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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(744)

American Scandal Promo

American Scandal Promo

Since the founding of the United States, in every generation, in every field of business, politics, sports and society, we’ve watched in shock as corruption, deceit and desire bring down heroes, titan...

27 Sep 201818min

Korean War #37: Burning Chinese

Korean War #37: Burning Chinese

Episode 37: Burning Chinese takes our story back a bit to late September, in roughly the same timeframe we covered in the last episode, to examine how the American policy was developed as the Chinese ...

23 Sep 201842min

Korean War 36: Ordering Chinese

Korean War 36: Ordering Chinese

Our biggest episode yet!Episode 36: Ordering Chinese picks up from the last episode, this time from the perspective of the Chinese, as in late September they were clearly faced with something of a qua...

16 Sep 201852min

Korean War 35: Up In Flames

Korean War 35: Up In Flames

Remember your NSC reports!NSC 68: The reason we're all here (ish).NSC 81: The public report on compromises that pleased everyone and meant nothing. Especially no mention of the Chinese...NSC 73: The s...

9 Sep 201840min

1956 Episode 2.2: Suez, A Life

1956 Episode 2.2: Suez, A Life

This is it history friends, our last free episode of section 2 of 1956! If you like what you hear here, then make sure and track down the rest. Hours of content await, not just associated with this se...

7 Sep 201838min

1956 Episode 2.1: Bitter French Pills

1956 Episode 2.1: Bitter French Pills

PATRONS! HISTORY FRIENDS! Everyone in between! Part 2 of 1956 is now upon us, and here’s what you should do.First – ask yourself, do you love history? Second – answer yes, and have a listen to us here...

6 Sep 201832min

1956 Part 2: Introduction

1956 Part 2: Introduction

After an interesting prelude, we are finally ready to tackle the main event of our series - the Suez Crisis. In this introductory episode, we explain what's in store, who to prepare for, what we're wa...

6 Sep 201820min

30YearsWar: 17th Century Warfare Episode 7

30YearsWar: 17th Century Warfare Episode 7

The fire by rank tactic used by Europeans in the 18th and 19th centuries had surprising beginnings, as we learn in this episode. While key military thinkers like Maurice of Nassau in the Netherlands p...

2 Sep 201835min

Populært innen Historie

henrettelsespodden
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-katastrofe
med-egne-oyne
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-benadet
aftenposten-historie
sektledere
rss-frontkjemperne
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-gamle-greier
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
rss-bisarr-historie
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet
taakeprat
rss-historier-fra-gudbrandsdalen
historiepodden-ww2
historiepodden
vare-historier