1956 1.1: Death of a Comrade
When Diplomacy Fails Podcast11 Jan 2024

1956 1.1: Death of a Comrade

What happened when the architect of the Cold War passed away? Would the Soviet Union Stalin built adapt to a new successor, or would a set of chain reactions doom the empire in its cradle?


If you want to learn more about what followed after the Korean War – as a story and as a year of significance, 1956 has few equals, and we open our narrative with the event which set up all subsequent events – the death of Josef Stalin on 5th March 1953. As far as deaths of prominent characters go, the death of Stalin from a succession of strokes at the age of 73 sticks out particularly – a man who allowed his paranoia get the better of him, out of fear of his own vulnerability and out of lust for power, died without being the victim of any underhanded scheme. As we’ll see, he also died without naming an official successor, throwing into chaos those men who had stuck around long enough to accumulate some power for themselves.


In this episode we’ll meet these figures – the so-called ‘collective leadership’ of the Soviet Union, which included such heavy hitters as Molotov, Malenkov, Lavrenti Beria, Anastas Mikoyan and a sometimes crude, always blunt figure by the name of Nikita Khrushchev. The story of what would come after Stalin is a gripping and fascinating snapshot of life at the top of the Soviet greasy pole. It prepares us for the eventful months which are to come, by investigating exactly what it was that compelled these men to undo some of what Stalin had made, while still holding onto the terrifying edifice which held half of the continent of Europe in rapture.

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Episoder(744)

#57: 3 August 1914 I - Illusions and Delusion

#57: 3 August 1914 I - Illusions and Delusion

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#56: 2 August 1914 IV - Let Loose World Madness

#56: 2 August 1914 IV - Let Loose World Madness

Even as Moltke examined Germany's strategic options, the world was turning against Germany. Berlin pressed its case by pointing out the Russian sins of dishonesty and pre-emption, but was anyone liste...

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#55: 2 August 1914 III - Lichnowsky's Last Stand

#55: 2 August 1914 III - Lichnowsky's Last Stand

While Germany covered itself in infamy, the German ambassador in London did his best to maintain the fragile Anglo-German relationship. His mission was ultimately doomed, but no one could accuse Princ...

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The State of America w/ Thom Daly - Part 2

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In this second part of my conversation with Thom, we discuss the unlawful way in which the Trump administration behaves at home, including its treatment of citizens who hold views which the President ...

10 Apr 20251h 46min

The State of America w/ Thom Daly - Part 1

The State of America w/ Thom Daly - Part 1

In this first of two episodes with Thom Daly, we focus on the United States and its position in the world following the Trump administration's many blunders and betrayals in foreign policy, trade poli...

10 Apr 20251h 20min

#54: 2 August 1914 II - Britain Decides On War

#54: 2 August 1914 II - Britain Decides On War

The traditional picture of British intervention in the First World War normally comes down to one issue - Belgium. On 4 August, Britain did declare war on Germany. However, before this monumental step...

7 Apr 202547min

#53: 2 August 1914 I - Into Luxemburg

#53: 2 August 1914 I - Into Luxemburg

The Schleiffen Plan demanded an invasion of the small Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, where German forces would seize key railway installations, facilitating their march into Belgium, and then to France. Of...

31 Mar 202540min

#52: 1 August 1914 IV - Desperate Diplomacy

#52: 1 August 1914 IV - Desperate Diplomacy

Now that it was clear Germany would have to face the Entente, and likely Britain's imminent intervention, Berlin became much more active in sending diplomatic feelers across Europe. Romania, Bulgaria,...

24 Mar 202542min

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