Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union as a virtual dictator between 1928 and 1954. During the first ten years of his rule, Stalin introduced dramatic change to the Soviet Union in the areas of industrialization, agriculture, culture and education. While there were some benefits for both the nation a...

Why was there working class protest in East Germany in June 1953 The troubles in East Germany in June 1953 reached a peak on June 17th, when there were mass demonstrations and a General Strike throughout the German Democratic Republic. (G.D.R.). There has been many reasons cited for these protests...

Communism in Eastern Europe was a tragedy. It did do well in Eastern Europe for quite a while, however, it was doomed to failure. Communism was condemned due to lack of support from other nations, condemned due to the lack of an efficient solution to the economical failure, and condemned due to the ...

History has shown that strong individuals and revolutionary ideas can have a major impact on a country. Leaders are often driven by what they perceive as a desire to create a more perfect country. Frequently their egos and methods sway them from the realization of the ideals they set out to achi...

Stalin and Industrialization in the 1930's For many countries in Europe during the early nineteen hundreds, industrialization had already left its mark and was considered widespread. Other countries were several steps behind such industrial powers as Great Britain. Their economies still dep...

Stalin came to power at a time when the peasants were beginning to make a means to an end and could see for themselves a better life. However, it was Stalin's attempt to make Russia a super power, which ultimately came at a very high price for the Russian people. A common misconception of Le...

Although many of his ideas did not bring the expected results, Nikita Khrushchev policies of de-Stalinization were politically wise. He went against many of Stalin's tyrannical policies and gave the people a much greater sense of freedom. In the process known as "de-Stalinization", legal proced...

"War! Good God ya'll! What is it good for?! Absolutely nothing! Listen to me!" To whomever have heard the lyrics of Edwin Starr's War is likely to have had some opinion formulated about how war is a destructive force in itself. In a world where power is absolute and idolized like an omnipotent force...

A war crime is any of various crimes, such as genocide or the mistreatment of prisoners of war, committed during a war and considered in violation of the conventions of warfare. War crimes are constantly being committed during war and something has to be done. There have been too many instances wh...

World War II devastated Europe such a great deal that it would take many years before the entirety of the continent of Europe would be as strong as it once was before the twentieth century history which, at that point, had been almost totally consisting of wars. Following World War II, European nat...