Web Resources - Print Resources - Media Resources |
| Austria-Hungary, Czech and Slovak History |
| Recommended because the Hapsburg and Austro-Hungarian Empires ruled what is now Austria, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, southern Poland,and Croatia from about 1500 to 1918. This website gives links to general sources on Hungarian, Czech, and Slovak history, as well as Hapsburg history. Start by clicking on the excellent General History of Austria section. Be aware of the fact that this is a commercial website--you may get some advertising "pop-ups" when you use it. Part of the History Net site. |
| Beyond the Pale: The History of Jews in Russia |
| Recommended because of its comprehensive approach to this subject. Topics in this website include not only a detailed history of Jews in Russia (including the Holocaust and the Soviet purges) from the late eighteenth century to the present, but also the roots of anti-Semitism in European history. This is an extremely professional production with dozens of high-quality photographs to complement the narratives. Start by looking at the "Exhibit Guide." Be aware of the fact that this website has both an English and Russian language version. |
| CIA World Factbook |
| Recommended because this is an excellent general information site. Very useful for teachers who want to get information to get started on studying a specific area. Start by choosing a country from the drop down menu near the top of the screen. Originally reviewed by Tim Cave. |
| Forced Labor Camps |
| Recommended because this is an interesting and useful exhibition of pictures and stories about the history of forced labor in Soviet Russia and other Soviet Bloc countries. Topics and materials in this site include transcipts of official documents, letters, and testimony relating to the Soviet Gulag, all accompanied by photographs and narrative text. Finally, links to other websites dealing with Soviet forced labor camps are given. A very fine site. | |||
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| History of East Central Europe |
| Recommended because this is the online version of the 1952 history text by Oscar Halecki and Halecki is one of the most authoritative figures in East European history. Be aware of the fact that this volume covers the history of the Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Hungarians. |
| In Depth: Milosevic on Trial |
| Recommended because this website presents a detailed and objective look at the war crimes trial of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, as well as news and commentary on the development of the former Yugoslavia in the post-Milosevic era. Start by Clicking on "Rise and Fall": Milosevic's Thirteen Years in Power. Be aware of the fact that there are also links to BBC websites on key issues in the trial of Milosevic, the history of Yugoslavia in the 20th century, and the ethnic conflict in Kosovo, among many other topics. Produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. |
| Mongol History website |
| Recommended because this site is very easy to navigate and gives general information about the history and culture of the Mongol Tatars. Start by clicking on Overview of the Mongol Empire. Be aware of the other topics included in this webside: "Timeline of the Mongol Empire," "Maps of the Empire," "Where Are the Mongols Now?" and more. Produced by Bucknell University. |
| Russian family tree of the house of Romanov |
| Recommended because this Bucknell University page contains the family tree of the second (also last), and more well-known royal family of pre-Revolutionary Russia. A simple, but well-designed site. |
| Russian family tree of the house of Rurik |
| Recommended because this page contains the family tree of the first royal family of pre-Revolutionary Russia. Maintained by Bucknell University. |
| Russian History |
| Recommended because this is perhaps the best and most comprehensive annotated index of links to websites relating to Russian history from earliest times to the present. Start by clicking on the Chronology of Russian History. It is both very detailed and filled with hyperlinks. Be aware of the fact that there are many more interesting links located below the Chronology of Russian history. Compiled by Bucknell University. |
| Russian History and Culture |
| Recommended because this is a good source of teacher-oriented materials on Russian History and culture, including lesson plans, books, videos, and CDs. Start by clicking on section of this website that is most of interest to you. The sections are: Teaching Plans and Manuals; Films; Computer Resources; Music; Books; Children's Literature; Directories; Periodicals; Reports Embassy Information; and Checkout Information. Be aware of the fact that teachers may borrow all these materials from the University of Washington. | |||
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| Russian History Catalog |
| Recommended because this Russian language-only site is extensive, and quite easy to navigate through. Start by learning Russian if you do not already know that difficult language! Be aware of the fact that the site is also good for research for theses and dissertations. |
| Russian History Primary Sources Designed for Teachers |
| Recommended because this site is chock full of documentary sources for specific periods in Russian History. There are twenty-one sources in all, ranging from 1671 to the 1930s. Be aware of the fact that this website would be especially valuable to teachers of Advanced Placement or honors history courses. Produced by the Russian Studies program at Seton Hall University. |
| Russian Print Materials |
| Recommended because it has an annotated catalogue of books, videos, and other resources on Eastern European history, literature, and other subjects. It is delineated in age appropriate categories. This would be an excellent source for Language Arts teachers and history teachers. Start by choosing the grade range that you are most interested in, as the materials are segregated into three sections according to the grade levels that they are considered most appropriate for: K-4 grades, 5-8 grades, 9-12 grades. Be aware of the fact that history materials can best be located in the 5-8 grader as well as the 9-12 grader sections. Maintained by the University of Illinois, from which all these materials can be borrowed. |
| The Balkans and Turkey |
| Recommended because of its many great links, both general and specific. The Balkan states (the former Yugoslav nations, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania) are grouped with Turkey because the former were for centuries part of the Ottoman Empire. Start by choosing one of the many topics in this website including: "Biography of Suleyman the Magnificent," "Armenian Genocide," "Chronology of Balkan History," and "Dracula--The Real Story," among several others. Be aware of the fact that this website has a search feature. Part of the History Net website. |
| The History Net |
| Recommended because this website is a comprehensive guide to Internet-based sources of history on all world regions. Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are well represented. Start by clicking on the Europe section, you will find separate subdivisions on Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Turkey, and Russia and Poland. Be aware of the fact that if you choose the "20th Century" section, you will find links to the Berlin Wall, the Cold War, Communism, the Holocaust, the Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin, and others. An excellent website. | |||
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| The History Net: Russian History |
| Recommended because this is a great place to start research on Russian history. Start by choosing one of the topics included in this site: General Histories and Timelines, The Romanovs, Nineteenth Century Russia, Reforming Russia, and Revolutionary and Communist Russia. |
| Time Magazine's 100 Most Important People of the Twentieth Century |
| Recommended because seven of the 100 are East Europeans: V.I. Lenin, Igor Stravinsky, Andrei Sakharov, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul II, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Each man is separately profiled in an essay written by a highly qualified author (for example, Pulitzer Prize winner David Remnick penned Lenin's biography). Start by clicking on one of the several categories that the top 100 figures are divided into. For example, leaders and revolutionaries includes Lenin, Gorbachev, and Walesa. |
| Afghanistan in Pictures (Visual Geography Series) (1997) Author: Lerner Geographic Department, editor, Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because this book provides a visual introduction to the wartorn Central Asian nation. For ages 9-12. 64pp. |
| Albania in Pictures (Visual Geography Series) (1995) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because this little-known and primarily Muslim Balkan state of Albania is described through pictures. For ages 9-12. 64pp. |
| Armenia (Then and Now) (1992) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Armenia, one of the newly independent nations in the Caucasus Mountain region. For ages 9-12. | |||
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| Azerbaijan (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, one of the newly independent nations in the Caucasus Mountain region. For ages 9-12. |
| Belarus (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Belarus. For ages 9-12. |
| Estonia (Then and Now) (1992) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Estonia, one of the three newly independent Baltic states. For ages 9-12. |
| Georgia (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because Georgia retains all of the strengths of its predecessors in a series devoted to former Soviet republics. The presentation of this newly independent nation is accurate, well organized, and beautifully illustrated. Many fine-quality, full-color photographs portray the diversity of ethnic groups in this country. Excellent maps and tables provide good coverage of historical, economic, and geographic features. A most interesting section is devoted to one of Georgia's native sons, namely Joseph Stalin. Current political issues surrounding ongoing civil conflicts are described. Since publication of this book, Georgia has joined the Commonwealth of Independent States. Other than that detail, however, the information is up-to-date. Students will find this attractive, fact-laden title highly readable. Reviewed by Sue A. Norkeliunas, Arlington Senior HS, LaGrangeville, NY. For ages 9-12. |
| How to Decorate Beautiful Ukrainian Easter Eggs Author: by Luba Perchyshyn |
| Recommended because "Pysanky" is the term for the Ukrainian way to decorate Easter Eggs. This pamphlet can turn any school's celebration of Easter into a chance to learn about a foreign culture while having fun. Available at the Ukrainian Gift Shop. Also available for free loan at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Russian and East European Studies (http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees/outres). Designed for grades K-6. | |||
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| Hungary in Pictures (Visual Geography Series) (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because this is a good introduction to the Central European nation of Hungary through photographs. For ages 9-12. |
| Kazakstan (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, the largest of the five newly independent nations of Central Asia. For ages 9-12. |
| Koshka's Tales (1993) Author: by James Mayhew. Kingfisher Books |
| Recommended because of it stories from Russia. 80pp, currently out of print. Designed for grades K-5. The author has retold five of the most famous Russian fairy tales in contemporary English. The tales are woven together by the cat Koshka, a wise old story-telling cat, who is narrating to a banished Tsaritsa and are accompanied by full-color, full-page illustrations, also done by Mayhew. Available for a free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute. (http://www.indiana.edu/~reeiweb/audiovisual/avoutrea.html#elementary). |
| Kyrgyzstan (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Central Asian Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, located high in the mountains on the border with China. For ages 9-12. |
| Latvia (Then and Now) (1992) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Latvia, one of the three Baltic states. For ages 9-12. | |||
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| Lithuania (Then and Now) (1992) Author: Lerner Publishing |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Lithuania, the largest and westernmost of the three Baltic states. For ages 9-12. |
| Moldova (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Moldova. For ages 9-12. |
| Our Global Village: Poland (1994) Author: By Don McKay. St. Louis. Milliken Publishing |
| Recommended because this book serves as a fine introduction to Polish history and culture including daily life, holidays, foods, stories, games, and basic language expressions. Recommended for grades 4-6. Available for a free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute (http://www.indiana.edu/~reeiweb/audiovisual/avoutrea.html#elementary). |
| Our Global Village: Russia (1993) Author: by Susan J. Williams. St. Louis, Milliken Publishing |
| Recommended because this is a good introduction to Russian history and culture including daily life, holidays, foods, stories, games and basic language expressions. Recommended for grades 4-6. Available for a free loan from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute (http://www.indiana.edu/~reeiweb/audiovisual/avoutrea.html#elementary). |
| Russia: Then and Now (1992) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because this is an informative guide that explains Russia's history, its communist past, and what lies ahead in the future. This book contains brightly colored photographs and illustrations of the people of Russia and moments in their history. Lemer Publications, 1992. Available for free loan at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Russian and East European Studies (http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees/outres). Recommended for grades K-6. | |||
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| Tajikistan (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because this is a timely, readable, well-illustrated, accurate portrayal of life in the newly independent, former Soviet Central Asian republic. In four chapters, Tajikistan's history, geography, culture, economic conditions, environmental concerns, and future outlook are described. Every page contains at least one high-quality color photograph, which greatly enhances the text. The maps are also first-rate. Considerable material on the nation's problems-a fast-growing population, high infant mortality, language barriers, a volatile ethnic mixture, and a paucity of qualified leaders and professionals to fill the gaps left by departing, educated Russians-is provided. Some of the presentation suffers from oversimplification, e.g., the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims is mentioned, but not discussed. On the other hand, a section on the linguistic, political, and historical derivations of the Tajik language includes details that may confuse some readers. Overall, this series entry is very well done and should be added to libraries needing recent information on this troubled part of the world. Discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan, one of the newly independent nations of Central Asia. For ages 9-12. Reviewed by Sue A. Norkeliunas, Arlington Senior HS, LaGrangeville, NY. |
| The Firebird (1994) Author: Illustrated by Demi, Henry Holt |
| Recommended because the classic Russian tale about the magic firebird is retold through beautiful illustrations that make the story more mystical than the bird itself. Grades K-2. Available for free loan from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Russian and East European Studies (http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees/outres.html#story). |
| The Magic Goldfish (1995) Author: by Aleksander Pushkin, illustrated by Demi. Henry Holt & Co. |
| Recommended because this is a classic fairy tale is about an old man who receives three wishes from a magic goldfish and his wife's accompanying greed. The book is beautifully illustrated with full-page pictures and perfect for story time. It is also apparently out of print. Grades K-2. Available for free loan from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Russian and East European Studies (http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees/outres.html#story). |
| Turkmenistan (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan, one of the newly independent nations of Central Asia. Designed for ages 9-12. |
| Ukraine: Then and Now (1993) Author: Lerner Publishing Company |
| Recommended because this is an informative guide that provides an overview of Ukraine's land, population, heritage, history, and resources. A section is dedicated to the disaster at Chernobyl. The future of Ukraine is also discussed. The pages are filled with pictures to enrich students understanding of this country. Lemer, 1993. Available for free loan at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Russian and East European Studies (http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees/outres). Designed for grades K-6. | |||
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| Uzbekistan (Then and Now) (1993) Author: Lerner Publications Company |
| Recommended because it discusses the history, ethnic mixture, politics, economy, and future of the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, the most populated of the newly independent nations of Central Asia. For ages 9-12. |
| Your World, My World Author: London, England, Oxfam, 2001 |
| Recommended because this Oxfam produced pack is based on the popular case studies from Wake Up, World!. By looking at the stories of four children from around the world, pupils are able to explore what makes up their own special identity, the importance of family and friends, and their role in caring for, and helping, others. The teachers' booklet contains detailed background information about the children featured (from Ethiopia, India, Brazil, and Russia), as well as carefully trialled activities to relate the issues raised by the case studies to pupils' own lives. 44 pages with photographs and a poster. Desinged for 4-7 year olds. Can be ordered online from Oxfam. |
| Dateline 1956: Budapest (1991) |
| Recommended because this is a high quality historical documentary exploring the national and international events that led to Hungary's brief period of freedom, and the November 4th Soviet military invasion that crushed the Hungarian revolution (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. |
| Dateline 1968: Czechoslovakia (1991) |
| Recommended because this is a fine documentary on Czech history beginning with the Prague Spring and ending with the Soviet suppression (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. |
| Dateline 1980: Gdansk (1991) |
| Recommended because this is a great historical documentary on late-Twentieth Century Polish history. The focus is the strike at the Lenin Shipyard to protest Communist rule and the deteriorating Polish economy. Also, the growth of Solidarity under Lech Walesa is described (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. | |||
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| Dateline 1985: Moscow (1991) |
| Recommended because this documentary provides a review of Soviet leaders preceding Gorbachev and an examination of Glasnost and Perestroika (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). Apparently out of print. |
| Dateline 1989: Hungary (1991) |
| Recommended because this historical documentary covers events from the 1956 uprising which was eventually crushed by Soviet tanks, through the 1980s moves toward democratic reform (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. |
| Dateline 1989: Prague (1991) |
| Recommended because this is a very good documentary on the history of Czechoslovakia from the Soviet invasion of 1968 to the election of Vaclav Havel in 1989 (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. |
| Dateline 1989: Romania (1991) |
| Recommended because this documentary shows how the Communist system was overthrown in Romania, including the events at Timisoara that led to Romanian dictator Ceausescu's fall (23 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. |
| Eastern Europe: Political Powder Keg |
| Recommended because this three-part series provides an in-depth look at the troubled history of a part of the world that has served as a linchpin and tinderbox for much of the 20th century. The programs use rare archival footage to trace events from 1900 to the fall of Communism and the rise of democracy. 3-part series, 55-59 minutes each. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). Part One: Eastern Europe, 1900-1939 This program traces the history of Eastern Europe from the reign of Franz Josef to the rise of Hitler and the beginnings of the Second World War. Topics covered include the war for Macedonia pitting Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece against the Turks; political manipulation of the Balkans by Russia, Austria, Britain, and France; domination of Serbia; the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; the fall of czarist Russia; the Hungarian Revolution of 1918; rise of the Communist Party; birth of the Czechoslovakian Republic; the Treaty of Versailles; the rise of Marshal Pilsudski in Poland; formation of the United Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes; and the Munich Conference (55 minutes). Part Two: Eastern Europe: 1939-1953 The events leading up to World War II had a devastating political and economic effect on Eastern Europe, as did the rise of Stalin and the thirst for empire of the Soviet Union. This program traces how both Hitler's and Stalin's quests for power left this vulnerable area of the world permanently destabilized. Topics include the invasion of Poland by Germany; intrigues and internal politics of the Balkan States; declaration of Croatian independence; the war between Russia and Germany; the Warsaw Ghetto; Marshal Tito and the Anti-Fascist Liberation Council; the battle for Stalingrad; American intervention; the Slavic resistance movement; the Yalta Conference; the Potsdam Conference; the Communist takeover; Tito's break with Moscow; and closing of the Iron Curtain. (59 minutes). Part Three: Eastern Europe: 1953-1991 This program begins with the death of Stalin, which precipitated a rash of political intrigues in the Balkans, and ends with the fall of Communism. Topics include the rise of Nikita Khrushchev; the 1956 Polish Workers Revolt; the liberation of Cardinal Wyszynski; the Hungarian Revolt; the rise of Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania; Tito's socialism; the Czechoslovakian Revolution; the death of Tito; the Helsinki Conference; Lech Walesa and the Polish miners' strike; Gorbachev and perestroika; and the rise of democracy (59 minutes). |
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| Frontline: War in Europe (2000) |
| Recommended because this is an investigation into the 1999 NATO war against Yugoslavia over Kosovo. Focus is on how the war was prosecuted from the NATO perspective, with special attention given to the diplomatic infighting among NATO officials, both civilian and military, including Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark. In the process, the story of the political constraints, internal divisions, and miscalculations that shaped the war in the Balkans is revealed (120 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). |
| People's Century: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times (1997) |
| Recommended because this is a high quality, comprehensive film documentary of the twentieth century (over twenty episodes in all). The OSU Slavic Center has several episodes, all concerned with themes relating to communism. A joint production of the BBC and WGBH Boston. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). Red Flag: Communism in Russia (1917-36) When Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks stormed the Winter Palace in 1917, they did so in the name of a new ideology. Millions were drawn by its promise. In Red Flag, the people who were there -- from members of the Red Guard to party activists to students -- explain how Communism appealed to their deepest hopes and dreams. Through them, we hear how Communist leadership, under Lenin and later, Joseph Stalin, compromised the proletarian ideal--and how hope eventually gave way to despair. Interviews include the following subjects: the storming of the Winter Palace, Lenin, Bolsheviks, civil war, mass literary campaigns, Lenin's death, Soviet "five year plans," collectivization, kulaks, "show" trials", and Stalin's purges (60 minutes). Fallout: Nuclear Energy and Destruction (1942-87) The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the end of WWII -- and also heralded the beginning of the nuclear arms race. Simultaneously, the peaceful potential of nuclear energy was held out as the hope of the future, offering cheap, clean and unlimited energy. But early optimism and enthusiasm evaporated as the dangers of radiation and nuclear accidents became evident. Authoritarian governments ignored challenges to nuclear energy programs caused by popular apprehension, but all governments encountered growing evidence of the costs of nuclear power. Interviews include the following themes: the atomic bomb, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, nuclear testing, Cuban Missile crisis, protest movements, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl (60 minutes). Brave New World: The Cold War Begins (1945-62) This film tracks the building tension between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, from the post-WWII world of the 1940s through the 1960s, as the hope for post- war peace swiftly disintegrates into a "cold" war of competing ideologies between East and West. Interviews include the following subjects: meeting on the Elbe, refugees in Europe, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill at Fulton, Nikita Khrushchev, propaganda wars, NATO, Berlin blockade, Korea, Hungarian uprising, Berlin Wall (60 minutes). People Power: The End of Soviet-Style Communism (1980-93) In 1991, the Communist Party lost control of the Soviet Union, the culmination of a process that had started in 1980 in the Polish shipyards at Gdansk. Eyewitnesses tell the story of how the Communist system that dominated post-war Eastern Europe collapsed as they remember the extraordinary weeks that preceded and followed the fall of the Berlin Wall; Poland's fight for Solidarity; Czechoslovakia's "Velvet Revolution"; Romania's violent overthrow of communism; Gorbachev and perestroika, the August 1991 Putsch, and the collapse of the Soviet Union (60 minutes). |
| Red Empire (1990) |
| Recommended because this is a fine seven-part history of the Soviet Union which combines documentary film footage and interviews with participants in important historical events. Introduced by Robert Conquest with Geoffrey Hosking as historical consultant. Each film is about 54 minutes long. Produced in the United Kingdom. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. Volume I: Revolutionaries. Russia to the October Revolution in 1917 Volume II: Winners & Losers. The Civil War to Lenin's Death in 1924 Volume III: Class Warriors. Collectivization and Industrialization Volume IV: Enemies of the People. Great Purges of the late 1930s Volume V: Patriots. The Soviet-Nazi War, 1941-45 Volume VI: Survivors. From 1945 through the Khrushchev Era Volume VII: Prisoners of the Past. From Brezhnev to Gorbachev |
| Russia: Discovering Russia (1995) |
| Recommended because this is perhaps the single best video to introduce students to Russia. Part of the "Video Visits" series, this well-made travelogue not only vividly shows the diverse Russian landscape and major Russian cities, it effectively integrates Russian culture and history into the film as well (55 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). |
| Struggles for Poland (1988) |
| Recommended because this PBS production is a very good history of Poland in the Twentieth Century. Narrated by Roger Mudd, it combines historical footage with interviews of people who participated in the described events. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail); apparently out of print. Struggles for Poland, Vol. I: Once Upon a Time, 1900-1923 Volume One documents through archival films, interviews and stills, how the vision of two Polish leaders, Josef Pilsudski and Roman Dmowski, along with a series of major events, provided the necessary catalysts for Poland to regain its sovereign status after years of domination by foreign powers (55 minutes). Struggles for Poland, Vols. II & III: False Dawn, 1921-1939; Different World: Poland's Jews, 1919-1943 Volumes II and III describe Poland's struggles to establish a government following the ratification of the new Polish constitution in 1921, and shows how political infighting led to the establishment of a military regime based on right-wing totalitarianism and officially sanctioned anti-Semitism. While workers and peasants struggled against this regime from within, Poland faced even greater threats from its aggressive neighbors, Stalin's Soviet Russia and Hitler's Nazi Germany. Struggles for Poland, Vols. IV & V: Occupation, 1939-1945; Friends and Neighbors, 1939-1945 Volumes IV and V document the atrocities perpetrated against the Polish people during WWII. Special segments of this episode also set in relief the role and activities of the Polish Underground; the creation of the Soviet-inspired Communist resistance; and the 280,000 members of the Home Army in Warsaw, which led to an ill-fated uprising against the Germans in 1944. Struggles for Poland, Vol. VI & VII: Bright Days of Tomorrow, 1945-1956; Sweepers of Squares, 1956-1970 These parts describe Poland's first decades of Soviet domination, which began with the Soviet "liberation" of Poland from Nazi rule at the end of the Second World War. Struggles for Poland, Vols. VIII & IX: In This Life, 1900-1979; The Workers' State, 1970-Present Volumes VIII and IX chronicle the rise of Solidarity, the workers' movement that eventually led to the overthrow of the pro-Soviet socialist government. |
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| The Face of Russia (1998) |
| Recommended because this is an excellent three part documentary on Russian art and culture, written and hosted by James Billington, Librarian of Congress, and author of The Icon and the Axe, a classic text on Russian culture. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). The Face on the Firewood: Part 1 Icon painting, the first Russian art form, has survived and flourished during Russia's many times of troubles, including the devastating anti-clerical decrees wrought by Communism. This segment reveals the spiritual ideas that have animated Russia for 1,000 years and witnesses recent restorations of churches and monasteries from Kiev to the Kremlin (60 minutes). The Facade of Power: Part 2 Here Russian architecture is examined, with a focus on St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo. The program also looks at the writings of Gogol, who revealed the human suffering behind Russia's "Facade of Power." His Dead Souls first inspired 19th century political radicals, then Soviet dissidents, and still influences Russian artists today (60 minutes). Facing the Future: Part 3 In "Boris Godunov," the great composer Mussorgsky dramatized the conflict between power and the people during Russia's original "Time of Troubles." Sergei Eisenstein retold history with silent films of such power that they became more real than actual events. This segment explores the advance of Russian music and cinema, and looks at how new media forms are shaping Russian during its current time of change (60 minutes). |
| The Hermitage: A Russian Odyssey (1994) |
| Recommended because this is an excellent three-part Christian Science Monitor tour of the renowned Russian art museum in Saint Petersburg, providing a course in Russian history in the process. Narrated by Rod MacLeish. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail). Volume One--Catherine the Great: A Lust for Art With stunning art and dramatic readings from Catherine the Great's diaries, this program investigates a self-professed "glutton for beauty" who feasted daily on Rembrandts, Rubenses, and Brueghels. Like her predecessor Peter the Great, Catherine ruled Russia with an insatiable appetite for Western culture. She cunningly purchased massive art collections from Europe's monarch, then created the Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace (1754-62) to house her treasures. In less than 40 years she acquired more masterpieces than the Louvre had amassed in four centuries (54 minutes). Volume Two--Tyrants and Heroes This episode covers the Nineteenth Century Russian Czars. This includes the war against Napoleon when Russian officers lingered in Paris (1814-15), absorbing Western ideas and buying artwork; the autocratic reign of Nicholas I who fiercely repressed the people yet lavished money on the Hermitage; the progressive rule of Aleksandr II, which ended tragically in murder; and Alexander III's reign of terror (54 minutes). Volume Three--From Czars to Commissars: A Museum Survives The horrors of revolution and war play counterpoint to breathtaking works by Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso. When Nicholas II succumbed to the revolution and Lenin came to power, the Hermitage became the world's largest museum, increased by thousands of works previously held in private collections. In a shocking turn of events, Stalin, Lenin's successor, sold many of the museum's irreplaceable treasures for cash. Yet, the Hermitage survived Stalin, as well as World War II when two thirds of its collection were transported safely out of Leningrad before the Nazi siege. The program then moves forward chronologically through the decades leading to the fall of communism in Russia (55 minutes). |
Updated: 10 February 2007