Anna Šauerová

"The radio constantly reported on the movements of the troops, how they were moving, where they were. There were even some amusing stories in those reports. Of course, as [the soldiers] rolled into Prague, there was shooting, tanks and so on. There were some amusing stories, I think it was, if I'm not mistaken... I think it was in Prostějov at the military unit. The Russians had the task of first occupying military units and preventing the defense of the state. And not just the Russians, the Warsaw Pact. To prevent the Russians or the troops from getting in, they pulled a huge photo or painting of Lenin out of a warehouse somewhere. They slammed it in front of the main gate and the Russians drove on. And when they drove by, they just saluted and drove off. And they kept looking for the entrance and always arrived, saluted, and drove off. So there were some funny moments like that."

"People started talking about problems. It wasn't all beautiful, bathed in bright sunshine, with a five-pointed star shining above everything, covering it all. It had been wonderful. And suddenly it wasn't all wonderful anymore. Suddenly, problems began to appear. I also told you that I remember a speech by the Minister of Agriculture, who said that merchants were fooling people with sickly chickens from Xaverov. And those were chickens that came to the store blue, emaciated, hanging there like poor things. And then people started talking about shortages, about theft, about fulfilling quotas, but more or less on paper. Problems began to emerge, not just the beautiful and good things that were supposed to be part of this wonderful socialism."