A list of all of Doc Werlin’s writings pertaining to history.
1966-1976 Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) during his last decade in power to renew the spirit of the Chinese revolution. Perhaps never before in human history has a political leader unleashed such massive [...]
Today, Canada and the United States are peacefully neighboring states with well-defined boundaries. However, the future course of these countries was determined during the American Revolution. That is, Americans unsuccessfully invaded Canada, thwarted by British [...]
“War is another form of Diplomacy” is a paraphrase of the activities undertaken by sovereign states striving to develop a temporary balance in their relationships. In rereading one of my favorite books, The Deadly [...]
In the 1633 trial of Galileo Galilei, two worlds come into cosmic conflict. Galileo’s world of science and humanism collides with the world of Scholasticism and absolutism that held power in the Catholic Church. The [...]
A series of fortifications designed to keep Germany “the beast that sleeps on the other side of the Rhine” violate French territory. The Maginot Line was built between 1929 and 1940. It was built to [...]
Although I have read endless accounts of the Battle of Britain, I can never fully accept that four years before I was born a battle for the survival of civilization was fought where the “side [...]
“After me the Deluge” Louis XV (1718-1774) Several years ago, when I was visiting the Palace of Versailles, the guide repeated a famous quote regarding this grand edifice. “Louis the 14th built it; Louis the [...]
Deadly embrace: Hitler, Stalin and Nazi-soviet non-aggression pact. I want to talk about the Nazi-soviet non-aggression pact, because this shotgun wedding changed the world forever. To cut to the quick, it jump started World War [...]
“Dachau, 1933-1945”, will stand out for all time as one of history’s most gruesome symbols of inhumanity. There our troops found sights, sounds, and stenches of horror beyond belief, cruelties so enormous as to be [...]
I had not seriously thought about the Cuban Missile Crises for many years until I saw the movie, Fog of War, which focuses entirely on the reminisces of Robert McNamara, former Secretary of Defense. Needless [...]
Because so many of my friends have enjoyed visiting Gettysburg over the past few years, I wanted to encourage others to visit this historic battle site. I believe a one and half day is long [...]
Of all the military bugle calls, none is more easily recognized or more apt to render emotion that the call Taps. The melody is both eloquent and haunting and the history of its origin is [...]
“The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause is stronger than all the hosts of Error” William Bryan, 1896 In 1896, the Democratic Party the traditional minority [...]
I had not thought seriously about the relevance of the Magna Carta since junior high school until reading Justice Sandra O’Connor’s reference to it in her recent book about the Supreme Court. Ms. O’Connor felt [...]
Introduction: I am watching the series, Plot Against America that is based upon Philip Roth’s novel. Roth created an alternative history in which Charles Lindbergh, an admirer of Nazi Germany and an isolationist, defeated Franklin [...]
Question: If you could live life forever, would you and why? Answer: “ I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would [...]
If I had been present at creation, I would have given some useful hints. Alfonso the Wise (1221-1284) The gods play games with men as balls Titus Plautus (254-184? BC) Religion change; beer [...]
When John Kennedy in 1961 succeeded General Eisenhower, he assumed office as a cold warrior. JFK had barely defeated Richard Nixon. One of his most successful thrusts against Nixon was the “so-called” missile gap. JFK [...]
One of the many delights in taking a cruise is finding a wonderful city that one might by pass in the ordinary course of travel. Eloise and I truly fell in love with Dubrovnik, Croatia. [...]
It was an old- fashioned lynching, carried out with the help of county officials that came to symbolize hardcore resistance to integration. Dead were three civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney. [...]
Spindletop was the greatest oil well ever seen. It is estimated that the well at its peak flowed between 80,000 and 100,000 barrels per day. This gushed marked the beginning of a new age for [...]
On July 4, 1863 the Union achieved two dramatic victories that sealed the fate of the Confederacy. These decisive defeats of the South at Gettysburg and Vicksburg led to a third strike against the rebellious [...]
