Website
AllRefer

All Refer Reference: East Germany: The Soviet Military Administration

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes how The Soviet Military Administration in Germany ran Eastern Germany after WWII. Describes disarmament, the Communist Party, and anti-Nazism. Site is brief but informative.
Article
Other

History Orb: The Soviet Conservative Coup

For Students 9th - 10th
A background article on the coup undertaken by the Soviet conservatives in 1991. Contains nice details, that gives it a "You are there" feeling.
Website
AllRefer

All refer.com: East Germany: The Soviet Zone of Occupation

For Students 9th - 10th
The origin of the Soviet Zone of Occupation in postwar Germany is discussed, including the planning stages at Yalta and Potsdam.
Unit Plan
National Archives (UK)

National Archives Uk: Cold War Soviet Policy 1945 1948

For Students 9th - 10th
This site examines Joseph Stalin's role in the development of the Cold War and his culpability. Links to worksheets, timelines, and primary source documents are provided.
Article
BBC

Bbc: Hungarians Rise Up Against Soviet Rule

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent primary source article describing the Hungarian Revolution. Describes the causes of the revolt and how the protests turned violent. Site includes description offering a general context as well as related links.
Primary
Steven Kreis, PhD

The History Guide: The Sources of Soviet Conduct

For Students 9th - 10th
This sums up the ideas of containment. It is a telegram that was widely published.
Handout
Steven Kreis, PhD

The History Guide: Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical account of Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, reformer of the Soviet Union. Includes information regarding Gorbachev's ascension to power with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and his role in reducing the Cold War...
Primary
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Woodrow Wilson Center: Digital Archive: Mitrokhin Archive

For Students 9th - 10th
The Mitrokhin Archive consists of summarized notes taken by Vasili Nikitich Mitrokhin, a former KGB archivist who defected to the United Kingdom after the fall of the Soviet Union. Primarily, this collection contains items from his...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Years of Decision [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is from a unit that covers the period from the Second World War up to the Cold War. It looks at relations between the United States and the Soviet Union and the thinking of their leaders. Students are asked to consider five...
Website
Steven Kreis, PhD

The History Guide: Leonid Brezhnev, 1906 1982

For Students 9th - 10th
From "1989: The Walls Came Tumbling Down," a lecture by a college professor, this biography of Leonid Brezhnev's (1906-1982 CE) life focuses on his role as head of the Communist Party and head of state in the Soviet Union.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The End of the Cold War

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the surprising and swift collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellite countries beginning with Poland in 1989. Watch a map which shows the change from a single country, USSR, into many independent countries, and find out...
Article
Other

Atom Central: Tsar Bomba King of the Bombs

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about a Soviet bomber that was made to be a statement of intimidation by the Soviet Union to the United States.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Cold War Erupts

For Students 5th - 8th
World War II ended in 1945 and the Cold War began immediately. Read about the mistrust Western Europe and the United States felt towards the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin. Learn how the Soviets expanded their realm of influence and...
Article
Other

On This Day: Democratisation

For Students 9th - 10th
This essay gives background into the introduction of democracy into the Soviet Union in the late 1980's.
Primary
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Woodrow Wilson Center: Digital Archive: Mass Media and Censorship

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a small collection of primary source documents discussing propaganda and media control in the Soviet Union. Most documents are from the 1970s and 80s, and they are varied in both type and source. In general, the documents discuss...
Handout
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: The Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of 16 Grade-Leveled texts (6-12) on the topic The Cold War. After America and the Soviet Union fought as allies in World War II, a new "cold" war emerged between the two superpowers characterized not by direct...
Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Russia the Economy Historical Background

For Students 9th - 10th
This economic history of the Soviet Union examines the eras of Lenin and Stalin and postwar policy under Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and the reform period of Gorbachev.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Rise of the Dictators [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this lesson plan to explore the economic and political conditions in Europe after World War I as a result of the Treaty of Versailles that led to the rise of dictators in several countries. Read about the rise of Lenin and Stalin in...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: From Wartime Allies to Cold War Enemies [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This timeline traces the devolution of the relationship between the United States and Soviet Union from the end of World War II, where these two countries were allies, albeit suspicious of each other, and almost a year after the end of...
Website
The History Place

The History Place:stalin's Forced Famine 1932 1933

For Students 9th - 10th
Article examining the events surrounding the famine that Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union forced causing seven million deaths.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Totalitarianism

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed treatment on the practice of totalitarianism. The article provides a historical background and how it was a major force in 20th century European history (in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union).
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Stalinism

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of policies enacted in the Soviet Union prior to World War II by dictator Joseph Stalin.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Who Won the Space Race?

For Students 9th - 10th
Jeff Steers describes the history and benefits of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. [4:47]
Handout
PBS

Nova Online: Secrets, Lies, and Atomic Spies: Alger Hiss

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the case against Alger Hiss, who was accused of spying for the Soviet Union. Investigation was done by the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Other popular searches