I did originally think of having a 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis diorama set in East Germany, before realizing that if war actually started, East German would be reduced to a radioactive parking lot because that would be where Soviet forces would go through.

After looking at the Osprey book on Warsaw Pact forces, I decided to relocate the scene to Czechoslovakia. Reason: another way through, except that the Czechoslovakian military was proven to be of poor value. (They even stayed in their barracks during the 1968 Soviet intervention.)

Um, what did Czechoslovakia look like in that era?

A Pretty broad statement Tom - any particular interest? Are you looking for diorama ideas (architecture, etc), info on the general population and the effect of the declining economy, The Stalin dominated years or the de-Stalinisation after his death, etc.


Being under Soviet influenced Communist rule from 1948 the country fared poorly. Everything was controlled and the economy failed under its leadership.

All Commercial and Industrial businesses having more than 50 employees were nationalised. Rural holdings were allowed to run with their owners for a while, but only on a notional independent basis.

With privately owned business pretty much wiped out, most of the population was employed in Government seized Industry working hard and long hours, to achieve production quotas on what was often inferior quality product. It was harsh, hard and thankless work just to put a meager ration on the table.

Eventually a significant portion of agriculture was nationalised, basically any 'wealthy farmer' lost his land.... and workers were moved to industry meaning the agricultural output was less and less.

The decades saw a lot of military presence on the streets during the time. Tanks & APC's in major cities, etc. Naturally there was a lot of dissent, which built up over the years and that eventually became a catalyst for Prague Spring... and that led to the Russian intervention in 1968.

Plenty of info on the net that might help you with your enquiry.

Visited the Czech Republic and Slovakia a couple of years ago and was fascinated by what I was told by our tour guide and his friends. He was young, but his parents and Grand parents lived through it all.

Yop and what a Czechoslovakian army make when our country was occupied by whole Warsaw Pact Armies ? A few soldiers from Special Forces (paratroopers)was prepare to save our leaders held by occupants. But later was this plan canceled, because all be transfered to Moscow. USA wasn't occupied (maybe shortly when Britons burbed WH)in modern history and Americans are armed nation, but where was a communistic totality and when is enemy into country and all allies are enemies now, when you can ? Only red state who sympatised was Tito's Yugoslavia but this is so far from Czechoslovakia...When coming a Freedom was damaged...

When you can make a Czechoslovakia in '60 you can use a mid/west European building (Austrian; Germany; Czech,Hungary)- not Russian or Ukraine style building and simple rurals / industrial / workers buildings...Czechoslovakia was WESTERN Country (only post war fall in to Communistic regime.- but historic we are Western).