DECEMBER 30

On this date in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed - often called either the USSR or the Soviet Union.  The Soviets were our major opponent in the Cold War which lasted most of the second half of the century.  It is they with whom we battled in an ongoing race to produce more and more lethal weapons - the Arms Race. 

The capitol of this Union was in Moscow, Russia.  When it began, it included the following republics you may not recognize;  Russia, Transcaucasia, Ukraine, Byelorussia. 

By the mid 1920s, Joseph Stalin was in charge of the whole union.  He brought a Marxism-Leninism style of socialism/communism and replaced the free market economies that existed.  He also brought paranoia to the area and hundreds of thousands were killed to bring all subjects into line with his failing philosophy. 

When Adolph Hitler started World War II, it was the Soviet Union who he faced on his eastern front.  After the war, it was the Soviets who bargained for and received what amounted to one-fourth of the spoils - control of East Berlin and all of Eastern Germany. 

Stalin ruled until 1952 and died a year later.  At one time, the Soviet Union included the following countries - most taken by force or coercion: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, in addition to Russia and Ukraine.

As a result, this date may have been the most impactful date of the 20th Century.  Ninety-seven years ago today.