Soviet Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz

[Christophe]

Dan,

I'm really happy you won the last one.

If I was the winner, it would have been only thanks to hints found by others, and I would have felt a little "embarassed" of this victory.

Charles and Dan, good job!!

Cheers, and back to Dan's question.

Ch.

[Hauptmann]

Dan,

I'm really happy you won the last one.

If I was the winner, it would have been only thanks to hints found by others, and I would have felt a little "embarassed" of this victory.

Charles and Dan, good job!!

Cheers, and back to Dan's question.

Ch.

Hi Christophe,

Many thanks! I know everyone went nuts with this one... because I did too! But that's a good thing because I'm sure, like I did, we've all learned new things in the process. It's just like my current question... this is someone I did not know about till researching Charle's question. We're all so familiar with the big names of Soviet and Soviet block history, but not so much those lesser known individuals. This is an excellent way to learn new things and bring some of those figures out of the misty corners of history.

Plus, at least this time it helped me to be prepared and have a question ready to go instead of having to come up with something. My biggest worry is that I'm going to ask something that's either been asked before or is far too easy. I know everyone likes a challenge... as painful as that can be so hoping this one does the trick.

Good luck!!!!

Dan

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Dan,

one question:

I helped a man of steal in a great way and having done that later helped save me.

Is it a type error? Should it be "a man of steel" (= comrade STALIN) ?

Best regards

Christian

[Hauptmann]

Dear Dan,

one question:

Is it a type error? Should it be "a man of steel" (= comrade STALIN) ?

Best regards

Christian

Hi Christian,

Sorry... just got home from work a few minutes ago. Yes, many apologies. Did this right before I headed to work and it is indeed a type error. And yes, it is Stalin.

Dan

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Dan,

no problem .....

Sorry, I forgot to congratulate to your recent great victory at Christophe's quiz - you are now our "shooting star" .

So, we have to look in Stalin's biography for a non-Russian playwriter, communist, who helped the Voshd a lot in his early years .

Best regards

Christian

Hi Christian,

Sorry... just got home from work a few minutes ago. Yes, many apologies. Did this right before I headed to work and it is indeed a type error. And yes, it is Stalin.

Dan

[Hauptmann]

Dear Dan,

no problem .....

Sorry, I forgot to congratulate to your recent great victory at Christophe's quiz - you are now our "shooting star".

So, we have to look in Stalin's biography for a non-Russian playwriter, communist, who helped the Voshd a lot in his early years.

Best regards,

Christian

Hi Christian,

Many thanks my friend! Wow, a shooting "star" you say... guess I definitely fit into Soviet collecting then.

And yes... although not sure how much play it may or may not have had in his bio's but I'd certainly hope it was mentioned. It's out on the web at the very least.

Hope I didn't come up with one that's too hard. I'd definitely want someone to get it... but definitely want some thrill in the chase.

In fact... not even sure what happens if a question can't be answered. Ya'll will have to fill me in on that should the occassion arrise.

Best of luck!!!!

D

[JimZ]

Mmm! This thread is 'metamorphing' with almost Kafkian proportion into a torture chamber as the standard of questions being set is getting higher and harder.

BUT - this is a good thing indeed as I believe, the salvos of questions that we fire at the various search engines are returning information that is oft not that which we seek, but is ever-interesting and ever-informative. By seeking to find the answer to one question (or one set of questions) we are all (at least I belive) finding the answers to so many more questions that are yet unasked.

Jim

[Hauptmann]

Hi all,

Let me know if ya'll need more hints. I'm all for making ya'll work for it but not for driving anyone insane!

Dan

[Christian Zulus]

Let me know if ya'll need more hints. I'm all for making ya'll work for it but not for driving anyone insane!

Dear Dan,

some more hints would be very wellcome .

I know the face of the comrade in question, but I still couldn't find him in Stalin's biography - and I know the life of comrade Stalin rather well .....

I found no matching in history among:

- early Bolshevik

- helped Stalin before he got "Stalin the Voshd"

- playwriter

- statesman

Dan, what's your definition of a "statesman" ?

Prime Minister, President or also Deputy-Ministers, secretaries of important ministers, etc. ?

Best regards

Christian

[Hauptmann]

Dear Dan,

some more hints would be very wellcome .

I know the face of the comrade in question, but I still couldn't find him in Stalin's biography - and I know the life of comrade Stalin rather well .....

I found no matching in history among:

- early Bolshevik

- helped Stalin before he got "Stalin the Voshd"

- playwriter

- statesman

Dan, what's your definition of a "statesman" ?

Prime Minister, President or also Deputy-Ministers, secretaries of important ministers, etc. ?

Best regards

Christian

Hi Christian,

Actually it's not necessarily my definition... but the site I found the info on.

Some more clues.

The "Stalin" incident happened in 1905.

He lived most of his final years in exile as his presence in those places where he'd been involved politically would have been too sensitive.

He died in 1955.

Hope this helps... but not "too" much.

Dan

[JimZ]

Hi Dan

Its was a tough one but I think I got there in the end.

Who was I?

Mammad Amin Rasulzade

What was my involvement with youth?

He received his primary education at the Russian-Moslem Secondary School and continued his studies at the Technical College (now Petroleum College) in Baku. From 1903, beginning as a student and continuing onward, Rasulzade began writing articles in various opposition magazines. In his years of study he created "Muslim Youth Organisation Musavat",[1] first secret organisation in Azerbaijan's contemporary history.

Who did I help and how?

Rasulzade and Stalin had met for the first time in Baku when they were both in their twenties, around 1907. At the time, Rasulzade was working as a journalist, writing articles for various opposition magazines and working with the Musavat Azerbaijani National Party. Stalin, a Georgian, was in Baku organizing the oil workers against the authorities and the Czar. When officials tried to arrest Stalin, it was Rasulzade who had saved him by hiding him in his apartment.

How did my helping him help save me later... and from what?

Rasulzade was eager to be rid of the Czar too, but he differed from Stalin in that he wanted the government to be based on democratic principles, not socialistic. Rasulzade wanted his country to be independent from the Russian Empire. This time, it was Stalin's turn to save Rasulzade. In the end, he accepted Stalin's offer and went to Moscow

I could be called a founder... name some things I founded or helped to found.

While in Iran, Rasulzade became one of the founders of "Iran-e No" (New Iran) Democratic Party.

When did I die?

March 6th 1955

Where am I buried?

Ankara, Turkey

What expression of mine became the motto of a movement?

"Bir kere yukselen bayraq, bir daha enmez!" or "The banner of liberty once hoisted will never be lowered again." This famous phrase by Rasulzade would later become one of the most popular Azerbaijani slogans during the demonstrations of the 1990s, said on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union. This become the motto of the independence movement in Azerbaijan in the 20th century.

Name one of my plays

His first dramatic play was entitled "The Light in the Darkness," and was staged in Baku in 1908.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammed_Amin_Rasulzade

Edited November 22, 2007 by JimZ

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Jim,

congratulations to your really well deserved victory #10 .

Now you belong to the exclusive club of the "Meritorious Answerers" .

Best regards

Christian

BTW: Jim's Wiki-link to comrade Rasulzade shows THE photograph, so Jim HAS to be the winner ...

[Hauptmann]

Hi Dan

Its was a tough one but I think I got there in the end.

Who was I?

Mammad Amin Rasulzade

What was my involvement with youth?

He received his primary education at the Russian-Moslem Secondary School and continued his studies at the Technical College (now Petroleum College) in Baku. From 1903, beginning as a student and continuing onward, Rasulzade began writing articles in various opposition magazines. In his years of study he created "Muslim Youth Organisation Musavat",[1] first secret organisation in Azerbaijan's contemporary history.

Who did I help and how?

Rasulzade and Stalin had met for the first time in Baku when they were both in their twenties, around 1907. At the time, Rasulzade was working as a journalist, writing articles for various opposition magazines and working with the Musavat Azerbaijani National Party. Stalin, a Georgian, was in Baku organizing the oil workers against the authorities and the Czar. When officials tried to arrest Stalin, it was Rasulzade who had saved him by hiding him in his apartment.

How did my helping him help save me later... and from what?

Rasulzade was eager to be rid of the Czar too, but he differed from Stalin in that he wanted the government to be based on democratic principles, not socialistic. Rasulzade wanted his country to be independent from the Russian Empire. This time, it was Stalin's turn to save Rasulzade. In the end, he accepted Stalin's offer and went to Moscow

I could be called a founder... name some things I founded or helped to found.

While in Iran, Rasulzade became one of the founders of "Iran-e No" (New Iran) Democratic Party.

When did I die?

March 6th 1955

Where am I buried?

Ankara, Turkey

What expression of mine became the motto of a movement?

"Bir kere yukselen bayraq, bir daha enmez!" or "The banner of liberty once hoisted will never be lowered again." This famous phrase by Rasulzade would later become one of the most popular Azerbaijani slogans during the demonstrations of the 1990s, said on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union. This become the motto of the independence movement in Azerbaijan in the 20th century.

Name one of my plays

His first dramatic play was entitled "The Light in the Darkness," and was staged in Baku in 1908.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammed_Amin_Rasulzade" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammed_Amin_Rasulzade</a>

Hi Jim,

I believe we have a winner. A couple of points though from my reading of the article:

How did my helping him help save me later... and from what?

After the collapse of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in April 1920, Rasulzade left Baku and went into hiding in the mountainous village of Lahij to direct the resistance to Sovietization, but in August 1920, after Soviet Russian army crashed the rebellions of Ganja, Karabakh, Zagatala and Lankaran, lead by ex-officers of the Azerbaijani National Army, Rasulzade was arrested and brought to Baku. It was only due to his earlier rescue of Joseph Stalin in 1905, that Rasulzade was released and transferred from Azerbaijan to Russia. For the next two years, Rasulzade worked as the press representative at the Commissariat on Nations in Moscow. He was seconded to Saint Petersburg in 1922 from where he escaped to Finland.

and:

I could be called a founder... name some things I founded or helped to found.

In 1904 he founded the first muslim social-democrat organisation "Hummet" and became editor-in-chief of its newspapers, "Tekam?l"(1906-1907) and "Yoldaş"(1907).

Rasulzade also initiated the establishment of Baku State University together with Rashid khan Kaplanov, minister of education with the funding of oil baron Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev in 1919. Rasulzade taught Ottoman literature at the University.

He was an Azerbaijani statesman, scholar, public figure and one of the founding political leaders of Azerbaijan Republic (1918-1920).

Again just my slant on having read the article... which I would highly recommend doing. It's very interesting and again this was an individual who was involved with history we were all familiar with (As far as Stalin and the Bolsheviks) but I'd never heard of him before. Had it not been for my research into the past question I would most likely never have discovered or learned anything about him.

Yet again one of the great things about this quiz and about GMIC!

So Jim... you are the official winner. Congratulations on a job well done!!!!

I pass the baton to you.

Dan

Edited November 22, 2007 by Hauptman

[JimZ]

Hi Gents!

Thanks for your congratulations. This question was indeed a tough one!

I managed to find our friend on a number of sites other than the wiki link and I was compiling the reply for a good half hour. When at the end i searched him through wiki, I of course found the photo and knew he was our man. I was then too lazy to fill in all the details especially after having really worked at finding an answer for quite a few days!!! Indeed a tough one.... especially as I was looking for a Georgian gentleman in the beginning!

In any case... I'll be up with the next question shortly. You see.... its becoming such a torturous thread that I have in mind to dish some suffering back as it were! Lets see if I change my mind

You'll be hearing from me soon!

Jim

[Christophe]

Time for a few stats...

This small game has now been launched more than 2 years ago (on 1 Nov. 2005), and since :

* 165 questions asked,

* with 2,065 answers,

* This quiz has been viewed more than 21,400 times.

* 36 Members of the Forum played, and 27 correctly answered at least 1 question :

Nb of good answers :

* 34 : Christian (Zulus)

* 30 : Christophe

* 11 : Bryan (Soviet) & Frank (Knarf)

* 10 : Jim (JimZ)

* 8 : Simon (Red Threat)

* 6 : Auke (Ferdinand), Belaruski, Carol I & Ed (Haynes)

* 4 : Dan (Hauptman) & Wild Card.

* 3 : Andreas (Alfred), Ivan (Piramida) & Kim (Kimj).

* 2 : Chuck (in Oregon), Gerd (Becker), Jan (vatjan) & Order of Victory.

* 1 : Charles (Hunyadi), Darrell, Daredevil, Dave (Navy FCO), Dudeman, Filip (Drugo), Rick (Stogieman) & Steen (Ammentorp).

This is a great achievement. Thanks to all for your participation.

Now, let's continue to have fun with the 166th question... Jim's!!!

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

Alas a very uninspired question 166 as tonight I am preoccupied with something else!!! But here goes - for better or for worse! Good Luck!

Question

Most of us know the following eye as it portrayed on American currency:

......BUT......

.....according to some it seems that not only the American had their all seeing eye!

1) Who is this eye associated with?

2) Where and when was the person associated with this eye born and when did he die?

3) What date is associated with this portrayal?

4) What is the full text associated with it?

Enjoy!

Jim

Edited November 23, 2007 by JimZ

[Christian Zulus]

Dear Jim,

might be the eye of the comrade I used as my avatar ?????

Best regards

Christian

[JimZ]

Nope. Not him.

Try again.

Jim

[JimZ]

Nothing yet!? Wow... I thought you'd have me within 5 minutes of the post!

Maybe not as uninspired a question as I thought it might be after all.

Jim

[Christophe]

I would say maybe the eye of Felix ?

But this won't help for questions 3 and 4...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

Nope.

Remember that you will get credit for the FULL set of answers as it is the image that is the hardest to find. Once you find it all else will unfold as painlessly as Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto

So whereas it is not Iron Felix, I think I will not be confirming any further potshots at names!

Work at it .....

Jim

[Christophe]

You are absolutely right Jim.

BTW, not an easy one...

Cheers.

Ch.

[JimZ]

Well - it will get easier as you desperately start to beg me for hints.

But then again lets be realistic.... how many people could really deserve having their eye portrayed on the red star.....?

Darn... guess that's a hint of sorts.....!

Jim

[Christian Zulus]

KARL MARX

.... how many people could really deserve having their eye portrayed on the red star.....?

Gentlemen,

if the Lord's eye is printed on the Dollar, why not Marx's eye on the Red Star - at least Marx is the "God of Socialism" .

Best regards

Christian

Edited November 25, 2007 by Christian Zulus

[JimZ]

Again Christian -

if you think that its Karl Marx (and I am not saying it is!) then answer the remaining questions.

Of course if you cannot answer them then you will realise its not him (and I am not saying it isn't!)

Like I said - No potshots at names as I will neither confirm or deny - its either the full monty or nothing!

Jim