Cold War in Europe trivia thread...

[torstenbel]

Dirk, are you looking for a Soviet or German citizen? Cheers, Torsten.

Now, here are my new questions:

During the cold war a rapid development of the rocket technology took place.
In the USA the German Wernher von Braun was one of the leading heads.
I look for one of the leading heads of the Soviet side.

1. What´s his name?
2. During witch time he was member of the soviet rocket-development? (years from-to)
3. What is his profession today?

(Hint: His father played the Eastern main role during the cold war...)

I hope it´s not too difficult.

[Bob Schiavinato]

Wow! What a great question. Initially I would have guessed Dmitri Ustinov because he headed the Industry of Armaments during WWII and authorized Korolev to examine and improve the V-2 and later Götrupp and the German team to start work on G-4. Ustinov </ST1later became Marshal and Minister of Defense, but he died in 1984. It wouldn’t be Leonid Kuchman ex-President of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:cs:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ukraine</ST1</st1:country-region> who worked for Mikhail Yanguel between 1982 and 1986 as deputy at N 586. The key is your hint. I believe the answer to your questions is as follows:<O</O
1. Sergei Beria, son of Lavrenti Beria ordered by Stalin to develop a crash program to deal with the defense of <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1lMoscow</st1:City> from US Strategic bombers. He worked in a design bureau led by Kuksenko that I believe was part of the design team headed by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich (the famous MiG guys) and helped design the KS-Comet anti-ship missile.
2. I know he was removed after Stalin’s death in 1953, but I’m not sure when he started. I think maybe after the war in 1946.
3. I think he was a civil engineer after rehabilitation, but didn’t Msr. Beria publish a book in 1999 and die in 2004?

[AR-11]

Wow! What a great question. Initially I would have guessed Dmitri Ustinov because he headed the Industry of Armaments during WWII and authorized Korolev to examine and improve the V-2 and later Götrupp and the German team to start work on G-4. Ustinov later became Marshal and Minister of Defense, but he died in 1984. It wouldn’t be Leonid Kuchman ex-President of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region> who worked for Mikhail Yanguel between 1982 and 1986 as deputy at N 586. The key is your hint. I believe the answer to your questions is as follows:<o =""></o>
1. Sergei Beria, son of Lavrenti Beria ordered by Stalin to develop a crash program to deal with the defense of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1 ="">lMoscow</st1> from US Strategic bombers. He worked in a design bureau led by Kuksenko that I believe was part of the design team headed by </st1:city>Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich (the famous MiG guys) and helped design the KS-Comet anti-ship missile.
2. I know he was removed after Stalin’s death in 1953, but I’m not sure when he started. I think maybe after the war in 1946.
3. I think he was a civil engineer after rehabilitation, but didn’t Msr. Beria publish a book in 1999 and die in 2004?

Bob,
not bad, not bad!
Your thoughts go to the right direction-but sorry, I don´t mean Mr. Berija.
Berija (the dad) , was Minister of the Interior (Innenminister). The person I´m looking for, is the son of Berija´s best enemy (in the soviet leadership) and who toppled him (Berija).

No Torsten,
I´m looking for a soviet people.

All,
the father's name of the person I ´m looking for has often been called in this forum.
AR-11

[Bob Schiavinato]

OK! I think I have it. It could only be Sergei Kruschev, son of Nikita Kruschev Chair of the Central Committee CPSU, then Premiere who toppled Beria. From 1958 to 1968 Sergei, the son, participated in the Soviet missile and space program, including work on cruise missiles for submarines, military and research spacecraft, moon vehicles, and the "Proton," the world's largest space booster. He was first an engineer, then a deputy section head in charge of Guidance Systems. Dr. Krushchev has a doctorate from the Ukranian Academy of Science, a Ph.D. from the Moscow Technical University, and an M.A. with distinction from the Moscow Electric Power Institute. Today he is Senior Fellow at the Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Institute for International Studies at Brown University and has written several books about his father, first coming to the public's attention in 1970 editing his father's memoirs. He emigrated to the US and is a US citizen I believe. Wouldn't have got it without the hints.

[AR-11]

OK! I think I have it. It could only be Sergei Kruschev, son of Nikita Kruschev Chair of the Central Committee CPSU, then Premiere who toppled Beria. From 1958 to 1968 Sergei, the son, participated in the Soviet missile and space program, including work on cruise missiles for submarines, military and research spacecraft, moon vehicles, and the "Proton," the world's largest space booster. He was first an engineer, then a deputy section head in charge of Guidance Systems. Dr. Krushchev has a doctorate from the Ukranian Academy of Science, a Ph.D. from the Moscow Technical University, and an M.A. with distinction from the Moscow Electric Power Institute. Today he is Senior Fellow at the Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Institute for International Studies at Brown University and has written several books about his father, first coming to the public's attention in 1970 editing his father's memoirs. He emigrated to the US and is a US citizen I believe. Wouldn't have got it without the hints.

Concratulations, you won!
Yes, I asked for Sergey Chrushchev.
As far as I know, he´s not an emmigrant and still a russian citizen. In 1990 He got a Chair and research order at the Watson Institute, as you wrote above. My informations comes from an interview by the german-french TV-channel "Arte".

And now: it´s your turn Bob.

AR-11

[Ralph P]

He Dirk...OUTSTANDING round. I was off looking for rocket engineers and had not come across Sergey Chrushchev yet. I kept coming up with persons who where hanging out the cemetary. Thanks...and congrats to Bob Schiavinato for winning the last round...

Concratulations, you won!
Yes, I asked for Sergey Chrushchev.
As far as I know, he´s not an emmigrant and still a russian citizen. In 1990 He got a Chair and research order at the Watson Institute, as you wrote above. My informations comes from an interview by the german-french TV-channel "Arte".

And now: it´s your turn Bob.

AR-11

[torstenbel]

Hi Bob, well done....I tried to get into the round, but no point...you are too good... over to you now to come up with the next question(s)...Cheers, Torsten.

[Mike G.]

Dirk,

Great questions. Challenging yet very informative. Bob, excellant job. Well done. And welcome to the Forum.

[Bob Schiavinato]

Thanks guys and thanks for the welcome Mike! AR-11’s hints really helped out. His question really highlighted the value placed on rocketry and rocket science by the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1lUSSR</st1:country-region>. It appears many highly placed party members made reputations and advanced through involvement in the Soviet space program or urged their children to become engineers in this prestigious career. Great question!

I’m going to change the focus a bit. In Europe, East and West, the Arts are highly regarded. Indeed, the beginning of the end of socialist party dominance in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Czechoslovakia</st1:country-region> saw the emergence of Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright, as a leader of the “November Events” between November and December 1989. (Americans may know this event as the “Velvet Revolution.”) Mstislav Rostropovich, the famed Soviet Cellist defected to the West and became an outspoken critic of Soviet foreign and domestic policy. He even bluffed his way into the Russian White House and was given an AK to “stand guard” outside Yeltsin’s Office before Yeltsin went out to stand on the tank and exhort the assembled to defying the coup against Gorbachev. In addition to this, we know that although many politicians believe events and policies are driven by policies and planning in the Capital, most real change occurs in the provinces and takes the Capital by surprise.

Taking all of this into account, when the SED dominated government began to unravel in the DDR:
1. What was the large-scale event that marked the beginning of the end of the Honnecker regime?
2. Where exactly did this take place? (Two part question)
3. Who was responsible for the success of the event putting his reputation on the line to demonstrate his belief in both the people and the authorities, and what position did he hold?
4. Finally, after reunification with what famous institution did he work?

[Soviet]

#1 The monday demonstration (Montagsdemonstration) in Leipzig

#2 In Leipzig every monday at 18 o'clock at the Nikolaikirchof (Nikolaikirche)

#3 Christian Führer, he was Pfarrer (Pastor) at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig

http://www.nikolaikirche-leipzig.de

or maybe you are looking for Joachim Gauck who was member and speaker for Neues Forum that was in charge of dismantling the MfS?

By the way, Führer and Gauck won the "Theodor-Heuss-Preis" like Vaclav Havel. Was it your link with him?

[AR-11]

Hi Bob,
Questions 1 and 2 I fully agree with Soviet.

Question 3: I think you mean the leader of the "Gewandhausorchester Leipzig", Professor Kurt Masur. He was one of the most important leaders during the "Wende".

Qustion 4: As far as I know today he´s the leader of the "New York Pilharmony Orchestra".

Am I right?

AR-11

[Bob Schiavinato]

Soviet you have the correct answer to questions 1 and 2. AR-11 you are absolutley correct the name I am looking for is Kurt Masur Gewandhaus Kapellmeister der Leipziger Gewandhaus Orchester. Masur, whom I believe was a supporter of Honnecker, was upset by the use of force by police and complained so to West German television. He then turned his energy to finding a solution through peaceful dialogue. He contacted the Soviet army commander and was told that the Red Army was confined to barracks, that Gorbachev's orders were "like iron" and there would be no interference. He contacted the DDR army commander and was told DDR forces were on alert. So he reached out to Pfarr Führer, three SED officials and a cabaret artist who was well liked and considered influencial. He informed them if they did not support his attempt to make a peaceful appeal he would work on his own to bring about a solution. He was very respected and liked by all, so there was no question these four would work with Masur. Under Masur's leadership they drafted an appeal to the authorities that stated "all of us need an open exchange of opinion" and asked Leipzigers to act with calm and reason to make a "peaceful dialogue possible." The local SED had sent to Berlin phoning Egon Krenz to approve the apeal but received no reply. So they issued the appeal on their own. Masur intervened to make sure it read it in all the major churches and on radio. He contacted the local police commander and personally asked the police lines be withdrawn to avoid any confrontation during the candelight marches and they agreed. It changed everything and saved lives on both sides.

The irony of this event is Honnecker. The reason Krenz failed to immediatley return the SED's call was because Honnecker would not give approval. Shortly before Honnecker had given the go-ahead to use force against the demonstrators. He admonished Krenz and told him to do as he wished but the Politburo would not support him and would "react appropriately." Honnecker then told Krenz he had great plans for him but was now wondering if Krenz was up to the job. So Krenz delayed and contacted the SED but it was too late. They had already acted and set the seeds of change through non-violence.

Masur went on to become Music Director of the New York Philharmonic between 1990 and 2002. A friend of mine who is a member of the Philharmonic telephoned me and told me the news before it became public and casually remarked, "Do you think he's ready for New York?" I shot back immediatley, "He's the Godfather of the East German Revolution, the real question is New York ready for Masur?!" It may be a bit of an overstatement but his tenure with the Philharmonic was one of the great moments in the orchestra's history and he is a great man in my estimation. He now works in Paris as Chef d'Orchestre of the Orchestre National de France and is principal conductor of the London Philharmonic.

Evertime some *expletive deleted* wise guy politician says we should cut funding for arts education because we can't afford it I tell them about Kurt Masur and die "Wende" and Vaclav Havel and the "November Events" and Krzystof Penderecki and his support of Solidarity in Poland and the underground art music scene in the Societ Union led by Aarvo Paart and remind them that the arts and artsists played an important part in bringing about reform in Eastern Europe. OK, I have editorialized.

Looks like you guys should collaborate and come up with a real stone breaking, sod busting, granite shattering question to make our brains sweat! Congrats gentlemen!

Bob

[AR-11]

Thank you for the flowers Bob,
but I think it is Soviet´s turn. Because I only answered one question right, and the 4th only a half. I did not know the todays job of Mr. Masur! It has become very quiet around him here in Germany. Our opposition is fitting zo take over the government-business, and they do not need such liberally thinking people like Mr.Masur and their messages. Because our new chanceller will be Mrs.Merkel, and she´s a shining example for a really "wryneck"*

I think it´s for you now, Soviet. Good luck.

AR-11

* It is not about the bird of the same name. I explain with pleasure what signifies this in the "East"- German usage, if somebody not know that.

[AR-11]

Soviet wrote me, that he had no idea for a question. So I will offer the next question:

Who am I?
I was born one month after the great socialist octoberrevolution.
I studied Mathematics and Philosophie and during WWII I was a chief of a arty-battery. I came into prison after the freeing of Eastern-Prussia and stays there for eleven years. Chrushev rehabilitated me. Till then I had to work as a teacher, however, now I could exercise my dream job. Till 1969. In this year they kicked me off my federation. One year later I receieve a great award, but I could get it myself. Four years later I leave my home and live in several countries. But I never learned the languages right...
Now I live for eleven years in my homecountry again...
Do you know who I am?

AR-11

[torstenbel]

Hi Dirk, good question... how about: Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn ? Cheers, Torsten.

Soviet wrote me, that he had no idea for a question. So I will offer the next question:

Who am I?
I was born one month after the great socialist octoberrevolution.
I studied Mathematics and Philosophie and during WWII I was a chief of a arty-battery. I came into prison after the freeing of Eastern-Prussia and stays there for eleven years. Chrushev rehabilitated me. Till then I had to work as a teacher, however, now I could exercise my dream job. Till 1969. In this year they kicked me off my federation. One year later I receieve a great award, but I could get it myself. Four years later I leave my home and live in several countries. But I never learned the languages right...
Now I live for eleven years in my homecountry again...
Do you know who I am?

AR-11