From Milada Horokova's Visit To Czechoslovakia During The Cold War

That day came on May 9, 1945. Citizens of Prague had already been revolting against the Nazis for several months, with little success, when the Soviet Red Army came through Czechoslovakia and freed them from Nazi control. Unfortunately for the Czech, US General Patton, though as close by as Pilsen, had been ordered to stop there, and allow the Red Army to defend Prague, rather than advancing himself. Had Patton been the one to repel the Nazis, the Czech Republic likely would have taken a far different path going into the Cold War. As it was, the Soviet rescue increased the popularity of the Communist party in Czechoslovakia and established it as part of the Soviet sphere of influence in eastern Europe, which lead to forty years of oppressive communist control, nearly as miserable for the Czech as life under Nazi occupation.
Still, life seemed hopeful after the end of World War II finally came. Though the communist party had gained immense popularity
Surveillance was everywhere, even in “private” homes, keeping anyone from being able to speak freely or relax. No one was permitted to leave without express permission, and should someone escape, the family left behind would be severely punished. Under Stalin’s orders, the communist leaders of Czechoslovakia also carried out “purges”, sending people to jail without fair trial, and executing over a hundred people. Notably, the trials of Milada Horokova and Rudolf Slanksy were condemned by world leaders everywhere. Rather than cave into foreign pressure, however, the communist leaders in Czechoslovakia moved up their execution dates, as a slap in the face to the rest of the world. Censorship kept Czech culture, its artists and writers and more, from creating anything overtly “Czech”; art had to reflect Soviet ideals. The media was similarly gagged. A resident of Czechoslovakia during communist occupation described living there as, “[having] a permanent atmosphere of