History
3867 readers
37 users here now
Welcome to History!
This community is dedicated to sharing and discussing fascinating historical facts from all periods and regions.
Rules:
NOTE WELL: Personal attacks and insults will not be tolerated. Stick to talking about the historical topic at hand in your comments. Insults and personal attacks will get you an immediate ban for a period of time determined by the moderator who bans you.
-
Post about history. Ask a question about the past, share a link to an article about something historical, or talk about something related to history that interests you. Please encourage discussion whenever possible.
-
No memes. No ads. No promos. No spam.
-
No porn.
-
We like facts and reliable sources here. Don't spread misinformation or try to change the historical record.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
1
2
A fellow officer said his body was a collander upon seeing him at a bath
34 wounds in total, and lived to 80
3
4
131
Irish independence poster, 1981 (The woman is former British PM Margaret Thatcher)
(lemmy.blahaj.zone)
5
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/16483707
Drawing
Marienberg/Saxony, 4. April 1943
42x30cm
© German Historical Museum, Berlin
Inv.-No.: Thu 61/144
The hand-drawn and hand-coloured map sketch illustrates Great German fantasies of the “New Europe” under German rule: The “East” supplies the German Empire, enlarged by conquests, with products from industry and agriculture.
(obligatory fuck Nazis)
6
7
8
9
10
A Unified History Textbook
The President of the country has issued a directive to quickly create a standardized history textbook for schools. The idea is to teach the history of the country based solely on historical documents and facts, rather than allowing individual interpretations. This decision by the President is correct, though somewhat delayed. Creating such a textbook, which would present the country's past from a single perspective, is no easy task. Over the past 20 years, some misguided patriots and so-called scholars have already managed to distort and desecrate the history of the country and its historical figures. Some have even suggested that the period from 1917 to 1991 should be completely erased from Russian history. However, I can’t imagine how they plan to do that. I lived through 61 years of Soviet rule, so I know firsthand what that period was like.
In this brief work, I don’t aim to either praise or criticize the Soviet period. I can only say that it is the history of my homeland. The good things make me proud, while the bad things cause me pain. As a historian by education, my long life gives me the basis to say that there has never been a socio-political system that satisfied all layers of society, and I believe it is impossible to create such a system. The Soviet system had many flaws, as has been widely discussed. There was both the dark side, such as mass repression, and the bright side, such as the industrialization that was crucial for the victory in the Great Patriotic War. There was also the space breakthrough and the creation of the nuclear shield, which protected and continues to protect the country from potential aggression.
Questions on Soviet History
I don’t intend to either vilify or glorify the Soviet system. But as a historian, I have questions that remain unanswered by modern scholars and political scientists. For instance, after the fall of Tsarism, was there any other political force that could have preserved Russia within the borders of the Russian Empire, other than the Bolsheviks? If there was, why didn’t they succeed? If we hadn’t built a powerful industrial base, how would we have defended our country’s freedom and independence? All this was achieved relying solely on internal resources, without foreign investment.
The Role of Leaders in History
Another question: If leaders like Bukharin, Zinoviev, Trotsky, Kamenev, Yeltsin, Khrushchev, Gorbachev, or Brezhnev had been in charge during the Great Patriotic War, would we have won? I believe that answers to these questions should guide the evaluation of Stalin’s actions. It's important to remember that Stalin did not wield great power before the 1930s. His policies, such as industrialization and collectivization, faced significant opposition from influential party members. The cult of personality around Stalin only developed later. My generation remembers well how he was glorified, and it’s true that speaking out of line could result in severe punishment. But does that mean everyone who was repressed was an innocent victim? Not necessarily. The country was surrounded by deadly enemies, and even today, some of our neighbors are not very friendly towards us.
Reflecting on the Past and Present
When some people today label Stalin as a criminal and compare him to Hitler, I want to ask them: how do they reconcile this with the pride millions of Soviet citizens feel for their medals won in battles for their homeland? These are complex issues that deserve careful thought. It’s also worth noting that Stalin returned the Kuril Islands, Port Arthur, and Kaliningrad to Russia—facts that are often overlooked by our historians. Finally, I would like to point out the stark difference between what Stalin left behind for his children and what Yeltsin left for his heirs. Stalin didn’t even own a personal apartment, while today we see the luxurious lifestyles of Russia’s modern rulers.
The Challenges of Writing History
Creating a history textbook that satisfies everyone in our society is incredibly challenging. Perhaps our historians, political scientists, and journalists should express their views on this matter more openly, aiming to find a more acceptable version of the textbook. It’s important to remember that history isn’t just about highlighting the dark sides. We should respect and take pride in the achievements of our ancestors. At the same time, we should also focus on the present, addressing the issues that arose in the tumultuous 1990s. Unfortunately, capitalism has not yet delivered the desired results for our country and its people.
The Complexity of Evaluating Historical Figures
In conclusion, it's essential to approach evaluations of any historical figure with objectivity. For example, I agree with historian Roy Medvedev’s assessment of Stalin, which is based on thorough and serious research. In the planned history textbook, it will be difficult to cover Stalin's activities, including the events of 1937, relations with Germany, and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. I clearly remember the criticism and uproar over this pact. But I would ask those critics one question: what would have happened if we hadn’t moved the border 150 kilometers westward before Germany’s sudden advance?
The moral character of the Romanov dynasty is also worth discussing. Where people live well, there are no revolutions or mass killings. The current trend in political literature to idealize the Romanovs overlooks their flaws. Let’s not present Tsarism in an overly positive light, and let’s recognize the role it played in leaving Russia trailing behind Europe today.
12
13
14
15
16
17
I am a Сomrade Сolonel, born in 1930, and I grew up in Tbilisi. I graduated from the 20th Men’s School with honors and later from Tbilisi State University in 1966 with a degree in history, earning a red diploma. I mention this not to boast but because it relates directly to the relationships between Ossetians and Georgians. It’s worth noting that I was nominated for a gold medal by Nelli Kuparadze, a wonderful person whose brother commanded the Georgian division in Batumi. The red diploma was awarded after the university rector reviewed my thesis on the relationships between Ossetia and Russia in the second half of the 18th century.
The Example of My Life
Through my life, I want to show how these almost related peoples can live together peacefully and respectfully. My first teacher, Lena Ugrekhelidze, loved me like her own child. I was christened by the Karumidze family from Khashmi. The Georgian people have done much good for the Ossetians. Despite its flaws, the Soviet government did not allow hostility between nations. I never paid attention to the fact that I was Ossetian, and all my friends in school were Georgians. Of course, not everything was perfect under Soviet rule, but it was not hostile. There was unofficial discrimination, for example, with most ordinary police officers being Ossetians while only Georgians could be officers. It was impossible to advance in your career with an Ossetian surname. Many Ossetians changed their surnames to sound more Georgian, as did Greeks, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and others.
Observations on the Dialogue Between an Ossetian and a Georgian
On November 24, I listened to a dialogue between an Ossetian and a Georgian. I hadn’t heard such a calm, almost friendly conversation between them in a long time. I liked much of what Kuparadze and his companion said, but I disagree with some points, particularly their assessment of U.S. policy. The U.S. may not be seizing foreign lands now, but they have a history of wars in Latin America and horrific crimes in Japan. I served in Cuba in 1962-63 and saw the results of American "care" for the Cubans—poverty and humiliation. And what about Guantanamo? Isn’t it Cuban territory? Why doesn’t America return Guantanamo to Cuba? There’s no need to seize a country when you can simply buy off its loudest leaders.
The Influence of the U.S. on Georgia and Ukraine
Isn’t Georgia under U.S. influence? The U.S. armed Georgia for its war against South Ossetia, encouraging them to kill each other, offering more weapons. Isn’t Ukraine under U.S. control? Why conquer what willingly falls under their boot? Georgia has been under Western and U.S. influence for 30 years. Has the Georgian people’s quality of life improved compared to their time with Russia? I know well how life was in Soviet Georgia. Today’s modern patriots shout about 200 years of occupation, but these false patriots never experienced the occupation that Russia saved Georgia from.
Reflection on Georgia's History and Current Situation
In "occupied" Georgia, there was a highly developed industry, agriculture, healthcare, culture, and education. Compare today’s Georgia with the Soviet era. Is Russia the enemy, as the slogans of the so-called patriots claim? About a million Georgians live, work, and hold respectable positions in Russia, and no one calls them enemies. Compare this with the situation of Russians in Georgia. Before 1991, there were 460,000 Russians in Georgia; now, perhaps around 50,000 remain.
In Soviet Georgia, all leadership positions, from village council chairpersons to large enterprises, from party committee secretaries to the first secretary of the Central Committee, were held by Georgians or those with Georgian surnames. Georgians even held leadership roles in the Soviet Union. So, who occupied you? You were occupied by your own corrupt leaders who became secret millionaires.
The Challenge of Georgian-Ossetian Relations
The relationship with Ossetians is complex. I recommend starting by reading the works of historian Dr. Max (Mark) Bliyev on Georgian-Ossetian relations, including figures like Machabeli, Amilakhvari, and Nugzar Eristavi. These Georgian princes, whom Russia preserved with all their privileges, used the Russian army to conquer Ossetia, resettling part of the population from South Ossetia to other regions to make it easier to destroy those left behind. Georgian nobles like Valiko Jugeli also committed atrocities against Ossetians, including the brutal killing of pregnant women. Georgians should at least apologize to the Ossetian people for the genocide they perpetrated over the centuries.
On NATO Membership and Georgia's Future
Regarding your potential NATO membership, of course, it’s your decision to join whatever you choose. But beware of cutting off your nose to spite your face. As a military man who served 30 years in air defense forces, including three years in Georgia, I can tell you that Georgia’s missile defense system won’t protect the country from an attack. However, no attack will occur unless NATO military facilities are stationed there. And if NATO defends you and destroys Russia with nuclear weapons, what will happen to Georgia when a nuclear-devastated Russia is your neighbor? Think about this before joining any alliance.
The best solution for preserving the people is military neutrality. But ultimately, the choice is yours. I’m just expressing my opinion as someone with certain knowledge about Russia’s missile and nuclear weapons.
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
7
Culture and National Identity: Lessons from the Soviet Legacy and Paths to Reconciliation
(lemmy.ml)
Reflections on Culture and National Identity
Recently, I happened to hear a respected lady, a State Duma deputy from the Communist Party (KPRF), who seems to be an actress, discussing the topic of culture on TV. She claimed that nowadays, there is culture for the rich and culture for the poor. I believe that when we discuss cultural issues, we need to be more attentive.
The Soviet Approach to National Identity and Culture
In Soviet times, we agreed that nationality did not matter in the Soviet Union; we were all Soviet. Our culture was socialist in content. The moral, ethical norms, language, religion, and spiritual world that each nation had developed over centuries were considered irrelevant to the Soviet system. This disregard for national cultures brought about severe consequences after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
I was born and grew up under Soviet rule, and it really seemed to us that nationality, customs, and traditions were relics of the past. We were all one Soviet people. The Communist Party, at its 22nd Congress, set the task of educating a new generation of people who would live in communism, free from national traits, culture, and traditions, with a communist culture and Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Lessons from the 1990s
The 1990s opened my eyes to many things. Our dismissive attitude towards the national cultures of the Soviet Union’s peoples, our lack of understanding of the spiritual world of Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Balts, Caucasians, and others, resulted in significant strife and animosity among the nations. The turmoil of the 1990s saw many Russians in the Soviet republics and even autonomous regions of the RSFSR forced to leave Russia. This was due to the fact that many Russians, having lived in these republics for decades, did not know the local languages. Soviet rule did not emphasize learning local languages or cultures, as Russian was the state language across all republics.
Consider Soviet history textbooks. They are called "History of the USSR," yet they barely cover the history of the union republics, sometimes only a few lines in small print. We lived together, fought together in WWII, and built grand communist projects, yet we knew little about each other. Central television and radio broadcasts rarely featured content about the national cultures of the Soviet republics. Only during cultural weeks dedicated to these republics did such content appear, and in the later years, even that practice ceased.
The Current Media Landscape
Today, television is dominated by figures like Pugacheva and her family, and a few others who claim to be stars, though their light is rather dim. If only Yeltsin had studied the history and culture of the Chechens before making his disastrous decision to send tanks to Grozny, he might not have taken such a reckless step that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and severe hardship for millions. I recommend that those dealing with the North Caucasus study the works of the Russian military historian Potto V.A., as they offer many answers to today’s questions.
The current terrorist attacks in our metro are a continuation of the same war that began in 1994. The responsibility for these inhumane attacks lies with those buried with great honors in Novodevichy Cemetery. I understand the anxiety of Moscow residents and others about what the future holds. Can one safely take the metro to work or school tomorrow? The way out is to respect other people's cultures. Instead of always showcasing celebrities like Galikin, central television could feature the lives and cultures of people from the Caucasus. We should highlight their culture, including their writers, musicians, and artists, and present their way of life and ethnography. The Caucasians have made many positive contributions to Russia, yet we hear only negativity.
Bridging Cultural Gaps
We should show performances from dancers in Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan, and Ossetia on central television. By showcasing their culture to all of Russia, perhaps even those who resort to extremism might reconsider their actions. While it is true that Caucasians sometimes act inappropriately, this often stems from a defensive reaction due to feeling unappreciated and disrespected. They should also learn the language and culture of the people they live among. Mass media plays a significant role here. Xenophobia leads to bloodshed and destruction; it is an axiom.
Personal Reflection
I am also a Highlander, an Ossetian. I have lived among Russians for over 60 years and have never felt that I was treated unfairly. I converse with Russians as equals because I know Russian culture as well as any Russian. Russian writers have greatly expanded my worldview and improved my understanding of the environment. I have always admired Russian classical and folk music, and nothing compares to Russian painting. But what is most important is that the Russian people, by protecting my people, saved them from complete annihilation. To understand how deeply connected we are, one must know the history of Russia and their own people. The best way to get to know each other is through increased cultural exchange. This is the key to overcoming hostile relations.
25
view more: next ›