Gustáv Husák (January 10th 1913 has Dúbravka (suburbs of Bratislava) - November 18th 1991 has Bratislava) was a Slovak politician of foreground within the Czechoslovakian Communist party and statesman Tchécoslovaque at the time of the “Normalization” which followed the Printemps of Prague and president of the Czechoslovakia of 1975 to 1989.

Its life

Wire of a workman to unemployment, it very early becomes communist. It joined the rows of the Union of Socialist Youths whereas it is with the college has Bratislava. In 1933, whereas it begins its studies, he becomes member of the Czechoslovakian Communist party (KSČ). During the war, it is on several occasions interned for illegal communist activities (the Party was prohibited by the government of Jozef Tiso). In 1944, it is one of the leaders of resistance against the Nazis and the fascistic government of Tiso.

Post-war period, he is member of the Slovak government and civil servant of the Czechoslovakian Communist party. As a quasi Prime Minister of Slovakia, it takes an active share in the liquidation of the Slovak Democratic party which had gained the elections in 1946 with 62% of the voices, empéchant the takeover of the Communists in Czechoslovakia.

In 1950, it is victim of the Stalinist purgings within the party and it is condemned to the life imprisonment. Convinced Communist, it makes call of his judgment and asks for a revision of his lawsuit. The president of Czechoslovakia, Antonín Novotný, rejects any leniency, on the one hand because " one does not know what, it will be able when it is with the pouvoir" , in addition because of a " slovaquophobie" proven. Husák is released in 1963 and is reinstated within the Party within the framework of the process of Déstalinisation. In 1968, he is member of the government of Alexander Dubček.

Whereas the Soviet Union is increasingly anxious liberal reforms of the Printemps of Prague, Husák calls with moderation. Member of the Czechoslovakian delegation in Moscow, he becomes the leader of those who wishes to put a term at the reforms of Dubček. One can include/understand this attitude, having spent six years of his life in prison, Husák is pragmatic and intelligent - the wind turns…

Profiting from the support of Moscow, it progresses quickly within the apparatus of the Czechoslovakian Communist party before becoming president of Czechoslovakia in 1975. The two decades of the leadership of Husák are known under the name of “standardization”, the relations with Moscow are closer than ever and Prague becomes the model pupil and the vassal honest one. Without being bloody, the domination of the PC is without division grace, inter alia, with the omnipresence of the StB, the political police which controls narrowly the activities of the dissidents (Charte 77).

In 1987, it leaves the direction of the Party to the leaders resulting from a younger generation. December 10th, 1989, he resigns of his position of president following the Révolution of velvet. In February 1990, it is excluded from the party and dies, in a quasi-general indifference, on November 18th, 1991.

Anecdote

Gustav Husak was a pitiless adversary of the Catholic church when it was with the capacity: a mass called in clandestinity was worth with the refractory priest 5 years of prison. However, its death day before, it required to meet a catholic priest and was confessed!

Occupied functions

• 1933-1938/1939 and of December 1989 in February 1990: simple member
• spring 1945: member of the Provisional Central committee (active in the part of Czechoslovakia released by the Red Army)
• 1949-1951 and of August 31st, 1968 has 1989: member of the Central committee and (except for 1949-1951), member of the Presidium
• April 1969 - 1987: First Secretary of the Presidium and from 1971 General secretary
• December 17th, 1987: resignation of the position of secretary general (replaced by Miloš Jakeš)

Slovak Communist party (illegal KSS in 1939-1944/1945)

• 1939-1945: prominent member
• 1943-1944: member of the illegal Central committee
• 1944-1950 and 1968-1971: member of the Central committee and (except in 1944-1948) Secretary of the Central committee and (except in 1970-1971) member of the Presidium
• 1944-1945: vice-president
• August 28th, 1968 - 1969: with the head of the Party („First Secretary “)

Slovak National council (during the 2nd world war body of resistance, as from 1968 Slovak Parliament)

• 1943-1944: one of the principal organizers
• 1944-1950 and December 1968 to 1971: deputy
• 1944-1950: member of the Presidium
• 1944-1945: vice-president

the Council of the police chiefs (Zbor povereníkov) (a quasi-government responsible for the Slovak part)

• 1944-1945: Police chief inside
• 1945-1946: Police chief with transport and technology
• 1946-1950: President of the Council of the Police chiefs, function in which he plays an active role in the elimination of the influential Slovak Democratic party by the Communists
• 1948-1950: Police chief with agriculture and the land reforms
• 1949-1950: Police chief for the food

Czechoslovakian Parliament (called National Assembly and as from 1968 Federal Parliament)

• 1945-1951 and 1968-1975: deputy
• 1969-1975: member of the Presidium

Czechoslovakian Government

• 1968 (April-December): Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Alexander Dubček, time of the Spring of Prague
• 1975-1989: President of the Republic
• December 10th 1989: resignation of the position of president within the framework of the Revolution of Velvet