Available from October 2011
Royal
Sunset – the downfall of European Dynasties as a consequence of the First World
War and the Russian Revolution.
In 1900, with the exception
of France and Switzerland, Europe was ruled by Royal Dynasties which were very closely
related by marraige.
During the nineteenth century ambitious German Princes, mainly from Saxe-Coburg, became Kings of newly formed Nations, and were very active in European power-play, usually with unfortunate and sometimes comical results.
Between 1890 and 1914 two hostile heavily armed coalitions were formed: Russia, France and Britain aligned against Germany, the Austrian Empire and Italy.
In 1914: War! And when the fighting was over there was little left of these Royal Dynasties.
What was the role of Kings, Emperors and their families in the formation of the alliances and international tensions which led to war?
They lived in an extravagant exclusive world full of hate, love, tragedy and scandal, but there were also sincere attempts made by monarchs to prevent a catastrophic war.
Wilhelm II, Edward VII, Nicholas II and Frans Joseph of Austria played crucial roles before and during the war.
Edward VII was repeatedly in conflict with his jealous nephew Wilhelm II who was instrumental in igniting the conflict. An ambitious Romanov clique forced Nicholas II to abdicate, hoping to usurp him but instead opened the door to Revolution. Wilhelm II supported a plan of his army commander Ludendorf to help the Bolsheviks to power in Russia with tragic consequencies for Wilhelm’s relations – the Romanov Royal family. George V and Queen Mary explicitly refused permission for his cousin Nicholas II and his family to come to Britain as exiles, and as a result they fell into the hands of Bolshevik murderers.
European Royalty was mainly responsible for their own fall, but was Europe better governed in the years 1920-1940 by the new rulers who took their place?
During the nineteenth century ambitious German Princes, mainly from Saxe-Coburg, became Kings of newly formed Nations, and were very active in European power-play, usually with unfortunate and sometimes comical results.
Between 1890 and 1914 two hostile heavily armed coalitions were formed: Russia, France and Britain aligned against Germany, the Austrian Empire and Italy.
In 1914: War! And when the fighting was over there was little left of these Royal Dynasties.
What was the role of Kings, Emperors and their families in the formation of the alliances and international tensions which led to war?
They lived in an extravagant exclusive world full of hate, love, tragedy and scandal, but there were also sincere attempts made by monarchs to prevent a catastrophic war.
Wilhelm II, Edward VII, Nicholas II and Frans Joseph of Austria played crucial roles before and during the war.
Edward VII was repeatedly in conflict with his jealous nephew Wilhelm II who was instrumental in igniting the conflict. An ambitious Romanov clique forced Nicholas II to abdicate, hoping to usurp him but instead opened the door to Revolution. Wilhelm II supported a plan of his army commander Ludendorf to help the Bolsheviks to power in Russia with tragic consequencies for Wilhelm’s relations – the Romanov Royal family. George V and Queen Mary explicitly refused permission for his cousin Nicholas II and his family to come to Britain as exiles, and as a result they fell into the hands of Bolshevik murderers.
European Royalty was mainly responsible for their own fall, but was Europe better governed in the years 1920-1940 by the new rulers who took their place?
A Tragedy in the East: Russia and her Leaders
from the last Tsar to Putin.
Since
the beginning of the twentieth century the Russian peoples have suffered terribly
due to war, revolution and oppression. What was the personal responsibility of
Russia’s leaders: Tsar Nicholas II, Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev
and Putin?
The fate of Russia is followed from 1900 to the present day.
Examples of topics covered:
- What was the role of Nicholas II and of the Romanov Grand Dukes in the events leading to revolution?
- Was Lenin’s regime the blueprint for Stalin's terror campaign?
- Was Stalin personally responsible for the famines and mass murders of millions of Russian farmers (the Kulaks)?
- Were Kruschev and Brezhnev during the Cold War seriously considering invading West Europe?
- Did Gorbachev suspect that his policies could lead to a break away of East European communist states?
- Is Putin a statesman or a pawn of the ex-KGB maffia?
Finally, have Russia’s leaders since 1917 irretrievably destroyed Russian society?
The fate of Russia is followed from 1900 to the present day.
Examples of topics covered:
- What was the role of Nicholas II and of the Romanov Grand Dukes in the events leading to revolution?
- Was Lenin’s regime the blueprint for Stalin's terror campaign?
- Was Stalin personally responsible for the famines and mass murders of millions of Russian farmers (the Kulaks)?
- Were Kruschev and Brezhnev during the Cold War seriously considering invading West Europe?
- Did Gorbachev suspect that his policies could lead to a break away of East European communist states?
- Is Putin a statesman or a pawn of the ex-KGB maffia?
Finally, have Russia’s leaders since 1917 irretrievably destroyed Russian society?
Availble from Februari 2012: Operation
Barbarossa – “Total War”: Hitler against Stalin.
In 1940 Hitler’s army
humiliated France in a Blitzkrieg attack, but Britain was undefeated and
resolved to contnue alone the struggle against German aggression. Hitler turned
his attention to the East and attacked Russia in June 1941. The Russian army,
weakened by Stalin’s purges, fell back in disarray and the Germans were at the
gates of Lenningrad and Moscow in December.
Against all expectations the Russian armies held firm, and nearly four years later captured Berlin.
This struggle had catastrophic consequences for the peoples between Berlin and Moscow – well over 20 million civilian deaths plus many million soldiers. There were intense struggles for cities, (for example Leningrad, Stalingrad and Warsaw), and many tank and guerrilla battles.
This was “Total War” between Ideologies (Communism against Fascism), between Races (Aryans against Slaves) and between Dictators (Hitler against Stalin)
In June 1941 a powerful German army of more that 2 million was ready to attack, and by May 1945 a 4 million strong Russian army was deep inside Europe.
For more that forty years Eastern Europe was in the grip of the Soviet Union, and they threatened Western Europe with invasion.
Operation Barbarossa was the most crucial turning point in the twentieth century.
Against all expectations the Russian armies held firm, and nearly four years later captured Berlin.
This struggle had catastrophic consequences for the peoples between Berlin and Moscow – well over 20 million civilian deaths plus many million soldiers. There were intense struggles for cities, (for example Leningrad, Stalingrad and Warsaw), and many tank and guerrilla battles.
This was “Total War” between Ideologies (Communism against Fascism), between Races (Aryans against Slaves) and between Dictators (Hitler against Stalin)
In June 1941 a powerful German army of more that 2 million was ready to attack, and by May 1945 a 4 million strong Russian army was deep inside Europe.
For more that forty years Eastern Europe was in the grip of the Soviet Union, and they threatened Western Europe with invasion.
Operation Barbarossa was the most crucial turning point in the twentieth century.
