1956 1.8: The Star Pupil

1956 1.8: The Star Pupil

We continue our story from last time, as the Polish situation is connected to other fascinating questions.


Perhaps the most significant aspect of this chapter in Soviet-Polish relations was the notable involvement of China. The Chinese, it emerged, were very interested in seeing that other peoples travelled their own ‘road to socialism’ as they had done. A Polish road to socialism would validate the unique Chinese experience of struggle over the last few decades, and it would also confirm that Moscow didn’t have the authority to dictate how a communist satellite would feel.


Under the Chinese direction and approval, Poland’s limited revolution and Gomulka’s leadership would be safe, but only because, as we’ll see, Gomulka had zero intentions of truly changing any status quos. Unfortunately, Gomulka’s tenure in office was not destined to be a completely wholesome one. His behaviour over the 1960s would confirm that he was far more loyal and far less independently minded than his initial behaviour may have initially suggested, yet in 1956, Gomulka was the right man for the Polish leadership, and so long as the Polish people agreed, Poland was to be kept within the Soviet orbit, and Gomulka was to be the star pupil of the tumultuous year of 1956, especially in comparison to his Hungarian counterpart Imre Nagy, who we’ll meet in the next few episodes.

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Episoder(744)

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.14: Attacked At Home

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.14: Attacked At Home

1956 Episode 2.14 takes us to the scenes facing Anthony Eden in Britain in the final days of October.Having orchestrated an Israeli-Egyptian war, the plan now was to issue an ultimatum, and for Anglo-...

2 Mai 202436min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.13: When A Plan Comes Together

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.13: When A Plan Comes Together

1956 Episode 2.13 examines the final moments of peace between 25-29 October, as the conspiracy to attack Egypt and make it look like an accident developed further.In Britain, the focus was on the lega...

25 Apr 202430min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.12: Collusion And Delusion

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.12: Collusion And Delusion

1956 Episode 2.12 takes us to the 22-24 October 1956, where the war plan that would create the Suez Crisis was created, developed and signed by Britain, France and Israel in an unassuming Parisian sub...

18 Apr 202433min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.11: A Protocol For War

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.11: A Protocol For War

1956 Episode 2.11 finally takes us to that controversial moment when Britain, France and Israel began to move closer together.The Sevres Protocol was neither developed nor signed in a day, and in the ...

11 Apr 202432min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.10: Israeli Sneaky

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.10: Israeli Sneaky

1956 Episode 2.10 takes us to the Commonwealth, seen as so vital to British interests, but fracturing over the question of the best course of action to take against President Nasser.The Canadian, Aust...

4 Apr 202430min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.9: The Fix Is In

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.9: The Fix Is In

1956 Episode 2.9 looks at that moment which has become infamous in history – the collusion between Britain, France and Israel.We are almost ready to see these sneaky meetings take place, and for the i...

2 Apr 202437min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.8: Deception As Policy

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.8: Deception As Policy

1956 Episode 2.8 examines the increasingly secretive plotting which took place behind the scenes in early autumn 1956.While Eden worked feverishly to make the conflict he desired come together, the co...

28 Mar 202434min

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.7: Blind Intrigue

1956 - The Suez Crisis #2.7: Blind Intrigue

1956 Episode 2.7 examines the steps which led towards the military intervention in Egypt, by placing the British behaviour in its imperial context.In spring 1955, Britain remained a premier power in t...

26 Mar 202434min

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