On February 21, twelve non-Communist ministers resign…

On February 21, twelve non-Communist ministers resign in protest after Nosek refuses to reinstate eight non-Communist senior police officers despite a majority vote of the cabinet in favor of doing so.

The non-Communists assume that Beneš will refuse to accept their resignations, keeping them in a caretaker government and in the process embarrassing the Communists enough to make them yield.

Beneš initially insists that no new government can be formed that does not include ministers from the non-Communist parties.

However, an atmosphere of mounting tension, coupled with massive Communist-led demonstrations occurring throughout the country, convinces Beneš to remain neutral over the issue, for fear the KSČ foment an insurrection and give the Red Army a pretext to invade the country and restore order.

Had Beneš held his line, the Communists would not have been able to form a government.

The only non-violent means of crisis resolution being to give way to the non-Communists or to risk defeat in early elections which the KSČ would not have had time to rig.

The non-Communists see this as a moment of opportunity, needing to act quickly before the interior ministry has total control over the police and hamper the free electoral process.