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)

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #14: The President And The Tsar

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #14: The President And The Tsar

Over the course of 20-23rd July 1914, the French President and the Russian Tsar met in a summit that had been many months in the making, but which happened to coincide with the plans of Habsburg state...

22 Jul 201435min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #13: War Council

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #13: War Council

By the time of 19th July, the word of the ultimatum had already reached the majority of European capitals; yet, in Vienna, Habsburg ministers carried on blindly..Remember history friends, you can help...

19 Jul 201433min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #12: Away From Vienna

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #12: Away From Vienna

On 15th July the French president and Prime Minister set off from Paris to join the Russian Tsar for a summit in St Petersburg on 20th July, herein we recount the journey.Remember history friends, you...

18 Jul 201421min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #11: Profile #3: Russia

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #11: Profile #3: Russia

The story of how Russia came to be opposed against Germany and Austria is one you have heard many times. This time, we take a different tone, and suggest that Russia's old enemy may not have been as f...

16 Jul 20141h 21min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #10: Persuading Tisza

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #10: Persuading Tisza

Armed with his pro-action arguments, the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister believed he had finally acquired the tools he could use to persuade the most ardent opposer of his plans: the Hungarian minis...

14 Jul 201417min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #9: Belgrade Alight

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #9: Belgrade Alight

Picking up the pieces after the death of the Russian ambassador, the Habsburg foreign minister acquires evidence which he believes, will finally persuade the Hungarian minister president towards war.R...

13 Jul 201414min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #8: Death of a Statesman

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #8: Death of a Statesman

On 10th July, as Berchtold and Conrad attempted to overcome their own respective obstacles, an event occurred in Serbia which dramatically changed the atmosphere...Remember history friends, you can he...

10 Jul 201417min

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #7: Tisza's Pressure

WDF Presents: July Crisis Project #7: Tisza's Pressure

On 7th July Austro-Hungarian statesmen met to discuss the previous events and formulate policy. The result was a fundamental transformation of how the Habsburgs planned on representing themselves in t...

7 Jul 201425min

Populært innen Historie

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