Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow By Mr. Caudill ; LCMHS

September 24, 2024

By Mr. Caudill ; LCMHS

Many of us remember President Reagan’s 1987 comments at the Berlin Wall, “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.” It signaled the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union.

The Soviets had been fighting in Afghanistan for eight years and would not leave for another two, losing close to 15,000 soldiers before they left in 1989.

The protracted war was the final Proxy War between the two reigning superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union.

Since 1945 when the US supported the Republic of China (ROC), led by General Chiang Kai-shek and the Soviets supported The People’s Republic of China (PRC),

led by Chairman Mao Zedong, resulting in the PRC taking over Mainland China, the battle for hearts and minds between Communism and Capitalism championed by the Soviet Union and the United States respectively, set the stage for nearly half a century of military and covert operations around the world.

Across Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America, the two nations battled through smaller nations in what has been described as the Cold War.

The two superpowers dared not enter direct conflict because both possessed Nuclear Weapons, but the Soviet fear of Western Europe and the United States fueled by human losses in World War II, totaling about 20% of the Russian population, and the United States fear of Communism taking over one country after another like dominoes falling, called the Domino Theory, fueled the need to compete in every arena to prove which belief was superior. From the Space Race to the Medal Race in the Olympics and the Arms Race resulting in each nation possessing thousands of nuclear and

thermonuclear weapons and the capability to deliver them between continents, each side vied for world dominance.

The first major conflict of the era was the Korean War (1950-1053). With the support of the People’s Republic of China, and the Soviet Union, the North Korean Army swept across the 38 th parallel (of latitude), a line established at the Potsdam Conference in

1945 identifying Soviet-controlled North Korea and US-controlled South Korea and pushed South Korean and US forces into a small area around Pusan, South Korea, called the Pusan Perimeter.

The recently formed United Nations (1945) was called to establish a military arm to stop this breach of the peace. By unanimous decision, the United Nations Command was formed. Since unanimity is required before any military action by the UN can be undertaken, It is important to know that Russia did not vote, because they were boycotting the UN at the time and China was represented by America’s ally, the Republic of China. It wouldn’t be until 1971 that the Communist People’s Republic of China would be allowed to represent China at the United Nations.

General Douglas MacArther, the hero of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, and Military Governor in charge of the reconstruction of Japan was assigned to lead the operation. With an Amphibious Assault at Inchon called Operation Chromite, he quickly rallied the United Nations Forces and moved Northward to consolidate Korea.

This was not necessarily what President Truman desired. Neither did the Chinese as they sent a million men across the Yalu River to stop the United Nations Forces.

The fighting in the often-brutal cold pushed the UN forces southward, but they rallied and held their ground at roughly the 38 th parallel.

General MacArthur’;s actions led to his replacement by President Truman with General Matthew Ridgeway who commanded the forces until the Armistice was signed on July 27, 1953. The Korean Armistice is an agreement between the two nations to stop

fighting, but it is not a treaty.

This ongoing war without invasion has been tumultuous at times and a 150-mile-long buffer 2.5 miles wide separates the two nations called the

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

This Cold War lasted Until Soviet Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev, in an effort to save his crumbling country, put forward reforms called Perestroika and Glasnost. Perestroika (restructuring) was his effort to move the Soviet Union into the world

economy to kickstart the stagnant economy by relaxing government control of industry, encouraging making a profit, and relaxing foreign trade restrictions. Glasnost (openness) attempted to move away from secrecy and an authoritarian government. It

was intended to create a more engaged society by making them part of the process.

The efforts proved to be too little, too late. The Soviet Union was unable to overcome the challenges and on November 9, 1989, The Berlin Wall was torn down unifying East and West Germany as Germany again.

On December 26, 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, three founding members of the Soviet Union agreed to dissolve the Union.

Chuck Caudill is a recovering politician and military retiree. He has dabbled in the performing arts, journalism, and service industry. Currently a Social Studies and History teacher at Lee County Middle High School, he is writing this column to keep students and parents engaged in discussions that will prepare students to be the Shepards of the future.