Austin, your post was awesome to read. I am glad you mentioned the progressive era of 30’s. I think you addressed one key aspect of the progressive era and restructuring of society to empower women as workers and soldiers. And as you pointed out with the Pavlichenko example women proved to be invaluable to the war effort! You also do a great job or providing how crucial snipers were to halting the Nazi invasion of 1939–especially in Stalingrad. Thanks for the interesting read.
Author: jndickey
Comment on Bye, Bye Vodka by jndickey
Lara, I found your topic interesting to read about. And I am not surprised that mortality rates and crime waves increased after these laws went into affect. To compare America to this, the same effects occurred after Prohibition. Mob waves and smuggling increased as did alcohol related fatalities because moonshiners did not have the same federal regulations as distilleries and sold dangerous product. It is crazy to see how many events in Russia’s history are similar to our own.
Comment on All Along the Watchtower: The Soviet Vietnam by jndickey
Tim, glad you included the cultural and social changes of the war in Afghanistan because it adds crucial pieces to the puzzle of the complex relationship between the USSR and its citizens in the 1980’s. You used a lot of great examples and comparisons that made your post easily understandable and interesting.
Comment on Death and Dissolution by jndickey
Hey Ajmal, I enjoyed the reading the post. Just so I am understanding your argument, the invasion and elongated involvement in Afghanistan is what ensured the fall of the Soviet Union. I like the quotes you use to communicate how impossible the task of conquering or puppeting Afghanistan was. I find it ironic the reversal of feudal ways, the political awakening of the masses, and revolution/counterrevolution in Afghanistan reminds me of the Bolshevik Revolution of the Soviet Union.
Comment on Complications Industrializing by jndickey
Sorry for the confusion, I see your point connecting my image to my post more. And I have an answer for you! It was small stations and railway lines like this one outside Murmansk that connected the USSR’s major resource hubs. These railways transported soldiers in WWII, moved the lumber, coal, and metals that factories utilized, and spread the ideas of the USSR’s varying cultures. The image gives a visual to much larger concepts that made the USSR able to function.
Comment on Complications Industrializing by jndickey
Dr. Nelson, thank you for the comment and that is a very important question. Geography has a much larger affect on economics and transportation than people give credit. Geography dictates transportation routes; it is imperative that the cheapest routes be built because straight lines can be incredibly expensive when traversing lakes, mountains, unable ground, dense forests, etc. Transportation routes are a key way to connect economic hubs, project political power (It’s how the US kept control of the West & how the Bolsheviks squashed the White and Green armies).
Comment on Staging Staged On-Stage Heroes by jndickey
Hi, Carolyn, great question and I would say “no.” People watch movies to enjoy a good story, and the movie has plenty of strong characters, sarcastic remarks, romance, and epic battles that covers the government’s intent to glorify its revolution. Comparatively in America, look at “The Patriot” with Mel Gibson. It is a fun movie and story to watch, but it also glorifies the current government’s origins.
Comment on Why Afghanistan? by jndickey
Ajmal, thank you for your comment. It is important to analyze Soviet intent with Babrak. And it is also important to understand the limitations of the Afghan political revolution that led to Russian intervention because I speculate that if Afghanistan’s political climate had been more stable the USSR would have intervened economically and politically (to have an ally help with the issues the USSR had) instead of militarily. I appreciate your input as it add a lot to this post!
Comment on Russian to Space by jndickey
Growing up here in the United States we hear a lot about the success of the moon landing and the pressure of the space race between the USSR and USA. It’s refreshing to read and be educated on the successes of the Soviet Union because they were, in fact, incredibly successful at conducting space missions and developing space travel technology. I think it is also humbling to see how the USSR made slow, gradual progression as a payoff to the hard work they put into the endeavor. I wonder exactly what the Soviet people thought of this, I can imagine they were proud and excited. But I am curious what the average person said about space travel, did Russians ever have ambitions to land on the moon, or land somewhere further? Interesting food for thought considering the limitations we face today despite having rapidly more advanced technology.
Comment on Caution: Crisis in Chernobyl by jndickey
Reading this post in conjunction with the movie, Babushkas of Chernobyl, you can really get a sense of how devastating this event was and is. It was devastating not only for the native Ukrainians but also peoples across the planet who felt the radioactive winds or sympathized with the uninformed citizens of a dishonest government. The picture you chose also resonates and gives a good visual of the type of environment that is left after this event. Thank you for the informative content.
