When Diplomacy Fails Podcast
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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 countless variables continued to haunt him. We see here a glimpse of a common theme which will occupy us later on – the use of legal arguments to support the Anglo-French operation, on the grounds that Nasser had infringed upon British ‘rights’ and that Britain was thus entitled to compensation. In this episode we also are introduced to one of banes of Eden’s life, the leader of the Labour Party Hugh Gaitskell, who insisted that intervention in Egypt was wrong, and who began to suspect that something unsavoury was afoot despite what Eden told him. Gaitskell was not the only one. Further abroad, the American desire to have a conference of Suez Canal users was met with private indignation from the British and French, whose governments would uphold to the end that Washington did not understand what was needed to deal with a man like Nasser. Increasingly, comparisons with Nasser to Hitler, and the idea that Britain must not ‘appease’ such figures yet again, did the rounds. Eden was determined to have his interventionist cake and eat it, and he instructed his Foreign Office deputies to look into the Charter of the United Nations as well. With so many different avenues to justification, Eden was certain that at least one of them had to provide a path to conflict. As we’ll see, he was ultimately to be disappointed. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 the Middle East, while American representation in that theatre was not particularly impressive, save for the commercial connections which American citizens had with the different oil barons there. In the space of a year though, disquiet in the Middle East and several threats to Britain’s sphere of influence there emerged, crowned by Nasser’s refusal to fall in line. The personality of Anthony Eden stands out during these eventful months, as the veteran Tory statesman appears to have been wholly unable to accept the new status quo, or the rebellious qualities of a once docile corner of the Empire. Even before the nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company, Eden was adamant that Nasser was not to be bargained with, and certainly not to be trusted. Convinced of this view, he sought to make all of his peers – both at home and abroad – come to see it this way as well. Such efforts were not wholly successful, as even following the nationalisation, Eden found to his horror that several of his peers in Government, and particularly the opposition, were not convinced that force needed to be used. Was the nationalisation of the Canal Company really such a big deal, did it really require a war with Egypt? As per the terms of the military plans already made with France, preparations completely out of the view of Parliament were underway. Here Eden followed what was to become his modus operandi during the Crisis – acting with the approval and support of only a few peers, while everyone else was kept in the dark. This policy, while making everything faster, was to prove lethal once everything blew up in Eden’s face… REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 2.6 looks at the increasingly close cooperation between Britain and France in light of the signal defeat of Western imperialist ambitions in Egypt. We open our episode with a defining scene – President Nasser’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal. The nationalisation of the Canal was not the moment that the world flocked to condemn Nasser’s regime, as Anthony Eden may have hoped. For a time, the Egyptian leader would be seen as unstable, aggressive and unreasonable, but this bad press would die down as the Egyptians proved themselves very capable in handling the new responsibilities which the Suez Canal Company presented. After convincing himself that the nationalisation of the Canal represented a national humiliation for he and his government, Eden proceeded to cement the Anglo-French commitment in the days that followed. Only 24 hours after the nationalisation occurred, French government ministers and the French premier were talking of travelling to London. Within a week, military plans were being developed. These plans would be carried out by WW2 era weaponry, under WW2 era ideas of strategy, and even in the same secret bunkers under the Thames which had been used by Churchill to plan a resistance to the Nazis. Yet, this latest iteration of the entente cordiale was to prove anything but glorious, since at its heart was the desire to turn back the clock, and preserve the systems and status quo which held the developing world in permanent bondage. This mission was to doom Eden’s career and lead to the deaths of so many lives, and its planning stage began here. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 2.5 looks at British commitments in the Middle East, and how setbacks there could massively drag down ideas of British ‘prestige’ in that region. What did the French have to fear from Colonel Nasser, and how did this tie in with later Anglo-French agreements? The answers can be found here. Also of note in this episode is the moment when the Anglo-American loan to Nasser was cancelled, which meant that the Egyptian leader would be unable to construct his Aswan Dam. With this setback for Nasser came Anthony Eden’s effort to paint the event as a personal triumph for himself, when in reality, Britain had been led by the Americans. Speaking of Eden, here we receive our first glimpse of the Prime Minister which suggest that he may not have been the flawless, crusading statesmen of the 1930s, and that he was, on the contrary, exactly what Britain did NOT need right now... REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 2.4 examines Britain's embarrassing and dissatisfying efforts to try and make Egypt see sense. Here we see what kind of Government Anthony Eden led, and how he shook it up, or failed to shake it up, after he assumed the premiership in spring 1955. Anthony may have deserved his turn, but he would quickly exhaust the sense of goodwill he had built up over the years. In spite of his reputation for integrity and bravery when standing up to the appeasement policy of the 1930s, Eden proved wholly ill-equipped for dealing with this strange new world. Emerging from Churchill’s shadow, he felt extra pressures to act as though nothing had changed, and to pursue a Conservative foreign policy mindset as though he was still living in the 1930s. After setting Eden’s premiership in context, we switch gears to President Nasser’s policy. Nasser had great ambitions for his country, and these centred on getting Egypt on track technologically, and fixing the grave problems which geography and poverty presented. The Aswan Dam was a radical solution which would solve these problems in one go. By the construction of this billion dollar project, the Nile could be harnessed, disastrous floods avoided, and the energy of nature made proper use of for industrial purposes. It seemed like the ideal solution, save for the key problem that Nasser lacked the kind of money required to engage in this building project. While he was increasingly turning towards the Soviets for arms, for the moment, he was happy to look to the Anglo-American bankers to put up the funds. The decision of the Americans and British to put up the money for this construction project may seem, in the context of the mid-1950s and especially considering what would follow, like a very odd decision indeed. Yet, as we’ll see, the Aswan Dam was not the investment opportunity which the British had hoped. Instead, once they and the Americans reneged on the deal, it proved to be the nail in the coffin of the already shaky Anglo-Egyptian relationship, and the beginning of a road towards conflict and crisis. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 2.3 examines British views of Suez and Nasser's new Egyptian regime. As the British government underwent a change and waved goodbye to great old men like Churchill, it was clear at the same time that this new government had no intention of changing its imperial tune. Egypt was a place to be held onto, not relinquished; Nasser was a figure to be loathed, rather than cooperated with; British prestige, as much as her long-standing strategic and security interests, depended on holding the Canal. That neither Churchill nor his successor in Anthony Eden proved capable of holding Nasser back speaks volumes about the awakening in Egyptian national consciousness which was beginning in the 1950s. As the men at the top of the coup finished their own struggles and Colonel Nasser surged ahead, it became apparent that Egypt was in something of an ideal position. It had its problems of course, and its legacies of poverty and inequality for days, but it was in an ideal strategic position at the same time. Poised as the link between Africa and the Middle East, Egypt was the crossroads between different worlds. It was also, potentially, a crossroads in the Cold War, but for the moment, Nasser knew that his bread was buttered on its Western side. Before conflict and crisis had their day, negotiation and diplomacy were allowed to flourish in this Anglo-Egyptian relationship. An agreement for policing the Suez Canal and for mobilising it during wartime was signed with the Cairo government. To insulate these deals, a Northern Tier system of alliances with other Middle Eastern states like Jordan, Iran and Iraq was signed. It seemed, at least on some level, that Britain was giving peace a chance. Yet, the more than the Foreign Secretary, and then the PM saw of Nasser’s Egypt, the less he liked. It was impossible to deal with an Egypt that did not seem to know its place, but with every meeting came a painful reminder that all was not as it had once been. The Egyptian puppets were gone, and it was uncomfortably clear that these new Egyptian men pulled their own strings. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
A French investment opportunity, an ancient idea, and a British masterstroke - discover in this episode how the Suez Canal became so monumentally important for British imperial interests in the latter 19th century, and how this interest was then carried over into the 20th century. After years of defending and expanding their stock in Suez, it was highly unlikely that Britain was going to give up its position there without a fight. Yet, at the same time, decolonisation trends across the world were in full swing, and it was far from certain that Egypt could be held while certain movements were underway. The most important of all these movements in decolonisation era Africa was found on 23rd July 1952, when a coup against King Farouk of Egypt, that docile and loyal British puppet, succeeded. A cadre of Egyptian military men now held control over the country, and they were determined to be anything but puppets to the British interest. One figure surged forward above all. His name was Gamal Abdel Nasser, and in this episode, we will be introduced to him, as we see what the British establishment was up against. Mindful of Britain’s interests in his country, and its unsavoury record there, Nasser was not about to give ground for nothing. Thousands of miles away, a government change waved goodbye to Winston Churchill, and ushered in his subordinate Anthony Eden. The stage was set for a conflict which was unlike any other yet seen in the British experience. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we will examine the painful post-war experience of France, why it was so reluctant to let go of its colonies and how this caused it more damage in the long run. As an integral, but largely forgotten player in the Crisis, understanding the French angle is essential for us. On many occasions, the fractured French government would be the only thing holding the also fractured plans for Suez together. Here, we discover what was moving the French in North Africa, and how its bitter Algerian pill, which it would put off swallowing for some time, so influenced its government’s decision to weigh in against Egypt. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIENDS - YOU CAN GET THESE EPISODES AD-FREE WITH SCRIPTS ATTACHED FOR JUST $2 A MONTH - FOR A FIVER YOU CAN ACCESS OUR PHD THESIS SERIES, SO COME AND NERD OUT WITH US! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 now enters its second season, and we are confronted with several pressing questions. How did the British, French, Israelis and Americans become involved in Egypt, and how did these events affect what was ongoing in Hungary? The incredible spectacle of these two simultaneous crises, both caused by very different forces, and hosting very different characters, is what we have to examine next, so I hope you'll join me as we introduce the Suez Crisis - perhaps the greatest error of modern Britain until the decision to Brexit! Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.15 examines the final moments of Imre Nagy, as the Soviet noose tightened around him. But the Kremlin was not safe yet. Of particular concern to Moscow and to the Hungarians was the stance of Yugoslavia, as its embassy in Budapest provided asylum to Imre Nagy and 40 other individuals responsible for guiding and leading the momentarily independent Hungarian state. The revolution may have been crushed within a few days, but it was evidently not going to be so simple to remove the memory of Nagy. Although normal Hungarian citizens couldn’t know of his fate, even when he was tricked into leaving this safe haven in late November, behind the scenes the Soviet-Yugoslav diplomacy was only serving to heighten tensions in the communist world. In addition, the Chinese, soon to visit the Eastern satellites in January 1957, had their own comments to make on the events in Hungary. The Chinese conclusion, and the conclusion which has largely survived as canon to this day, was that Vladislav Gomulka had only gone so far, whereas Imre Nagy had gone far too far in bringing reform to his country. It was not acceptable, in the Chinese mind, that reform came at the expense of Soviet power and stability – a national road to socialism was to be admired, but this road could be bumpy, and on occasion, fraught with danger. Also worth considering was the American perspective – Eisenhower’s administration was thoroughly distracted by events in Egypt, and while he and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles never really intended to intervene with force in Hungary, the unofficial state organs like Radio Free Europe ensured that the American or at least the Western approach and intentions remained unclear to Hungarians, who felt encouraged to challenge the Soviet domination, and were then bitterly disappointed when no Western aid materialised. Suez was of course a convenient excuse for American non-intervention, yet for Eisenhower’s new ‘rollback’ policy towards the Soviet Union, it was important to blame the Anglo-French-Israeli attack upon Egypt to the end... At the pinnacle of our narrative was the fate of Nagy and his circle. Two years after the revolution had been put down, Nagy was executed. Even in his final moments he refused to admit error and to denounce what had been done. He went to the gallows courageously, confident that no matter what occurred after his death, one day, he would be reburied, and Hungary would be free. His legacy was to inspire Hungarian politicians and a tacit policy of non-violent resistance to Soviet rule throughout the next few decades. His words would prove correct – Imre Nagy’s reburial in June 1989 signalled the end of Soviet domination, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War all at once. Nagy’s death and rehabilitation put to bed the fallout of Khrushchev’s secret speech, and it also concludes our first part of 1956. Next time, we’ll begin our examination of that other significant narrative which 1956 provided, as we count down to the Suez Crisis. Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.14 analyses the Soviet response in the first week of November 1956, as the rug was finally pulled on Hungarian independence. Having already removed his country from the Warsaw Pact and requested Western assistance, Nagy was persona non grata in Soviet minds, yet this Hungarian communist was not finished yet. If there was any chance at all that this Hungarian state could be preserved, he was willing to engage in whatever to took to protect his people from the Soviet axe. Yet, unfortunately for Nagy and for Hungary generally, there was no chance. Khrushchev had no intentions of letting Budapest think for itself, and the crushing of the Hungarian revolution and the entry of Janus Kadar into Hungary represented the end note of the Hungarian effort. Kadar, it would transpire, was not the supplicant figure he seemed, but he was ambitious, utterly ruthless and not all constrained by any concept of loyalty to Imre Nagy, a man whom he had known and befriended after several years of close cooperation. This episode contains several primary source extracts which detail the real experiences of Hungarian politicians and citizens as they fled the country, encouraged it, or sold it out to Moscow. It provides us with a great and invaluable window into the Soviet mindset at the time, so I hope you enjoy it, and join us for the concluding episode on this Soviet chapter next time. Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.13 examines the unlikely triumph of the Hungarians in Budapest, even as the Soviets schemed for revenge. After somehow wresting a ceasefire agreement from the Soviet Union, the Hungarian revolution appeared – against all odds – to be secured by 28th October. Yet, this was merely a pause for Moscow, it was not the end. As Hungarians began to dream of life outside the Soviet sphere, Soviet tanks were preparing to move, and figures within Imre Nagy’s tightening circle were preparing to stab him in the back. What followed would be bitter, bloody and terribly depressing for those that dreamed big in Hungary, yet for us, it serves to underline the chaotic Soviet experience of the eventful, revolutionary year of 1956. Without giving too much away, this longest episode of 1956 yet brings many issues to their logical conclusion, but we’re far from finished with the story of Budapest, of Hungary or of Imre Nagy just yet, so make sure you stick with us to the somewhat sticky end! Show Less Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.12 examines a key moment when a Hungarian student protest exploded into something far more encouraging, and for the Soviets, far more dangerous. The demands of the protesters – joined by workers, peasants, Hungarian communists, soldiers and many more figures besides – were as disconcerting as the threat the protest posed to Soviet control. Still more incredible than the growth of the protest was the transformation of this protest into a riot, and the further transformation of this riot into a revolution. From these process a rallying cry of hope seemed to spring, as independence and some freedom of action could at last be imagined. Hungarians who had never before dreamed of such things now engaged with all their enthusiasm this most dangerous task – that of standing up to the superpower of the era and their superior in almost every respect. Time would tell if this act would be tragic, or met with miraculous fortune. With far too many individual details to explain here, WDF is so excited to bring its patrons the latest piece of this fascinating story, so make sure you check it out and let me know what you all thought, perhaps by leaving a review in the section of the iTunes store where this series is hosted! Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.11 looks at what happened when Moscow decided it’d be a good idea to force Rakosi, the avowed Stalinist, to share power with Imre Nagy, his opposite in almost every respect. Rakosi wished to maintain the status quo even as his favourite weapons like the secret police were taken away, yet Nagy recognised and appreciated from an early stage that much would have to change. Hungary couldn’t continue on in the manner of a repressed, unhappy vassal, especially if Moscow wished to guarantee the support of all Hungarian people. Nagy proposed limited reforms, but after 1953 it began to become apparent that with Stalin gone and Pandora’s Box opened, it was immensely difficult to keep that box closed. Every concession granted to the Hungarians provoked calls for greater concessions – every bit of freedom given permitted Hungarians to become braver and more willing to question the apparatus which held them low. Every time Nagy said yes, the Hungarian people seemed to say more, and Rakosi tattled on him to the Soviet leadership. Since this Soviet leadership was undergoing great changes of its own at this stage – as Khrushchev attempted to manoeuvre his way past his rivals – the signals from Moscow were not always clear. Yet after a year it became largely certain that Nagy was on borrowed time. As we’ll discover in this episode though, while Nagy hadn't done enough to ensure he remained in power, he had done enough to ensure that the Hungarian people did not forget him once he was removed. In a sea of sycophants, the courageous but otherwise bland Nagy stood out, and soon it was his name and his principles, regardless of his political persuasions, that positioned Nagy atop another pole – that of the public affections. As we’ll come to appreciate, this position was to be both a blessing and a fatal curse for Imre Nagy... Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.10 continues where we left off last time, and looks a bit more at the person of Matyas Rakosi. Rakosi was the Stalinist dictator of Hungary from the late 1940s, and he set about establishing a Hungarian Stalinist regime, complete with all the trappings Stalin enjoyed. For every purge, every policy and ever character assassination that the man of steel engaged in, Rakosi felt compelled to demonstrate his loyalty by going still further. He would terrorise the people of Hungary into a burning, resentful, petrified silence, but his hold on power was only as strong as the secret police. Imre Nagy, a passionate communist and eager reformer of all things Stalinism, was guaranteed to butt heads with a man like Rakosi, and in this episode we examine why this was the case. What were Nagy’s guiding principles, why was he such a committed communist, and what did he bring to the table that a man like Rakosi did not? Nagy was as complex as Rakosi was cruel, but this doesn’t mean we can’t give our best shot at analysing this fascinating individual who became, almost in spite of himself, a hero and then a martyr of the Hungarian people. This episode is a pivotal instalment as we examine the background to what was to come in Hungary, and how a quiescent vassal became the centre of anti-Soviet sentiment within only a few stormy months. All of this began, of course, in the eventful year of 1956. Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.9 takes a somewhat depressing journey into post-war Hungary, to present a story and a people which suffered much over the course of the Soviet occupation – also known as the Soviet ‘liberation’. Liberation from what, one may ask? Well how about liberation from national pride, freedom of conscience and that all too valuable commodity in history – freedom from fear. Fear was the key ingredient in the Soviet-Hungarian relationship between 1945-56, and in this episode we detail its key characteristics. Why were some Hungarians so eager to serve the Soviets, who were the most loyal Hungarian servants above all, and what were the consequences of this partnership by the time Khrushchev’s secret speech shattered all notions of Stalin-worship? These are questions we get into in great detail here, so I hope you’ll join us. The story of Hungary is as fascinating and inspiring as it is depressing and tragic, but either way, it is a story worth committing to audio podcast format, because it tells us so much about what life was really like under the Soviet writ, and how the end of the Second World War did not mean the end of foreign rule. The Hungarians had merely swapped one regime, one centre of power, for another, and this one was more determined than ever to hold sway over every aspect of their lives. The Hungarians were desperate for sure, but as 1956 would demonstrate, their spirits and dreams were far, very far, from crushed. Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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. Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.7 examines the continuing deterioration of the Polish situation, as Polish citizens dared to ask more and more questions, and to criticise the Soviet order, on their lips was one figure above all – Vladislav Gomulka (pictured). Gomulka was one figure among many who had been disgraced and imprisoned during Stalin’s numerous purges. Gomulka, it was said, was too vocal a critic, and too independent or nationalistically inclined to rule Poland in Moscow’s name. Now though, the Polish people were calling for him, and they were demonstrating on the streets in increasing numbers to do so. Here we detail how the Soviets dealt with this challenge in one of their most sensitive satellites, and what the major concerns of Polish citizens were in light of the revelations of the secret speech. The story involved a face-off between Gomulka and Khrushchev, as the latter made a stormy visit to Warsaw to see for himself in late October exactly what had gone down in Poland. Khrushchev left not with Gomulka’s head, but with a tacit acceptance of that man’s leadership. The question of why this occurred holds several fascinating answers, so make sure you join us here as we attempt to unpack this incredible episode in Soviet-Polish relations. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT EXTRA CONTENT AND TO SUPPORT MY VENTURES THEN MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO PATREON! HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND OTHER GOODIES AWAIT! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.6 examines the tumultuous fallout of Khrushchev’s February speech in the context of Poland. What was the Polish experience of living in the Soviet orbit? Here we set the scene and trace a bit of the background. It’s a tragic kind of story if you happen to be a Pole, or care about the sovereignty of independent states, but it also makes for fascinating listening. Here we look at a specific example of a revolutionary study, which tore the lid off of Soviet occupied Poland and which exposed its worst excesses to the world. The release of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬, adopted in 2010 as the film 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬, proved to be an indication of things to come in 1956. The Soviet-Polish relationship both before, during and after the Second World War was a difficult one, fraught with historical grievances, mutual distrust and grand ambitions. After all that had occurred in this portion of the world over the centuries, it was perhaps inevitable that the two peoples could never live peacefully side by side, yet the policies enacted by Stalin immediately following the victories of the Red Army in Poland from late 1944 nonetheless make for startling listening. Stalin’s approach to Poland was to treat it as the troublesome if necessary little brother of Moscow – to be dominated by its larger neighbour, and always to be suspected and feared. Poles suffered terribly under Soviet rule from 1944-1989, and in the episode we’ll provide the background details for one of the most notable chapters in this 45 year history, as we explain how the Poles responded to news of Khrushchev’s speech. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT EXTRA CONTENT AND TO SUPPORT MY VENTURES THEN MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO PATREON! HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND OTHER GOODIES AWAIT! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.5 examines the implications for the Soviet people, as Khrushchev’s speech is disseminated through the sprawling empire. The questions which many citizens had were to be restricted and constrained by the specific parameters set down by the Soviet authorities. In short, as we’ll see in this episode, there was a fine line between debate and dissent. Pravda liked to distinguish between dissent and debate by presenting discussion of the secret speech in the spirit of party-mindedness, rather than a cynical or wholly critical perspective. As always, it was a matter for Khrushchev to determine the difference between debate and dissent, as he attempted to deal with the mess his speech had created. We look at the example of the response given in Moscow’s Thermal Technical University, where three technicians gave their views and planned in grandly ambitious, optimistic ways, only to discover when they returned to work on Monday that their words and phrases had gone too far. Nobody could deny the central truths that they spoke, but everyone remained too afraid to actively challenge the post-Stalin order. This background of the social implications of the secret speech are important if we are to fully grasp what occurred in Poland – the first and most troubling dissenter in the Soviet camp... REMEMBER HISTORY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT EXTRA CONTENT AND TO SUPPORT MY VENTURES THEN MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO PATREON! HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND OTHER GOODIES AWAIT! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
1956 Episode 1.4 examines the immediate storm caused by Khrushchev’s denunciations of Stalin in late February. Above all, the greatest ingredient in this storm was that of confusion. Soviet officials didn’t know what to tell the assembled crowds, and schoolteachers didn’t know what to tell their pupils. How far exactly could they go in the condemnation of Stalin? This wasn’t made clear, nor was it made clear exactly what Khrushchev hoped to gain. He seemed to vacillate between wanting people to know about the speech and covering up its contents. In Georgia, as we’ll see, the criticism of their favourite Soviet son caused demonstrations and rioting of an anti-Moscow nature, as the impression had been gained that these new Soviet bureaucrats were attempting to tarnish the name of Stalin for their own ends. Putting down these demonstrations were bloody and costly, and their eruption seemed to catch Khrushchev off guard. Indeed, the British and Americans were already learning of the secret speech by the middle of March, and began to ask their own questions about its contents – was this what Khrushchev wanted? We examine this question by looking at what other historians thought of Khrushchev’s move, and we prepare ourselves well for the most serious eruption of all in the Soviet bloc – in Poland... REMEMBER HISTORY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT EXTRA CONTENT AND TO SUPPORT MY VENTURES THEN MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO PATREON! HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND OTHER GOODIES AWAIT! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 1.3 opens with the scene which greeted Khrushchev as he performed that incendiary speech over 24-25th of February 1956. It was a pivotal day in the history of the Soviet Union, and after we unwrap its major aspects, we then tackle the key questions – how had this speech come to be, and how had Khrushchev managed to convince his peers that it was necessary? These questions require answers if we’re to understand and appreciate the world which housed the secret speech, so I hope you’ll tune in here and have a listen to an incredible period of history, when Josef Stalin – the father of peoples and the sun of the universe, was exposed as the monster that he was, by the very people who had followed his lead and helped him craft the system that dominated much of the continent. What followed the secret speech then were other questions – how would Khrushchev et al manage to reconcile their involvement in Stalin’s crimes with this new course, and how would they manage to critique Stalin’s role in creating the Soviet system without also delegitimising it at the same time? Would the speech be seen as a welcome admission of wrongdoing, or an invitation to push for more freedom? From this speech in spring 1956 would spring even more troubles, which Khrushchev could never have imagined. REMEMBER HISTORY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT EXTRA CONTENT AND TO SUPPORT MY VENTURES THEN MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO PATREON! HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND OTHER GOODIES AWAIT! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 1.2 follows on from where our first episode left off. Here, the power struggle between the Soviet Union’s top men is in full swing, and power plays, character assassination, genuine assassination and even more tactics besides distinguish this period of post-Stalin Soviet history. Nikita Khrushchev’s victorious succession and confirmation as First Secretary was far from certain once the struggle began, but as his rivals continued to underestimate him, and as he worked to build up his power base while the big fish sniped at one another, Khrushchev emerged as the best candidate to fill Stalin’s murderous shoes. Yet, it was far from clear at the same time exactly what Khrushchev had in mind. For one, the so-called Thaw had been on-going since Stalin’s death, as prisoners were released, trumped up charges commuted, and some of the more unpopular policies relaxed. Would Khrushchev make efforts to expand upon this approach to Soviet rule, or would he contain its potential dangers as soon as he was able to do so? The different possibilities for life after Stalin remind us that what followed and what opened the year 1956 was by no means the only course, yet it was the most radical option at the time. The infamous secret speech thus occupies a great deal of our time here. Of most interest to us here though is the spectacle of Khrushchev’s elimination of his rivals, either through execution or political neutralisation. As far as Khrushchev was concerned, while a collective leadership on paper looked nice, in reality, there could be only one... REMEMBER HISTORY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT EXTRA CONTENT AND TO SUPPORT MY VENTURES THEN MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO PATREON! HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND OTHER GOODIES AWAIT! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
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. Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
WELCOME TO 1956, AN ERA OF SCHEMES, REVOLUTION, PROPAGANDA, INTRIGUE AND A WHOLE LOT OF DIPLOMACY! Originally brought exclusively to patrons, I've repurposed this series for all listeners, and within it you will learn exactly why I believe this eventful year is well worth your time. Our series begins with the death of Stalin, a megalomaniacal dictator who left no successor save the clique of people who had managed to survive his paranoid wrath for several years. Nikita Khrushchev, against all the odds, managed to surge above the rest. But before he could do this, and before he presented his vision for a post-Stalin world, we must set the scene. This begins our new biweekly release schedule, so I hope you're excited. If you somehow need more of Dr Zack, make sure to sign up on Patreon for our PhD thesis series, and help make history thrive! Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails For the last four+ years, this PhD thesis has been my obsession. Like pushing a boulder up a hill, the struggle was real. But, sometimes, struggle can produce great things, and I hope you'll agree that what I made is worthy of your time. This series comes exclusively to $5 patrons, but as is customary, listeners get the first episode for free. See if you like the sound of this nitty-gritty exploration of history we have planned, and if national honour really is as important as I claim. Maybe you're curious about the kind of kind of work expected for such a high standard of research? Perhaps you just want to know what I've been frantically working at during the last four+ years. Whatever brings you to this chunky series, we have a lot to get through. This is the first step towards unwrapping this 100k-word beast, so I hope you'll join me! Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back! Here we talk about the State of the Podcast Address' HUGE NEWS 1) Our somewhat new series1956 and how it's all going to work. Also, is it actually interesting? 2) The new PhD Thesis series for Patrons! 3) Age of Bismarck - and of course, more! Thanksss so much for the warm welcome back history friend. I haven't stopped grinning for the last few days, and it's thanks to you! Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're back! In case you were unaware, the lack of content over the last while was because of the PhD, which is now finished. This means, yes, I am finally Dr Zack! Imagine that! I have a lot to say about the future of this podcast, and stick around for some honesty about the PhD process and how I'm doing generally after this four year plus saga. I'm really excited to dive back into podcasting after all this. And it goes without saying, but thanksss so much for all your support over the last few years! Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Ole and I for a fascinating chat about History Challenge, a new way for educators and students to make history thrive! If you want to try it out for yourself, the latest version of this project is available in the link below. Thanksss! ACCESS THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN LESSON HERE https://immortalgames.co.uk/battle-of-britain/b/ IF YOU CAN, COMPLETING THIS SURVEY ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Oxm_WykYexuhlIeaELTduBbxKHcgCfbT62jaganYwZ0/edit Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
And so it ends. After 82 episodes and what feels like thirty actual years, we finally wrap up this fascinating period of history. Thanksss so much for tuning in! MAKE SURE TO STAY TO THE END TO LEARN ABOUT OUR PLANS FOR THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR BOOK, MY MATCHLOCK SERIES, THE NEW DELEGATION GAME, AND OTHER PHD DETAILS. **FOLLOW THESE LINKS!** 1) TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST FINANCIALLY IN RETURN FOR SOME EXTRA AUDIO CONTENT, CHECK OUT PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails 2) TO FIND A COMMUNITY OF HISTORY FRIENDS, LOOK AT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND GROUP! https://www.facebook.com/WhenDiplomacyFailsPodcast/ 3) TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH US, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! https://twitter.com/wdfpodcast?lang=en 4) MATCHLOCK AND THE EMBASSY, OUR NEW HISTORICAL FICTION NOVEL, IS OUT NOW! GET IT HERE https://books2read.com/matchlockbook1 5) RESEARCHER? STUDENT? PODCASTER? USE PERLEGO TO ACCESS A MASSIVE ONLINE LIBRARY OF BOOKS, AND GET A WEEK FOR FREE! https://perlego.pxf.io/c/3421891/1465381/14034?discount=WDF2022 Get bonus content on Patreon https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/754459 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
