Post-WWI, Germany sought to normalize relations with Western powers. The Locarno Treaties established Western borders and eased tensions. The negotiation team, led by Gustav Stresemann, focused on rebuilding trust and establishing clear, fixed agreements to prevent future conflict. Stresemann applied a logical, step-by-step approach, pushing for legally binding agreements that ensured territorial integrity and economic stability.
history
Marshall Plan Negotiations (1947-48)
After WWII, Germany was economically devastated. The U.S. proposed the Marshall Plan to aid European recovery. The West Germans approached negotiations with a clear focus on economic stability and long-term growth, rather than immediate relief. German negotiators emphasized the need for a clear framework and accountability, insisting on well-documented plans for how funds would be used.
USA. History
Another brief history of the United States. Much simplfication. But that’s always the case with summaries.
“Plans are useless, but ….”
As the supreme allied commander of allied forces in Europe during the Normandy invasion in World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower explained the importance of military planning when he said, “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.”
Kennedy – Eisenhower during Cuban Missile Crisis
Sound recording of a telephone conversation held on October 28, 1962, between President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. They discuss contingencies for dealing with Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev in order to end the Cuban Missile Crisis.
USA. Immigration.
A state-by-state look at the history of U.S. immigration, showing the leading country of origin for newcomers in each territory, by decade. Fascinating !
It wasn’t raining
“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” – Richard Cushing, Roman Catholic cardinal
1944 Induction of soldiers
A comment on YouTube:
“I’m 76 & all four of my uncles plus my father were WWII veterans! I went through Army Basic training, 20 years later, in 1964 & boy, was it different from this video! For example, the sergeants were screaming at you from ‘minute one’, not being helpful! Also, we had to get “skinhead” haircuts, not reasonable ones! Lastly, unless things changed drastically from the WWII era, this video was “soft soaping” entering the Army!”
U.S. History 2.5 mil views, not bad
A parody with video style and presentation inspired by Bill Wurtz.
Harry Truman Plain Speaker
Americans who use direct communication are typically labelled as plain speakers. It is difficult for plain speakers to rise high in American politics, and one of the few to do so was Harry Truman.
Truman’s entrée into politics began in 1922, when he was elected to be a judge in the Jackson County Court. He served as a judge from 1922 to 1924, but despite his reputation for honesty and efficiency, was not reelected in 1924. Undeterred, Harry ran for judge again in 1926, this time winning his election.
In 1934, Truman became a senator, and in 1944 he was nominated to run as vice president with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The two men won their campaign, and Truman then came to office as president following FDR’s death in April 1945.
In 1948, Truman ran for reelection, and to the shock of the public (who considered his defeat inevitable), Truman won reelection. In fact, Truman’s defeat was so widely anticipated that some newspapers went to print with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” before the election results were known. As a result, there is a famous photograph of Truman smiling as he holds up one of these newspapers after winning the presidency.
Harry Truman left the presidency in 1953 and retired from political life. Some examples of Truman’s Plain-speech:
On why he opposed silencing dissenters: “Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”
On why he would not accept the Medal of Honor: “I don’t consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.”
On politics: “We now see that other past presidents, have found a new level of success in cashing in on the presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Obviously, political offices are now for sale.”
On politics: “My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference. I, for one, believe the piano player job to be much more honorable than current politicians.“