating until late night hours. The occupation has claimed several lives in Prague – citizens in the streets pay their respects to the dead. The crowd in front of the office of the National Assembly loudly welcomes politician Josef Smrkovsky.