The Polarka Project

IN the summer of 1968 military forces of the Soviet Union and four of its Warsaw Pact associates— Poland, East Germany, Hungary, and Bulgaria—invaded Czechoslovakia to put an end to the democratization of the regime—the Czech “Spring,” as it had come to be known—that had set in under the leadership of Alexander Dubcek. One incidental result of the Soviet move was the defection to the West of Major General Jan Sejna, who had been chief liaison officer between Czechoslovakia and the other Warsaw Pact nations. Sejna is the most important military professional who has defected from a Communist country.

A series of interviews with Sejna has just been published in an Austrian magazine called Profit, followed by a TV appearance and sharp controversy in the Austrian press. The interest Austrians have taken in what Sejna told them, and the equal though less publicized interest taken in neighboring Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, are not surprising.

JB

About the Author

James Burnham

Featured Tags

IN the summer of 1968 military forces of the Soviet Union and four of its Warsaw Pact associates— Poland, East Germany, Hungary, and Bulgaria—invaded Czechoslovakia to put an end to the democratization of the regime—the Czech “Spring,” as it had come to be known—that had set in under the leadership of Alexander Dubcek. One incidental result of the Soviet move was the defection to the West of Major General Jan Sejna, who had been chief liaison officer between Czechoslovakia and the other Warsaw Pact nations. Sejna is the most important military professional who has defected from a Communist country.

A series of interviews with Sejna has just been published in an Austrian magazine called Profit, followed by a TV appearance and sharp controversy in the Austrian press. The interest Austrians have taken in what Sejna told them, and the equal though less publicized interest taken in neighboring Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, are not surprising.