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The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (abbreviated USSR) ( ; tr.: Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik *), more commonly known as the Soviet Union (; tr.: Sovetskiy Soyuz) was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. From 1945 until its dissolution in 1991, it was, along with the United States, one of the world's two superpowers.
The USSR was created and expanded as a union of Soviet republics formed within the territory of the Russian Empire abolished by the Russian Revolution of 1917 followed by the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920. The geographic boundaries of the Soviet Union varied with time, but from 1945 until dissolution they approximately corresponded to those of late Imperial Russia, with the notable exclusions of Poland and Finland.
The Soviet Union became the primary model for future Communist states during the Cold War; the government and the political organization of the country were defined by the only permitted political party, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
More on [ Soviet Union ]
Cold War :: Twentieth Century
Communism :: Marxism
Ukraine 'must live without fear'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:59:32 -0000
The US vice-president reassures Ukraine that the US has a "deep and abiding interest" in the country's security.
US delivers aid to Georgian port
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:36:33 -0000
A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid arrives in the Georgian port of Poti, where Russian troops are still deployed.
Swede 'held in cabin for years'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:29:15 -0000
A woman may have been locked up in a cabin in southern Sweden for nine years, local newspapers report.
NYT > Europe
Cheney Backs Membership in NATO for Georgia
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:47:28 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney was in Georgia, where his words of support placed him on a direct collision course with Russia’s leaders.
Russia’s Oligarchs May Face a Georgian Chill
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:09:19 -0000
Some policy makers are starting to suggest that the best way to influence the Kremlin would be to put more pressure on the Russian business community in Europe.
Spain Moves Toward Amending Legal Restrictions on Abortion
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:59:43 -0000
Spain’s move seeks to address one of the major elements in a drive for sweeping social change in this traditional, Roman Catholic country.
L.A. Times - Europe
He's just not the same old Roger Federer
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:11:00 -0700
The Swiss star, who used to be the best tennis player in the world, keeps winning but without the same veracity. Something is wrong. Something is missing. The road is bumpy. The clutch is sticky. The searing hot dominance isn't quite as torrid as it used to be.
Vice President Cheney arrives in Azerbaijan
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:12:00 -0700
Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Azerbaijan today, part of a tour of three ex-Soviet republics wary of Russia's intentions following last month's war between Russia and neighboring Georgia.
Visiting Georgia, Dick Cheney assails Russia
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The U.S. vice president, appearing with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, pledges continued U.S. support for reconstruction. Appearing alongside beleaguered Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday criticized Russia's conduct in its short war with Georgia and pledged to continue American support for reconstruction and humanitarian aid.
UN News Centre - Europe
Security Council lauds launch of negotiations in reunifying Cyprus
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The Security Council today warmly welcomed the launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, aimed at the reunification of the island.
UN welcomes historic' launch of negotiations to reunify Cyprus
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today's launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities that are aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus.
UN sounds alarm on humanitarian conditions in Georgian city
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today expressed concern over the humanitarian conditions facing people in and around the town of Gori, which lies just south of the border of the separatist region of South Ossetia.
Europe - International Herald Tribune
Cheney pledges U.S. support for Ukraine
By STEVEN LEE MYERS AND ALAN COWELL Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:42 -0000
As tensions with Moscow continue over Russian moves into Georgia last month, Vice President Dick Cheney asserted that the United States would act as a guarantor for the country that was part of the former Soviet Union.
Cheney backs membership in NATO for Georgia
By Steven Lee Myers Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:14:02 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney was in Georgia, where his words of support placed him on a direct collision course with Russia's leaders.
Russia says U.S. fanning Georgian aggression
By Tabassum Zakaria Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:10:26 -0000
Russia accused the United States on Friday of encouraging Georgian aggression by supporting Tbilisi's NATO membership bid.
U.S. defends Georgia's right to join NATO
By STEVEN LEE MYERS Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:42 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a forceful American pledge to rebuild Georgia and its economy, to preserve its sovereignty and its territory and to bring it into the NATO alliance.
Nicaragua recognizes independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:15:48 -0000
Nicaragua has recognized the two breakaway Georgian regions, backing the Russia and siding with other leftist Latin American countries to defy Washington.
Ukraine government near collapse
By CLIFFORD J. LEVY Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:33:42 -0000
The Western-leaning governing coalition in Ukraine, which has endured repeated tumult since the Orange Revolution in 2004, appeared once again near collapse.
Culture of Russia / The Path to Revolution - Article on the Soviet era.
A Soveit Tragedy: A History of Socialism in USSR, 1917 - 1991 - Critical essay examining the course of socialism in the Soviet Union. PDF file.
Black Market Secrets - Author Raelynn Hillhouse shares insider info from her experiences dealing on the black market in Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union.
Meta Description: [ An insiders look at smuggling and the black market behind the Berlin Wall. ]
Collect Russia - Items for sale to collectors of military memorobilia from the Revolution through WWII and beyond.
CPSU Plenums, Leadership Struggles, and Soviet Cold War Politics, by Vladislav M. Zubok - Information from the transcripts of plenums of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the Khrushchev era.
Declassified Materials from CPSU Central Committee Plenums: Sources, Context, Highlights, by Mark Kramer - Describes the significance of a Khrushchev-era Soviet archive at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Early Soviet History Internet Archive - Information on the developmental period of the USSR.
Meta Description: [ Information on the USSR: 1917-1919 ]
How Lenin Led To Stalin - An essay from Workers Solidarity Movement.
500
Kiselev's memorandum - Details the starvation induced by the forced collectivization of the peasentry under Stalin.
500
Lectures for the History of Stalin's Russia - Presentations by Professor Gerhard Rempel, Western New England College.
Liquidation of Kulaks as a Class - Essay by Ludwik Kowalski on the Stalinist policy.
Meinhard Stark's scientific project about women in GULAG - Reports on project, background of researcher, personal links in English and German language
Meta Description: [ Women in Soviet concentration camps between
1934-1956 ]
Soviet Archive Project - Since 1991, the non-profit, collaborative scholarly Russian Archive Project has produced eleven volumes of guides to formerly classified collections in the Soviet Union.
404
Soviet Democide - An overview of political mass murder in the Soviet Union, and a set of mortality figures (unattributed). By R. J. Rummel.
Meta Description: [ Domain name renewal and affordable web hosting packages from Network Solutions ]
Soviet Militaria - Includes information on Red Army uniforms from the 1930s to the 1960s, miliatria for sale to collectors, uniforms worn during the 1945 Victory Parade of the generals and information on the NKVD and KGB.
Soviet-Empire.com - Information about and ephemera from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Also a virtual recreation of the Soviet Union.
Meta Description: [ Welcome to the U.S.S.R. comrade. This is the home of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ]
Stalin-Era Research and Archives Project - A collaborative, multidisciplinary undertaking based at the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Toronto
Meta Description: [ University of Toronto, Stalin-Era Research and Archives
Project ]
The Commissar Vanishes - Chapter One of the book by David King which examines the politically motivated falsification of photographs, documents and art in Stalinist Russia.
500
The New Economic Policy - Lecture on the NEP, an experiment with market economics which was introduced by the Bolsheviks following the Civil War.
500
The Soviet Army - Detailed information on the Soviet Army - weapons, equipment, uniforms, capabilities and analysis.
Meta Description: [ Detailed information on the Soviet Army - weapons, equipment, uniforms, capabilities and analysis. ]
Yale Russian Archive Project - Clearinghouse for information in order to facilitate access to the newly available documents in the archives of the former Soviet Union.
| --- Stats (actually numbers can be viewed at link above): USSR destroyed 85% of Nazi's troops UK - 5% US - 4% ... | |
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