Post-WWII Conflicts and Alliances
CONFERENCE OF YALTA (1945): To establish post-WWII principles, Churchill (Britain), Roosevelt (USA), and Stalin (USSR) met and made key decisions: the USSR gained a “sphere of influence” and guaranteed free elections for Eastern European countries under its influence. Germany was also divided into four zones. CONFERENCE OF POSTDAM (1945): Attlee (Britain), Truman (USA), and Stalin (USSR) convened. They created the United Nations (UN), decided Germany would pay reparations and its war criminals would
Read MoreRise of Nazism in Germany: Weimar Republic to 1933
The Introduction of Nazism in Germany
The Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
In 1918, nearing the end of World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, and the Weimar Republic was proclaimed. It was established with a democratic constitution. Germany had to accept military defeat and the harsh peace terms imposed by the victors. Many Germans considered the Treaty of Versailles humiliating because it accused Germany of causing the war, seized territories, reduced its army, and imposed substantial economic reparations.
Read MoreThe Spanish Labor Movement: Origins and Divisions
The Spanish Labor Movement: A Historical Overview
The new industrial framework and economic and working conditions of workers favored the rise of the labor movement. The initial demands focused on the right of association and the maintenance of salaries. From 1870 onward, ideological and political approaches developed, aiming to transform the economy and society.
1) The Harsh Conditions of Life
- Working Conditions: Although improved, working conditions remained harsh.
- Low Salaries: Salaries were stable
Spanish Civil War: Battles, Politics, and Aftermath
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Major Military Operations
During the Civil War, there were four major military operations in the battles around Madrid. These are distinguished from Jarama and Guadalajara, both of which represented victories for the Republicans.
- Occupation of the North: This involved French and Italian troops, as well as the Condor Legion.
- Franco’s Campaign and the Republican Counteroffensive: Republicans, led by General Miaja, launched a counteroffensive in Brunete, which resulted
The Federal Republic of Spain: A Tumultuous Era
The newly formed Cortes proclaimed the Federal Republic. Francisco Pi y Maragall became president, and Nicolás Salmerón was elected president of the Congress of Deputies. The draft constitution was not approved, although Castelar’s legacy would clear the path for decentralization. The Spanish nation was envisioned to be composed of seventeen states, grouping peninsular and island territories, plus Cuba and Puerto Rico.
A traditional division of powers was augmented by a fourth power: the power
Read MoreOld Regime: Social, Economic, and Political Structures
The Old Regime was a set of social relations and political economics that characterized the 17th century. It was a period of monarchical rule. The maintenance of society and the economy were based on a three-estate system: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The political system was an absolute monarchy. Monarchs were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and evolved into more advanced formulas, leading to enlightened despotism.
Maintenance of Stratified Societies
The form of social
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