The Modern History

[themodernhistory]

Fidel Castro Reaction to Kennedy Assassination in Cuba | New Republic

This piece originally appeared at The New Republic on December 7, 1963.

President Kennedy presided over both the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, but when he was shot and killed on that November morning in 1963, Fidel Castro’s reaction was one of shock and sadness. “This is bad news,” he repeated three times. “For us Latin Americans, death is a sacred matter; not only does it mark the close of hostilities, but it also imposes decency, dignity, respect.”

This glimpse into the reclusive Cuban leader’s thoughts is made all the more remarkable by the fact that it only exists due to Kennedy himself. Eager to open another secret channel to Castro, JFK had sent journalist Jean Daniel to talk with Castro privately. Daniel arrived in Havana in mid-October, but was kept waiting and did not manage to deliver Kennedy’s message to Castro until November 19—just days before the president’s death. The president died without ever knowing that the Cuban leader had received his message.

Read the whole story: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120460/fidel-castro-reaction-kennedy-assassination-cuba

[newoldstockphotos]

Ingledews

[themodernhistory]

DESCRIPTION: Ingledews Shoes, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

PHOTOGRAPHER: Dominion Photo Company

DATE: 1946

[newoldstockphotos]

Gunner Ernie Widders writes a letter from Vietnam

[cultpopcult]

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991)

[cultpopcult]

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991)

[themodernhistory]

Putin to McDonald’s: Not Lovin’ It

By Mark Wilson

Over 200 McDonald’s restaurants across Russia are currently under investigation by government regulators. McDonald’s announced via their corporate website that 9 restaurants have been closed.

Investigations are being linked to sanitary and health related issues. Inspectors claim to have found E.coli in at least 2 locations according to Iod. Despite these allegations, the burger chain claims it’s being targeted for political reasons.

In August, RT.com reported the Russian deputy-prime minister, Arkady Jovanovich, as stating that McDonald’s was not being banned in the country. He also denied the investigations were launched as retaliation against economic sanctions brought against Russia by the US and the EU.

The US and the EU brought sanctions against Russia after Moscow’s involvement in the annexation of Crimea earlier this year. Tensions have steadily mounted in the past year between the former Cold War enemies.

McDonald’s first arrived in Russia in 1990 and was seen as a symbol of Russia moving into a new age of economic prosperity. The landmark restaurant opened in Pushkin Square and was hailed as the world’s biggest McDonald’s serving over 30,000 meals a day. Since then, relations between McDonald’s and the Kremlin have been friendly.

There are over 440 McDonald’s across Russia. With 200 of them currently being investigated, the future of McDonald’s in Russia is uncertain. If a total shutdown were to occur, over 37,000 workers would be affected in addition to Russian farmers and suppliers.

McDonald’s is a symbol of American capitalism and the West’s bloated decadence. Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia needs its own fast-food chain to compete with McDonald’s. By adding a nationalistic spin to fast food, Putin has secured Russia’s isolationist stance against the rest of the world. Taking down the Golden Arches is merely Putin’s way of thumbing his nose at the West.

[themodernhistory]

High Hitler: Nazi leader was a meth addict, says new documentary - The Washington Post

The Nazi leader was supposedly injected with extracts from bull's testicles to boost his libido.

Meth. Not even once.

[themodernhistory]

Strange days have found us.

Two L.A. gang members are apparently fighting for Syria’s Assad

Two Los Angeles gang members appear to have joined the flow of foreigners flocking to fight in Syria – in this instance, on the side of President Bashar al-Assad. In a video posted online, the two men boast that they are on the front lines and fire their guns in the direction of what they call "the enemigos."

[themodernhistory]

Any tips for a history tag feature? As in, what do you look for in a tag worthy of being featured?

The most important thing I look for is properly sourced material. A post without a link to a source is probably going to fly under my radar. A good photo to accompany the story goes a long way. 

[themodernhistory]

The 'Curious' Story Of Robert 'Believe It Or Not!' Ripley : NPR

Neal Thompson's new biography, A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley, follows Ripley from his childhood as a misfit doodler in Santa Rosa, Calif., to his international fame as a world traveler, showman and playboy. Thompson talks with Arun Rath, host of weekends on All Things Considered, about how Ripley became "the guy who presented the weirdness of the world in the newspaper each day."

[themodernhistory]

World War II’s Strangest Battle: When Americans and Germans Fought Together - The Daily Beast

Days after Hitler’s suicide a group of American soldiers, French prisoners, and, yes, German soldiers defended an Austrian castle against an SS division—the only time Germans and Allies fought together in World War II. Andrew Roberts on a story so wild that it has to be made into a movie.

[themodernhistory]

Bill & Hillary Clinton playing volleyball in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. 1975.

[themodernhistory]

Auschwitz’s historic grounds falling into disrepair | National Post

With Auschwitz’s historic grounds falling into disrepair, Poland appeals for international funds to preserve concentration camp

[themodernhistory]

German police arrest 93-year-old 'Auschwitz guard' | World news | guardian.co.uk

Hans Lipschis who was deported from US in 1983 over his Nazi past claims he was a cook not a death camp guard.

A 93-year-old man who was deported from the US for lying about his Nazi past was arrested by German authorities on Monday on allegations he served as an Auschwitz death camp guard, Stuttgart prosecutors said.

Hans Lipschis was taken into custody after authorities concluded there was "compelling evidence" he was involved in crimes at Auschwitz while posted there from 1941 to 1945, prosecutor Claudia Krauth said.

[themodernhistory]

Stories of Jewish WWII Red Army vets just coming to light

Once a year, Israel's Jewish war veterans don suit jackets and uniforms dripping in Red Army medals, the shiny bronzes and silvers pinned to their chests in tight rows like armor.

About 500,000 Jews served in the Soviet Red Army during World War II. Most of those still alive today - about 7,000 - are said to live in Israel.

[themodernhistory]

Rare, historic photos of New York City

Never-before-seen photos of New York. Over 870,000 photos from the city's Municipal Archives- a collection that exceeds 2.2 million images- scanned and made available online, give a global audience a view of a rich collection that documents life in NYC.

[wonderful-strange]

[themodernhistory]

Books are weapons in the war of ideas. Books cannot be killed by fire.