Cold War in Europe trivia thread...

[Ralph P]

Hey Torsten...

in any case, no harm in us having a little home advantage on this from time to time...is there..? Cheers, Torsten.

[Christophe]

In 1949, the Eastern Bloc founded a kind of economic union to rival the Marshall Plan and to promote economic growth among the Eastern Bloc states.

1. Who were the original memberstates of this organisation?
2. What was its name (extra points if you know the German name and you are not German yourself )?
3. What year did the DDR join this organisation?

Cheers, Torsten.

Hi Torsten,

My turn to try...

The founding of the Comecon - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (also referred to as CMEA, CEMA, or the Council) dates from a 1949 communiqué agreed upon by the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

The Comecon, economic organization from 1949 to 1991, linked the USSR with Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, East Germany (1950–90), Mongolia (from 1962), Cuba (from 1972), and Vietnam (from 1978), with Yugoslavia as an associated member.
Albania also belonged between 1949 and 1961.

It was agreed in 1987 that official relations should be established with the European Community, and a free-market approach to trading was adopted in 1990. In January 1991 it was agreed that Comecon should be effectively disbanded. Comecon was formally disbanded in June 1991.

The precise reasons for Comecon's formation in the aftermath of World War II are quite complex, given the political and economic turmoil of that time. However, Joseph Stalin's desire to enforce Soviet domination of the small states of Eastern Europe and to mollify some states that had expressed interest in the Marshall Plan were the primary factors in Comecon's formation. The stated purpose of the organization was to enable member states "to exchange economic experiences, extend technical aid to one another, and to render mutual assistance with respect to raw materials, foodstuffs, machines, equipment, etc."

Now, the answers :

1. Who were the original memberstates of this organisation?

* January 1949 : Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania.
Albania joined only in February 1949.


2. What was its name (extra points if you know the German name and you are not German yourself )?

* Comecon - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (also referred to as CMEA, CEMA, or the Council).
German name : Rat für gegenseitige Wirtschaftshilfe, RGW.


3. What year did the DDR join this organisation?

* 1950.


Voilà !! Hope it's good...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Ralph,A great great idea to launch this thread !!! . I'll be obliged to visit even more often the DDR Forum.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ralph P]

Lets see if I can make a dent to Torsten's questions...

1. The Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
2. The council for mutual and economic assistance.
3. 1950.

Ralph, now that was a difficult birth... I can see now how you must have got frustrated at me skidding around the actual answer that you were correctly looking for.. but I think my old history teacher would have been proud of me...anyhow, here goes my attempt at asking a sensible question of my own:

In 1949, the Eastern Bloc founded a kind of economic union to rival the Marshall Plan and to promote economic growth among the Eastern Bloc states.

1. Who were the original memberstates of this organisation?
2. What was its name (extra points if you know the German name and you are not German yourself )?
3. What year did the DDR join this organisation?

Hope this is not too difficult... Good luck. Cheers, Torsten.

[Christophe]

Ralph,

I think Yugoslavia had only the status of "Associated Member"... not the full member status.

Let's see what Torsten will say...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ralph P]

Hey Christophe...thanks for the comments...I think we may nailed Torsten's questions...or I only hope...

Ralph,A great great idea to launch this thread !!! . I'll be obliged to visit even more often the DDR Forum.

Cheers.

Ch.

[torstenbel]

Very, very close...2) and 3) are correct, but there is one country too much in answer fo number 1)...that particular country only joined the RGW (Rat fuer gegenseitige Wirtschaftshilfe) partly in 1965...but which country is it>>? Cheers, Torsten.

Lets see if I can make a dent to Torsten's questions...

1. The Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
2. The council for mutual and economic assistance.
3. 1950.

[torstenbel]

Christophe, that is correct...Yugoslavia did not join until 1965 and then only as a part or 'associate' member...that answers all the questions then...just noticed Christophe's complete answer lower down....well, over to you Christophe.. Cheers, Torsten.

Ralph,

I think Yugoslavia had only the status of "Associated Member"... not the full member status.

Let's see what Torsten will say...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ralph P]

Hey Torsten...since I have one to many countries did Christophe guess the first question correctly. Because he for sure got the extra credit...

Very, very close...2) and 3) are correct, but there is one country too much in answer fo number 1)...that particular country only joined the RGW (Rat fuer gegenseitige Wirtschaftshilfe) partly in 1965...but which country is it>>? Cheers, Torsten.

[Ralph P]

Hey Torsten...Christophe is the winner of this round since he posted the correct answer before me.

Christophe, that is correct...Yugoslavia did not join until 1965 and then only as a part or 'associate' member...that answers all the questions then...so, Ralph...who gets to continue..you or Christophe??? Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Hey Torsten...since I have one to many countries did Christophe guess the first question correctly. Because he for sure got the extra credit...

He sure did...but I only noticed Christophe's answer after yours...over to Christophe now.... Cheers, Torsten.

[Ralph P]

Hey Torsten...thanks for the very good questions...And I can not believe I beat Dirk or Dag to the answers...

Hey Christophe, my brain bucket is ready for the next round...

He sure did...but I only noticed Christophe's answer after yours...over to Christophe now.... Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Hey Christophe, my brain bucket is ready for the next round...

Same here.... Cheers, Torsten (ebay id german.militaria).

[Christophe]

Many thanks for your messages !!!

It was, in fact, quite easy ...

Now, let's try something more difficult... I would say quite quite difficult...

Here are the questions :

As you all know, in mid-1945, Berlin has been divided in 4 sectors commanded by the USA, Great-Britain, France and the USSR.
In the first agreement signed in London (30 november 1944), France had no sector attributed. The French sector first appeared on 28 February 1945, through a British proposal. It took a number of proposals and compromises to reach the final agreement on 30 July 1945.

The 4 precise questions are :

1. The British proposal of 28 February 1945 being the 1st one, how many interim proposals and compromises have been needed to reach the final agreement of the 30 july 1945 ?

As a bonus, can you list them, with each time the new location and / or content of the french Sector ?

2. On 30 july 1945 (final agreement), what are the names of the Berlin districts included in the French sector ?

3. What were the Berlin districts initially asked by France ?

4. Who was the Commander in Chief of the French sector on 30 july 1945 ?


Good luck !!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ralph P]

Hey Christophe...I did not think you were going to hurt my brain bucket for the next round...well let me see if I can come up with any answers to your questions...

Many thanks for your messages !!!

It was, in fact, quite easy ...

Now, let's try something more difficult... I would say quite quite difficult...

Here are the questions :

As you all know, in mid-1945, Berlin has been divided in 4 sectors commanded by the USA, Great-Britain, France and the USSR.
In the first agreement signed in London (30 november 1944), France had no sector attributed. The French sector first appeared on 28 February 1945, through a British proposal. It took a number of proposals and compromises to reach the final agreement on 30 July 1945.

The 4 precise questions are :

1. The British proposal of 28 February 1945 being the 1st one, how many interim proposals and compromises have been needed to reach the final agreement of the 30 july 1945 ?

As a bonus, can you list them, with each time the new location and / or content of the french Sector ?

2. On 30 july 1945 (final agreement), what are the names of the Berlin districts included in the French sector ?

3. What were the Berlin districts initially asked by France ?

4. Who was the Commander in Chief of the French sector on 30 july 1945 ?


Good luck !!

Cheers.

Ch.