On April 26, 1986 an explosion occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine that spread mass quantities radioactive particles into the atmosphere. The plant experienced a power surge and when an emergency shutdown was attempted an even large spike in power occurred which caused the reactor to rupture. Over 40,000 people had to […]
Red Star
Afghan War Is the Soviet Vietnam
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The Soviet Union military involvement in Afghanistan lead to the forming of one the most cohesive social groups in Soviet Union society the Afghan veterans. These veterans formed a bond with one another because of similar situations that they faced in combat. Just like the United States veterans of the Vietnam War played a cultural […]
The Quagmire Of Afghanistan
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At the height of the Cold War both the United States and the Soviet Union fervently worked towards expanding their influence over other countries. Afghanistan was a natural target for Soviet ambitions because of its relative location to that of … Continue reading →
Moscow to Sochi: The Legacy of the Russian Olympic Host
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On February 7th, the Olympic Games will return to Russia for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Summer Games. Unfortunately, just like the Moscow Games, the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia are surrounded with controversy. Amid the return of the Olympics, and some calls for a boycott, reminders of the boycott of the Moscow […]
Corn is Key
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One of Khrushchev’s original goals as leader of the Soviet Union was to have a revolution, not within the government, but in agriculture. Khrushchev understood how important it was to have food on the table for his Soviet comrades, because if they could not eat, then they would not be productive workers. He …read more
Reviving Russia: It’s not Rocket Science, Or Is It?
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The Soviet Union efforts at rapid industrialization and technological advancement from the announcement of the First Five-Year Plan in 1929 through the Cold War space race of the 1960’s did make great strides towards catching up to the rapidly evolving Continue reading →
Bombs Away
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Throughout the 1940’s and 50’s the United States and Russia were in a constant battle to outpace each other in the development of military armaments. With the ever-present tension, both nations felt that war could be looming on the horizon Continue reading →
No Cost Could be Too High
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Russian soldiers charge into battle with the legendary T-34 tank. To understand why Russia wanted so much land on its western front after World War II, one must look at the results of World War II. Russia wanted and needed … Continue reading →
From Russia with Love
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In the mist of World War II, gender roles were once again on the forefront in socialist Russia. The roles of men and women were played out in the 1930’s and were thought to be settled by many Russians. The truth was that in the time of war many young Russians played on this romantic […]
Soviet Deception in the Katyn Forest Massacre
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THE DISCOVERY In 1943, German troops discovered a mass grave near Smolensk in Katyn Forest. They realized that the Soviets were responsible for the graves as they had uncovered evidence that these bodies were those of thousands Polish officers that … Continue reading →