Eastern Kentucky University

The Second World War was one of the most challenging periods humanity has ever faced. The world was plagued by death and destruction caused by feuding countries in a war of power. During the war, the United States of America and the Soviet Union played a great role. Their military forces helped bring down Nazi Germany and recovered what was left of Europe. But issues ensued during these trying times that caused these wartime allies turn on each other and become enemies during the Cold War. What…

Communism, a type of government in Eastern Europe at a time, where everyone was poor, became every citizen’s worst nightmare. Drakulić, Slavenka’s, How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed (1992), describes the struggle of Eastern European citizens, specifically women in the fight to end communism. Slavenka Drakulić was a Croatian journalist who travelled through various countries such as Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia East Germany, and Bulgaria, spending time with women and listening to…

Frederick Taylor author of The Berlin Wall: A World Divided 1961-1989 written in 2007, brings to the front an almost forgotten event in history. He writes an in depth novel of what precipitated the events before the wall was built, and after it was torn down. Taylor gives a thorough account of the happenings, and with the use of evidence, personal account, interviews, and opinion he gives a delightful and at time somewhat controversial account of the Berlin Wall. The author gives account of the…

any countries which accepted aid from the Marshal Plan. The USSR introduced the Molotov Plan, which offered aid to countries economically and physically destroyed after the war, in order to combat the Marshal Plan. The Molotov Plan also forbid any Eastern European countries under Soviet control from taking any finical aid from the Marshal Plan . The USSR controlled portion of Berlin was poorly politically and economically managed which led the Berliners to favour the…

The Berlin Journal by Robert Darnton provides an account on the reunification of East and West Berlin. Throughout the journal, Darnton reveals how confronting the past is an important step in moving forward. Darnton also examines the different meanings the Berlin Wall symbolized for East and West Berliners. Finally, the effects of reunification on the economic system were a concern among East Berliners as they did not want to let go of socialism. The three major themes in Darnton’s Berlin…

The Berlin Airlift was a very important point in history. People were still shaken up from World War II and many countries, especially Germany, were hit hard. Even though the Soviets believed that they had control over the destiny of West Berlin, the Berlin Airlift was an example of the determination of western nations to not give in to the threats of communism and oppression. Many lives were saved through this act of heroism. The Berlin Airlift is a time in history that will always ring in the…

The Marshall Plan was the idea behind a speech made by U.S. Secretary of State, George C. Marshall that suggested that the United States assist Europe with their economic devastation; however, there was no actual “plan.” Once the plan was approved and became the European Recovery Program it lasted from April 1948 to December 1951. During that time there was approximately $12.5 billion dollars given to 12 European countries. The Marshall Plan did have its faults but overall was a success in…

On June 12, 1987, former President Ronald Reagan gave one of his famous speeches, “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate.” On a superficial level, Reagan uses the speech to petition to the Soviet Union for peace, nuclear and chemical arms reduction, and the demolition of the Berlin Wall. He also highlights the progress and prosperity that have arisen in the western world since the division between communism and democracy was established. Beyond the surface, Reagan subtly disparages communism while…

the base of the Brandenburg Gate. This speech contained a very powerful message for the General Secretary of East Germany at the time. It included, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”(Hay,91) Large numbers of East Germans fled to West Germany by way of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. The border…

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev What: Prokofiev, a Russian composer, was born in 1891, in Sontsovka, Ukraine. Growing up, Prokofiev played piano and was taught by some of the most profound musicians of the classical era such as: Lyadov, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Nicolai Myaskovsky. Once he graduated he began performing in Moscow, his Alma Mater, and then all over Western Europe. Throughout this time he progressed as an artist and continued to compose more and more music. Prokofiev started on the…