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Rare Ussr
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Rare Weapons Encyclopedy In Russian 1992 USSR |  |
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US $80.00 | 1h 1m |
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Russia-CCCP-USSR-1940 Gold Colored Kopek-RARE WEE COIN!! | |
3 Bids | US $1.54 | 1h 11m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Sevastopol Medal Document | |
0 Bid | US $149.00 | 1h 32m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Glory The Second Degree Badge Order Medal | |
0 Bid | US $799.00 | 1h 32m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Partizan Partisan Badge Order Medal | |
0 Bid | US $550.00 | 1h 32m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Belgrad Badge Order Medal | |
0 Bid | US $420.00 | 1h 32m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Sevastopol Medal Badge Order | |
0 Bid | US $349.00 | 1h 32m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Partizan Partisan Badge Order Medal | |
0 Bid | US $550.00 | 1h 32m |
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2 Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Medal Badge Order | |
0 Bid | US $79.00 | 1h 32m |
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Very Rare Soviet Russian USSR Leningrad Medal Badge Order | |
0 Bid | US $59.00 | 1h 35m |
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LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW FOOTBALL CLUB SMALL SQUARE MIRROR BADGE RUSSIA USSR 1960s RARE | |
0 Bid | US $7.80 | 1h 50m |
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USSR GERMANY RUSSIA FRIENDSHIP RIBBON PEACE PIN BADGE METAL ENAMEL 1970s RARE | |
0 Bid | US $7.80 | 1h 58m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
5 Bids | US $4.35 | 2h 29m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
9 Bids | US $3.59 | 4h 48m |
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50 kopeek 1991 - USSR The Last RARE | |
0 Bid | US $.49 | 5h 25m |
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RARE USSR BRONZE DAGGER BALL PT PEN RUSSIAN -SWIRL DESIGN | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 5h 54m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
12 Bids | US $4.32 | 6h 5m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
4 Bids | US $.82 | 7h 10m |
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RARE Soviet Pocket Calendar 1979 USSR COAT OF ARMS AND CONGRESS HOUSE | |
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US $16.00 | 9h 17m |
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RARE WW2 (GERMAN ALLIES USSR) WAR UNIFORM ! 157 IMAGES for Photomontage!!! | |
0 Bid | US $5.95 | 9h 38m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
2 Bids | US $.82 | 10h 47m |
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MEGA RARE EVGNENI KISSIN SCRIABIN ..MELODYA stereo USSR | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 12h 44m |
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Russian Rare Soviet USSR Certificate Gramota Lenin 1985 year | |
0 Bid | US $.75 | 13h 33m |
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TIME Magazine 1990 Russia USSR Gorbachev George Bush Moscow (collectible-rare) | |
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US $24.90 | 13h 38m |
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RARE OLD Postcard Moscow Olympic games 1980 USSR - Olympic sport complex | |
0 Bid | US $10.00 | 13h 38m |
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Rare Vintage USSR Porcelain Figurine Vodka Decanter FISH FAMILY | |
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US $54.99 | 14h 6m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
2 Bids | US $.09 | 14h 36m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
5 Bids | US $2.47 | 14h 55m |
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1984 USSR Nuclear Ice Breaker Sheetlet of 10 Imperf. Rare. | |
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US $6.99 | 15h 21m |
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melkhior rare excellent vintage russian ussr soviet cup holder space rocket lot | |
0 Bid | US $24.99 | 15h 25m |
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filigree elite vintage russian ussr antique soviet cup holder rare PODSTAKANNIK | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 15h 27m |
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Vintage USSR VAZ 2101 Emblem VERY RARE! | |
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US $22.00 | 16h 31m |
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Russia Ukraine Soviet USSR New Year Kids Christmas Postcard 1961 rare | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 16h 39m |
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Rare Soviet USSR commemorative pocket watch 3-opercular MOLNIJA, 1987. | |
0 Bid | US $35.00 | 16h 53m |
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1931-32 USSR in Construction Magazines - Multiple Issues Included - Very Rare! | |
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US $2,199.00 | 17h 4m |
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VINTAGE PHASER EFFECT PEDAL /USSR RARE . N.O.S. | |
0 Bid | US $26.27 | 18h 4m |
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VINTAGE USSR 1/43 ZAZ-966 Zaporozets / made in USSR / Mega Rare | |
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US $89.00 | 18h 25m |
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VINTAGE RUSSIAN USSR NESTING DOLLS RARE AND HARD TO FIND! L@@K | |
0 Bid | US $35.00 | 18h 29m |
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RUSSIA 1866, RARE 3 Kop Backround ERROR Strip,$230+++, Russie,Russland,CCCP,USSR | |
7 Bids | US $52.00 | 18h 50m |
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RUSSIA 1866, RARE SIGN VF 20 Kop Eagle Stamp, $290, Russie,Russland,CCCP,USSR | |
4 Bids | US $5.94 | 18h 52m |
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RUSSIA 1934 RARE Cpl VF MNH/MH Plane Airmail Set,$850, Russie,Russland,CCCP,USSR | |
18 Bids | US $201.50 | 18h 56m |
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RUSSIA 1948 RARE Cpl Superb MNH Worker Block-Set,$390 ,Russland,Russie,CCCP,USSR | |
7 Bids | US $22.50 | 19h 2m |
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RUSSIA 1899 TAX on RARE early Private Dog Pic PSC/PPC Germany,Russie,CCCP,USSR | |
7 Bids | US $4.75 | 19h 20m |
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USSR Vintage rare 35mm Camera FED-2 with Industar-26m lense and case | |
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US $449.00 | 19h 22m |
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RARE! Soviet Medal for Distinction in Military Service 1'st class USSR. | |
0 Bid | US $115.00 | 20h 1m |
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RARE! Soviet Medal for Distinction in Military Service 2'nd class USSR. | |
0 Bid | US $95.00 | 20h 5m |
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Bruce Springsteen Corn in the USSR II Russian LP 1985 2-LP Set Rare Not TMOQ | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 20h 8m |
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USSR "RAKETA" wrist watch 1960-70 RARE gold plated metal dial VERY GOOD!! | |
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US $16.00 | 20h 39m |
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RARE NR! 1 OZ. SOVIET RUSSIAN USSR CCCP PURE .999 24K GOLD LAYERED COIN BAR! | |
1 Bid | US $.01 | 20h 43m |
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Rare Vintage Glass 2 VASES Soviet Russian USSR VASE 1950s | |
0 Bid | US $19.44 | 20h 52m |
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Chapaev Sale Price: $5.00  |
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Boris CHirkov ("Vernye druz'ja"), Boris Babochkin ("Povest' o nastojawem cheloveke"), Nikolaj Simonov ("Gorjachie denechki"), Varvara Mjasnikova ("Zolushka") v fil'me Sergeja i Georgija Vasil'evyh "CHapaev". Po materialam D. i A. Furmanovyh o geroe grazhdanskoj vojny V.I.CHapaeve (1887-1919). "CHapaev" - jeto unikal'nyj opyt sozdanija kul'turnogo geroja sredstvami kino. On stoit gde-to posredine mezhdu Tarzanom i Dzhessi Dzhejmsom. Fil'm Vasil'evyh pojavilsja v tot moment, kogda pojezija na nashem jekrane smenjalas' dramoj, ideologija zagovorila v nem ne jazykom montazhnogo avangarda 20-h, a kinoprozoj s jelementami vesterna, komedii i narodnoj pesni. Kakim byl na samom dele Vasilij Ivanovich CHapaev - teper' ne tak uzh i vazhno. Sozdav na jekrane fol'klornogo geroja, Vasil'evy vypolnili ne tol'ko social'nyj zakaz, no i glavnuju zadachu kino, kotoroe vo vse vremena i pri ljuboj vlasti stremitsja zamenit' soboj real'nost'. - Sergej Dobrotvorskij. |
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Golden Calf (Zolotoy Telenok) Sale Price: $12.00 |
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Sergej JUrskij ("Kljuch bez prava peredachi"), Leonid Kuravlev ("Afonja"), Zinovij Gerdt ("Mesto vstrechi izmenit' nel'zja") v kinokomedii Mihaila SHvejcera ("CHuzhaja rodnja") "Zolotoj telenok". "Velikij kombinator" Ostap Bender s detstva mechtaet o Rio-de-ZHanejro. Emu izvestny mnozhestvo sposobov "sravnitel'no chestnogo ot#ema deneg u grazhdan". No - gde zhe v Sovetskoj Rossii najti grazhdanina, obladajuwego hotja by polumillionom rublej? I vot podpol'nyj millioner, vydajuwij sebja za skromnogo sluzhawego na niwenskom zhalovan'i, najden. I dolzhen sam prinesti den'gi Ostapu "na bljudechke s goluboj kaemochkoj". Kak zhe velikij kombinator dob'etsja jetogo? Sbudetsja li mechta ego detstva? |
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Twelve Chairs / Twelve Stulyev - 12 Chairs / 12 Stulyev by Zaharov Sale Price: $29.98 |
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Andrej Mironov ("Brilliantovaja ruka", "Obyknovennoe chudo"), Anatolij Papanov ("Po semejnym obstojatel'stvam", "Beregis' avtomobilja"), Rolan Bykov ("Ajbolit 66"), Georgij Vicin ("ZHenit'ba Bal'zaminova") v fil'me Marka Zaharova po odnoimennomu romanu Il'i Il'fa i Evgenija Petrova "Dvenadcat' stul'ev". Ironichnoe i smeshnoe predstavlenie, v kotorom parochka avantjuristov ohotitsja za stul'jami raboty mastera Gambsa. |
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Zippo Custom Lighter - Ussr Hammer and Sickle Cccp Logo Hi Polish Black ICE Chrome Rare! Sale Price: $39.95 |
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Rare Collectable Scaled Down USSR/Soviet M1910 Maxim Machine Gun Cigar Cigarette Butane Table Lighter |
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Brand New! Never Been Used!Scaled Down USSR/SOVIET MAXIM M1910 7.62mm Water-Cooled Machine Gun With Refillable Butane Regular Flame Table Lighter.Package Includes: A detachable machine gun bullet cartridge (20 bullets) & M1910 machine gun.Functions: Adjustable Gun Angle, Removable Bullet Cartridge, Adjustable Aiming Sight, Adjustable Bullet Shield & Functioning Sokolov type wheels (3 wheels)Excellent Gift Item or Personal Collection!Limited Supply for this item so buy it now before our supply run out!It's A "Gotta Have" Item To Everyone!NOTICE: THIS IS "NOT A REAL GUN & IT CAN NOT BE CONVERTED INTO A GUN", "IT'S A Refillable Butane LIGHTER".ATTENTION:It is a very high flammable pressure lighter, be sure to keep it away from children.IMPORTANT NOTICE:Due to international shipping safety regulation, gas fluid is not allowed so we must empty all gas fluid from our lighters. We are very grateful for your understanding.Measurement:Size: L 9 1/2 x W 3 1/2 x H 4 3/10 " (L 24.0 x W 9.0 x H 11.0 cm)Weight: 374.2 g (13.2 oz)Tips For Fuel Fluid Refill:Holding refill vertically, insert Aerosol Nozzle into the lighter's valve hole and apply firm downward pressure. A spray back usually occurs within 5 seconds indicating that the Product Is Full.Australia & Canada Buyer(s) are Responsible for their Country's Customs Clearance and Taxes, if applied. |
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PIONEER BADGE * USSR RUSSIAN RARE VINTAGE PIN CCCP Sale Price: $2.99 |
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The Pioneer Organization (similar to Boy Scout) of the Soviet Union, was a mass youth organization of the USSR for children of age 10 to 15 in the Soviet Union between 1922 and 1991 when it was dissolved after collapse of USSR. Young Pioneers of 15 years could join Komsomol, with a recommendation from their Young Pioneer group. The main goals and duties of Young Pioneers and requirements of membership were specified by the Regulations of the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union; by the Solemn Promise (given by each Young Pioneer joining the organization); by the Rules of the Young Pioneers; and by the Young Pioneer Motto vsegda gotov, Always Ready. To join pioneer organization they give swear: For business of Lenin-Stalin, to built communist society in USSR be ready Always ready (Vsegda gotov) Although membership was theoretically optional, practically all the children in the Soviet Union belonged to the organization, otherwise they can be blamed as enemy of people. it was a natural part of growing up. The main symbols of Young Pioneers were the red banner, flag, Young Pioneer's red tie, the badge (with profile of Lenin). Attributes: the bugle, the drum, the uniform (with badges of rank). Some of rituals were: salute, Young Pioneer parade, banner bearing, raising of the flag. Most common traditions were the Young Pioneers rally (usually round a bonfire) and festivals. |
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Rare Russian USSR Garbage Pail Kids Unopened box of 50 Packs! Sale Price: $395.00 |
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Awesome Very Rare Product. Very limited Print Run imported directly from Russia |
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GARBAGE PAIL KIDS RARE RUSSIA USSR UNOPENED PACK 2010 Sale Price: $34.95 |
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Get your hands on a one of a kind very rare pack of USSR Russian Garbage Pail Kids. Test set, very small print run. |
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The Beatles - Complete Scores List Price: $85.00 Sale Price: $49.35 |
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A fitting tribute to possibly the greatest pop band ever?The Beatles! This outstanding hard-cover edition features over 1100 pages with full scores and lyrics to all 213 titles recorded by The Beatles. Guitar and bass parts are in both standard notation and tablature. Also includes a full discography. The book is packaged in its own protective box. A must-own for any serious Beatles fan or collector! |
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Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story Of American Submarine Espionage List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $4.28 |
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INSCRIPTION ON FIRST PAGE - Little is known--and less has been published--about American submarine espionage during the Cold War. These submerged sentinels silently monitored the Soviet Union's harbors, shadowed its subs, watched its missile tests, eavesdropped on its conversations, and even retrieved top-secret debris from the bottom of the sea. In an engaging mix of first-rate journalism and historical narrative, Little is known--and less has been published--about American submarine espionage during the Cold War. These submerged sentinels silently monitored the Soviet Union's harbors, shadowed its subs, watched its missile tests, eavesdropped on its conversations, and even retrieved top-secret debris from the bottom of the sea. In an engaging mix of first-rate journalism and historical narrative, Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew, and Annette Lawrence Drew describe what went on. "Most of the stories in Blind Man's Bluff have never been told publicly," they write, "and none have ever been told in this level of detail." Among their revelations is the most complete accounting to date of the 1968 disappearance of the U.S.S. Scorpion; the story of how the Navy located a live hydrogen bomb lost by the Air Force; and a plot by the CIA and Howard Hughes to steal a Soviet sub. The most interesting chapter reveals how an American sub secretly tapped Soviet communications cables beneath the waves. Blind Man's Bluff is a compelling book about the courage, ingenuity, and patriotism of America's underwater spies. --John J. Miller |
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The Forgotten Soldier: The Classic WWII Autobiography (Brassey's Commemorative Series WWII) List Price: $19.95 Sale Price: $8.95 |
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War on the Eastern Front, seen through the eyes of a young German soldier. |
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Axis & Allies List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $12.95 |
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A Rare Classic WWII SimulationProduct InformationDecide the fate of a nation and the destinyof the world with this historical WWII strategy game. As the world powersbattle for supremacy in 1942 spearhead your country's military drive.Plan strategic bombing raids sneak submarine attacks hit-and-run infantryattacks and antiaircraft barrages. Move into embattled territories andresolve conflicts. At the same time protect the economic status of yournation. Earn income from natural resources and successful territorial expansion.Use these funds to buy armaments and develop secret weapons from your stockpile.Change the course of history with Axis & Allies CD-ROM!Product FeaturesExpands on classic WWII strategy game playRealistic graphics and sound effectsActual World War II stock footageSolo or multi-player gaming up to 5 playersPlay over LAN modem-to-modem or the Internetvia the MSN Gaming ZoneSystem RequirementsPentium® 133 MHz CPUWindows® 95/98/Me/XP16 MB RAM4X CD-ROM drive1 MB Graphics Card40 MB free hard drive spaceWindows® compatible soundcard28.8 baud modem or higher (forinternet play)mouse |
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Darius Kasparaitis autographed hockey card (USSR - Russian Hockey Team) 1992 Classic Draft List Price: $40.00 Sale Price: $28.95 |
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Darius Kasparaitis autographed hockey card (USSR - Russian Hockey Team) 1992 Classic Draft |
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Alexander Alexeyev autographed Hockey Card (Minor League, Sokolv Kiev USSR Tacoma Rockets) List Price: $40.00 Sale Price: $27.95 |
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Alexander Alexeyev signed Hockey Card (Minor League, Sokolv Kiev USSR Tacoma Rockets) |
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The Beatles (The White Album) List Price: $34.98 Sale Price: $59.95 |
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The Beatles The Beatles White Album UK 2-CD album set Better known as the "White Album," this remastered version of the Beatles' 1968 classic was meant to be the record that brought them back to earth after three years of studio experimentation. Instead, it took them all over the place, continuing to burst the envelope of pop music. Lennon and McCartney were still at the height of their powers, with Lennon in particular growing into one of rock's towering figures. But even Paul could still rock, and the amazing thing about "Helter Skelter" was that he had vocal cords at the end. From Beach Boys knockoffs to reggae to the unknown ("Revolution #9"), this has it all. Some records have legend written all over them; this is one. --Chris Nickson |
Designed by HITLER - Modified by STALIN - Manufactured by MAO
The BMW is one of the most influential enduring designs in world history. These sidecar motorcycles were original designed for the civilian market in Nazi Germany in 1938, but because of their exceptional reliability and off road maneuverability, they were quickly adopted by Hitler's military. The bikes proved themselves to be so good that soon other countries began making there own copies for their armed forces: the American government contracted Harley-Davidson to build the 1942 ZA, the French and Swiss also produced similar machines and in the last 1940s, Stalin's USSR started producing the Ural motorcycle from the designs that they had taken from the German factories.
By this time, the design was already ten years old, but it was still so exceptional that only a few modifications were made. These were chiefly designed to harden the bikes against the harsh Siberian winters. In 1958, Stalin sold the designs for these ultra-tough descendants of the BMW R71 to Chairman Mao. The Chinese started to manufacture them immediately for the People Liberation Army.
The bikes that we restore are all genuine vintage motorcycles from the Mao-era. There are a very limited number of the vintage bikes available because in the rush to modernize China, the vast number of the bikes that were once used by the PLA have been forgotten and left to rust and disintegrate over the last thirty or so years. Motorcycles which are still in a good enough state to restore are now very rare. We believe therefore that each and every one of these bikes should be restored to the highest standard. To achieve this we have trained a team of expert mechanics, and we have sourced the highest quality materials and contractors. This ensures we produce the best available results consistently. I am sure that this is apparent if you look at the frame and general presentation of our rebuilt motorcycles.
We give all our bikes a full year warranty on the engine, gearbox and electrical system (which has electronic ignition and our own design electrical harness). If you buy locally, we offer a mobile mechanic service. All bikes come with covers, complete manuals and a standard tool set.
At factory is in Suzhou which is just outside Shanghai we pride ourselves on our unique operation. We invite any potently interested people to visit our factory and make your own assessment of our organization and commitment to get the best results.
If you are interested in buying some classic Chinese history, we can be contacted on the below email to answer any questions or enquiries.
[http://www.marquass.com]
http://marquassmotorcycles.blogspot.com
The George Kennan X Article
Introduction
George Kennan assessed the Soviet Union adequately; through the ‘X' article, he was able to sum up the major weaknesses in the Soviet state, their threat to the western world and he also outlined a possible strategy which the United States should follow in dealing with this Soviet threat. The essay shall look at Kennan's analysis in detail and opinions given on whether this was actually good advice for dealing with the Soviet threat.
Kennan's assessment of the Soviet Union
Kennan's assessment of the Soviet Union is found in a telegram which he sent from Moscow in response to a request made by the United States Treasury which sought to find out explanations about The Soviet Union's recent behavior. Kennan decided to respond to this request in a lengthy article called ‘The Sources of the Soviet Conduct'. The telegram was eventually published in a journal know as Foreign Affairs. However, Kennan's name was not revealed and he posed as an anonymous author called ‘X'. However, with time, information leaked to the public that the person who actually wrote the article was a government official. This eventual affected the future of foreign policy in the United States. (Pleshakov and Vladislav, 1996)
In the article, Kennan explained that the United States' stance on ideologies between itself and the Soviet Union were ill placed. Kennan felt that the Soviet Union's ideology of Socialism was very different from social democracy. This was a relatively new concept because many US government officials actually thought that these were sister ideologies and that there was actually a relationship between them.
Besides differing ideologies, Kennan was also able to highlight the driving force behind the Soviet Union government. He did this by explaining the fact that they were not able to perceive occurrences within their own country and in the external world objectively
Kennan also brought out the fact that the Russian government was not driven by rational thought. By looking at the history of the Russian state, Kennan highlighted a pattern of paranoia and xenophobia. This usually occurred regardless of prevailing economic conditions.
Kennan explained that the Soviet Union's power was largely driven by its communist ideology. Consequently, its power came from seeking an alliance with other powers in the world that supported Marxist ideologists. These allies did not necessarily have to emanate from communist states alone, as matter of fact, their greatest power laid with allies from capitalist states.
Kennan asserted that The Soviet Union thought of its ideologies as the ultimate truth. Consequently, any other opposing ideologies were thought to be false and had to be dealt away with. This was the reason why the Soviet thought that it was at war with capitalism as an ideology. (Gaddis, 1982)
Kennan began his assessment of the Soviet Union by expanding the basis upon which the latter government was formed. He claimed that the Russian government revolved around communism. However, Communism itself was propelled by a number of factors. By explaining the root cause of these issues Kennan was able to offer a sensible explanation as to why the Russian government behaved the way it did and this explanation can then be treated as a satisfactory one.
In the article X, Kennan explains that Communism emanated from the Russian revolutionaries who were looking for a vehicle that would assist them in meeting their selfish needs for power. This assertion is actually sensible owing to the fact that Communist leaders usually have absolute powers. Additionally, communism, was also founded on an ideological basis where it was seen as the solution to capitalism. According to this author, he believed that Capitalism had inherent weaknesses. It oppressed the working class and prevented distribution of the means of production equally. Consequently, capitalism resulted in so many discontentments among the proletariat that it would necessitate the use of revolutionary force for elimination.
In light of the latter fact, communists felt that they were instituting justice by fighting the evils of capitalism. They believed that one had to conduct a revolution in order to eliminate capitalism and this was the major propelling force in the Soviet Union government. Such an assertion by Kennan was fairly accurate given the fact that many Russian leaders regarded capitalists as their ultimate enemies. As a matter of fact, a huge chunk of the communist cause was based on the overthrow and elimination of such forces. (Gaddis, 1982)
In Kennan's assessment of the Soviet Union, the author attempts to explain the absolutist nature of the Russian government. His assessment was an informed one because it brings out an inherent part of the human nature. He explains that the Russian revolutionists had a choice of deciding to support their ideologies or become dictators. They eventually chose to pursue the latter. In the minds of the Russian government, any form of organization outside the Communist party was perceived as threat. This is because if there were mechanisms which could help their people organize themselves, then they would begin questioning the Russian approach and this would eventually undermine their cause. This was the major reason why there were no other parties allowed in the Soviet Union. Also, no religious organizations or collective movements were allowed because the Soviet government believed that these groups could act as sources of influence. The Russian government believed that they had to oppress all other groups so that they could have absolute power.
Kennan also gave an explanation for the Soviet's Union's governments' paranoia. This government was directed by the latter concept because they were always on the look out for any form of control among the people. Kennan's assertion can be supported by the fact that Russian youth had never witnessed any system of collective action and that they had no idea what their effects could be if they came together as a unified force. The USSR's negative perceptions were further taken into the international scene. Most of them felt that capitalists could not be trusted. They were always plotting something evil and one could no be sure whether these are trustworthy groups. ( Kennan, 1947)
An important part of Kennan's assessment was the issue of external capitalists as sworn enemies of the Russian states. The latter author in his article explained the Soviet government perceived non-Russian countries as enemies to their cause because they needed a scapegoat for maintaining absolute power or a dictatorial element. Soviet Authorities wanted absolute power in any way they could get it. In order to ensure this, they had to create enemies that would be used to convince ordinary citizens of the need to use dictatorial force in the government. At that moment, they chose to accuse all existing capitalists that still existed in Russia. They claimed that these capitalists had the potential to change the state and hence destroy it and this could not be acceptable. In this sense, the Soviet government asserted that the capitalists were the target that had to be eliminated in order to restore justice in the Russian society. However, after the capitalists had been eliminated, there was a need to look for ways in which they could support their dictatorial system. They thus identified the international community as a potential threat. The Russian government believed that all capitalist states had ill intentions for them. Consequently, Russia had to be on the look out for these impeding external forces by strengthening their own communist system. There was no room for cracks or weaknesses because the Soviets convinced the proletariat that they were fighting against the rest of the world. This explanation by Kennan is accurate because all the organs of absolutism were maintained in Russia while those ones that seemed to oppose these opinions were eliminated. By and large, Soviet rulers used the army and the police as organs of suppression. They were streamlined to fall in line with Russian ideologies. Another reason why this particular assessment was correct was that Kennan has considered an age old approach that numerous dictators use; a fictional story for maintenance of their power. Many dictators around the world have managed to garner support from their citizenry regardless of the excesses of their powers because they have an ideology or an explanation to fall back on. Human beings have the capacity to tolerate great injustices all in the name of just cause. The Soviet government had managed to identify this fictional explanation or ‘just case'; it was the international arena. The Russians created in their citizenry a need to assist in the process of eliminating their enemies-the capitalists. This was to ascertain that no future occurrences would affect them again. In light of the latter facts, the Russians began perceiving the rest of the world as a misguided one and that they had to stand firm and vigilant against these forces. (Gaddis, 1982)
Kennan's article X also provides a platform for understanding the inconsistent nature of the Russian government. Sometimes, the Russian government would sign contracts that seemed contrary to other documents signed in the past. Additionally, they seemed inconsistent and frequently changed their stance on a number of foreign issues. Kennan asserted that this was as a result of their definition of ‘honor'. The Soviet government was driven by an antagonism between capitalists and themselves. This government felt that they were the ultimate determinants of the truth and that all other ideologies (capitalists) were in fact dishonorable. By describing capitalists so negatively, the Soviet Union was justified in employing all means to counter their enemies. They felt that it was sometimes necessary to change the truth so that it could fit a certain situation or so that it could give them an advantage over their enemies. This is the reason why the Russian government was very inconsistent in their foreign policy. The latter had no definition of what the truth was and changed it frequently to suit their prevailing circumstances. Kennan's assessment enables the reader to see the relationship between the Russian ideology and their inconsistency in foreign policy. Since there is link between cause and effect, then one can assert that this assessment is accurate. (Pleshakov and Vladislav, 1996)
Kennan addressed the reasons why the Soviet Union was very negative in their administration of justice. In Russia, the Kremlin were the sole determinants of the truth. These groups were the only ones with a capacity to decide the ultimate truth. All other groups that organized themselves along the basis of seeking for legitimacy would undermine the effect of the Kremlin and would therefore ruin their powers. The Soviet dictatorial government was based on the existence of followers who advanced their cause without question. This explains the fact that the Kremlin never listened to popular sentiments. To them, the only thing that mattered was their opinion
An assessment of Kennan's advice on dealing with the Soviet Union threat
Kennan gave good advice to the United States because he proposed a long term strategy. This approach was quite appropriate given the fact that Soviet's strategy itself was also a long term one.  Kennan argued that Russia was actually weak in comparison to a united capitalist world. This was true because of the nature of the communist state's internal structure; it was weak and would eventually collapse if external forces acted as “the straw that would break the camel's backâ€. He also brought out the fact that the Russian system of government was based on negative propaganda and if the United States could look for mechanisms of highlighting their positive traits while eliminating their negative ones, then this would go long way in dealing with the Russian threat.
Kennan's strategic advice encompassed the following;
- Restoration of US public education
- Sound appraisal
- Solving Western internal conflicts
- Resenting a positive illustration of the US to the Soviet Union
Though Kennan's proposal's the US government would be using the same tactics that Communists used to advance their own cause. These strategies were largely economic and social in nature. He explained that Soviet Union rarely used direct force to advance their ideologies; instead, they were tactful and always looked for slow mechanisms of permeating the rest of the world. Therefore, if the United States were to pursue a strategy that involved direct confrontation, then there would be a high risk of loosing. This direct confrontation could never change the aggressive state of the Soviet Union.
The other way which one could look at the Soviet threat is by pursuing some form of peaceful co-existence with the Soviet Union. Kennan very explicitly addressed the fact that this was not a plausible course of action because the Soviet Union perceived all the capitalists as unpalatable enemies. Consequently, there was no hope for ever creating a long term association with the Russians. Since the Soviet Union had a tendency to adopt some levels of pretentiousness, then the United States would be misleading themselves if they thought that they could pursue a policy of association with the Soviet Union. ( Kennan, 1947)
All in all, Kennan was advocating for the following elements in the US strategy
- It must be long term
- it must be vigilant
- It must be firm
- It must encompass containment
Kennan was right in supporting a containment strategy because the Soviet Union was always looking for avenues that would advance their communist cause. In this regard, Russian Kremlin were never asleep. They had the potential to penetrate different parts of the world by looking for any cracks in the international system. This meant that Russian authorities had the capability of advancing their cause at any moment and it was the duty of the United States to prevent this by depicting the successes of their own economic and social successes. (Pleshakov and Vladislav, 1996)
It should be noted here that there was grave misunderstanding of Kennan's assertions in article X. Many critics blame the article for causing the cold war. However, the cold war was in fact a direct result of the misinterpretation of this article. Kennan claimed that Russian expansive tendencies should be contained in order to deal with the threat. He proposed the use of sound economic and social changes within US borders. However, many readers assumed that Kennan actually meant the use of military force to counter these expansive tendencies. In the process, this caused a lot of tension between Kennan and the US population; this eventually brought problems to him in the end. As a matter of fact, the US government was at a point where they were looking for any possible explanations that could guide their actions against Russia. It should be noted here, that Kennan had not been asked to map out a military strategy on the US-Russian foreign policy. The advice he gave was merely an analysis of his thoughts on the psychological factors that make the Soviet Union behave the way it does. However, when the article was used as a basis for determining US Russian relationship, then this ended up backfiring in the face of the US. ( Kennan, 1947)
Many Kennan critics have argued that if it was not for article X, then the US would not have changed their tactics against the Soviet Union and they would not have maintained their stance in the cold war. In this regard, these critics argue that Kennan was the cause of all the turmoil that came with the cold war and that Kennan gave wrong advice. However, these perceptions are totally wrong. Kennan's advice was not responsible for the cold war; the cold war represented an opposite approach to what Kennan was advocating. Many readers simply borrowed the words from the Kennan article without examining their context. If these groups had taken the time to understand Kennan's proposals' then this would have gone along way in streamlining the Soviet threat.
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Conclusion
Article X was on of the profound documents on US foreign policy because it shaped US perceptions on the Soviet Union. Kennan's assessment of the Soviet Union and his subsequent suggestions on the way forward were actually accurate and could be supported by existing political, social and economic conditions in the Soviet. However, the meaning behind Kennan's advice was taken out of context by the US and thus led to the subsequent cold war. Critics who blame Kennan for this, are actually being unfair because he advocated for a change in internal US structures and not military confrontation as was the case in the cold war.
Reference
Gaddis, J. (1982):Â Strategies of Containment- A Critical Appraisal of Postwar American Security Policy; Oxford University Press
Pleshakov, C. and Vladislav, Z. (1996): Inside the Kremlin cold war. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard            University Press
Kennan, F. Â (1947): The Sources of Soviet Conduct; Foreign Affairs, July 1947
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Why are liberals so ready to embrace socialism on a larger scale?
with only a rare few exception socialism has allowed the government to trample the human rights of entire populations. take a look at China and the USSR.
why would you want to invite that here?
Brundo: FAIL. United Solviet SOCIALIST Republic
Darian: Ah yes, the clear moronic responsibe of not relating economics to social issues. you see what socialism does is give too much power to the government, this in turn allows then to crush human rights, right off the bate your "economic system" is taking rights away from business owners.
however i will agree with one point, our education system does suck, clearly you missed a few history lessons.
It's who they are.
I take issue with "a rare few exception(s)." Socialism ALWAYS tramples human rights. Human rights and Socialism are mutually antithetical. Socialism positively cannot be defended unless you deny the idea of self-ownership, the very wellspring from which ALL rights flow.
Children, Communism is a "brand" of Socialism where revolutionaries overthrow the state and install themselves as the new Socialist ruling class. The other major group is the Fascists/Nazis/Progressives/Democrats who establish Socialism from WITHIN the government. I know all about "theory" and how that differs from what I've described but the above IS how it works out here in reality. Anyway, yes China and the USSR are/were Socialist.
The "abysmal" public school system works just fine. Before I take that any further consider: why is the only "fix" that ever happens simply spending more on the SAME system? That's right: because it isn't "broken." Its PURPOSE is inculcating generations of good Fascist/Nazi/Progressive/Democrat drones. That is not an accusation, that is the STATED reason for its design. Study Dewey (the "father of American Public Education.") He LOOOOOVED Nazis and built "our" system to promote Hitler's polity here.
Ah, yes that rock-ribbed conservative Graham. (please)
Beardog, you're just squirming with delighted anticipation for the day that your visit to the Doctor's office has the efficiency of the DMV and the humanity of the IRS, aren't you?
Socialism works so well in European countries that they literally have National celebrations when they have an economic quarter as good as ours just was. (and that's pretty rare)
Also kids, Barack Obama ran for the Illinois legislature on the Democrat ticket while a registered dues-paying card carrying Socialist. In his AUTObiography he spends substantial space blathering on about why he's committed to Marxism. (you need an early printing. More recent editions have been edited to remove truth.)
Liberalism (USA 2009) is ALL about making people government property. Search their platform for an item that is an exception. You will fail.
Crisis-hit Russian city fears total shutdown
A man walks his dog past the boarded-up windows of an apartment building in Revda on February 17, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AFP) A man walks past the boarded-up windows of an apartment building in Revda on February 17, 2010.
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