It is very important to note that during detente the Cold War was still being fought. You did a great job including the fact the United States still engaged in anti-communist/counter-insurgency activities despite relations between the United States and…
Author: Spencer Maclay
Comment on Showdown at Damanskii! by Spencer Maclay
It is funny to see Marx’s prophecy of communism fall apart. While Marx believed in International Communism doing away with borders, the conflict at Damanskii shows that this is far from the truth. Good research, good post!
Comment on The Housing Crisis and the Rise of “Khrushchev’s Slums” by Spencer Maclay
It is a sad legacy to have your name tied to a project referred to as a slum. Siegelbaum’s essay says the housing crisis was caused by waves of urbanization, what encouraged people to move to cities?
Comment on No aggression coming from your pal Hitler, *wink wink* by Spencer Maclay
First off, I want to say that you included some fantastic media in your post. I especially like the poster of Old Man Winter. You hinted at the Soviet’s scorched earth strategy as a reason for success against the German invasion, which I agree played a role in the Soviet victory. I would like to ask how the Soviet citizens were impacted by the policy of scorched earth, did they retreat or were they left behind for German occupation?
Additionally, I think you might want to check your source on the German-Polish Non-Aggression Treaty. I think the treaty was in 1934, not 1939.
Good post
Comment on Prisoners of War and “de-Stalinization” by Spencer Maclay
That blatnoi slang is so fascinating, I will have to look up examples of it. The GULAG system is a great source of morbid curiosity. You can only imagine how miserable the conditions are at the two camps on the far right corner (on the map). It surpris…
Comment on A new direction in the Soviet Union by Spencer Maclay
Very solid outline of the time period. I am glad you mentioned the satellite states (Albania, Hungary, Poland, etc.) serving as buffer states for the Soviet Union. Even today, Russia is keen on having a buffer against potential threats.
Comment on The Veterans are Back in Town!! by Spencer Maclay
After World War II, the United States implemented the GI Bill, which gave veterans better access to educational opportunities and low-interest rates on loans, among other things. However, in the Soviet Union, we see none of that. I really like that you mention the government’s fear of the returning veterans and the historical precedent for that fear. Great post!
Comment on 5th Stop: Yantarny by Spencer Maclay
I agree that public school education has ignored the depth and level of participation of other countries in the Holocaust. The NPR story you included is fantastic. It’s astounding that an atrocity could be forgotten. I will have to read Neighbors, it sounds like a fascinating read. Great post!
Comment on The Holocaust and Forgotten Victims by Spencer Maclay
Elysia also wrote about the Holocaust, you should check out her post! In the history of World War II class, we discussed differences in the way that the East and West remembered the Holocaust and WW2. One of the big differences was the Soviet Union saw…
Comment on Stop 4: Partying in Moscow by Spencer Maclay
I like the inclusion of all the landmarks within Moscow, its a good touch! I am very interested in the Palace of Soviets, what was its purpose? Additionally, which one of these sites would you be most interested in visiting? Great post!
