A tribute to one of the last true socialist states. Cuba has defied a crippling economic blockade and terrorist attacks from the US and CIA-backed groups to build a strong socialist society. In 2009 it celebrates 50 years of proud defiance and bringing justice to the third world. Viva Cuba! Viva Castroism! Viva Guevarism!

Tags: Cuba Cuban Revolution 50 anniversary communism communist socialism socialist marxist marxism leninism Fidel Castro Che Guevara Focoism Guevarism Castroism History Politics Latin America Anti Imperialism Third World PCC

Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin (East Berlin, DDR) Musikalische leitung: OTMAR SUITNER Choreinstudierung: ERNST STOY Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Hans Sachs: THEO ADAM Walter von Stolzing: SPAS WENKOFF Eva: CELESTINA CASAPIETRA Magdalene: ANNELIES BURMEISTER David: PETER SCHREIER Veit Pogner: SIEGFRIED VOGEL Originally recorded and broadcast by Fernsehen der DDR in 1982.

Tags: Richard Wagner Wagnerian Opera Deutsche Staatsoper East Berlin DDR Meistersinger Nurnberg Nuremberg Theo Adam Peter Schreier Otmar Suitner Classical Music GDR German Germany Culture Comedy Ostalgie

Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin (East Berlin, DDR) Musikalische leitung: OTMAR SUITNER Choreinstudierung: ERNST STOY Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Hans Sachs: THEO ADAM Walter von Stolzing: SPAS WENKOFF Eva: CELESTINA CASAPIETRA Magdalene: ANNELIES BURMEISTER David: PETER SCHREIER Veit Pogner: SIEGFRIED VOGEL Originally recorded and broadcast by Fernsehen der DDR in 1982

Tags: Richard Wagner Wagnerian Opera Deutsche Staatsoper State Berlin East GDR German Germany Music Classical Theo Adam Peter Schreier Meistersinger Nurnberg

A selection of parades from East Germany (GDR), North Korea (DPRK) and the Soviet Union (USSR). Features T-72 tanks and army marches. A chance to see the military and technology of the Eastern Bloc and its most advanced armies. (NOTE: As with my previous North Korean army vid, any comments from Armchair Generals who have been playing too much online Warhammer/Civ/Hearts of Iron/World of Warcraft etc and believe this gives them the knowledge to be a military genius will be deleted as the nonsensical ramblings of someone who really ought to try going out more. That also goes for any comments posted slagging off the armies shown here ... if you don't like them, why are you watching this video then?? But thanks for increasing the hits!)

Tags: Germany East DDR GDR North Korea Democratic People's Republic Korean DPRK Soviet Union Russia Russian German Army Military Cold War Communism Tank Panzer NVA Red Socialism Juche Marxism Leninism Stalinism Mao Trotsky

A glimpse into North Korea, 1991, still then under the Great Leader Kim Il Sung.

Tags: North Korea Korean DPRK Juche Songun Kim Il Sung Jong Socialism Communism Communist DMZ Propaganda Cold War

A recording of the DPRK State Symphony Orchestra playing a North Korean piece entitled "Support the Supreme Commander". The ensemble is superb, and the musicians play like fire! A forward brass gives the already militaristic tunes an extra atmosphere. A recording exists of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 - if you can find it, you're in for a marvellous treat. Various scenes of life in the DPRK and around the capital Pyongyang are included.

Tags: North Korean Symphony Orchestra DPRK Kim Jong Il Sung Communist State Culture Communism Art Classical Music Socialist Socialism Realism Marxism Opera Wagnerian

North Korean President Kim Il Sung visits the Soviet Union, People's Republic of Poland and The German Democratic Republic, meeting their respective leaders (Chernenko, Jaruzelski, Honecker) in early 1984. A rare chance to see a moment from the short reign of Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko.

Tags: Kim Il Sung North Korea DPRK USSR Soviet Union GDR DDR East Germany Communism Socialist Leaders Erich Honecker Poland German Communist Konstantin Chernenko Russian

A higher definition version of the previous video, no sound but with sharper picture and clearer colours. Images from the life of the great Marxist Russian revolutionary Leader Vladimir Illyich Lenin, colorized.

Tags: Lenin Marxism Leninism Socialism Communism Soviet Revolution Russian Russia Colorized Colourised 1917 Bolshevik

The National People's Army of the GDR (DDR Nationale Volksarmee, NVA) along with scenes from East Germany's history. Opening music is by Wagner. The 2 songs after that are "Mein Land ist Gut" and "Der Offene Aufmarsch", sung by the DDR NVA and choir.

Tags: GDR DDR Volksarmee People's Army East Germany German Choir Cold War Honecker Gorbachev

Third and final part of a 30-minute animated film of Wagner's opera "Das Rheingold".

Tags: Richard Wagner Wagnerian Opera Classical Animation Film Ring Nibelung

Part 2 of an animated version of Richard Wagner's opera "Das Rheingold"

Tags: Rheingold Ring Nibelungen Wagner Wagnerian German Opera

Starring: Joseph Stalin, V.I Lenin, Yuri Gagarin, Nikita Khruschev, Leonid Brezhnev, Vladimir Putin, and of course the great Russian people and their army. Music is by Tchaikovsky: Slavic March.

Tags: Russia Russian Russians USSR Soviet Union Moscow Leningrad Petersburg Slav Tchaikovsky Lenin Stalin History

DAS RHEINGOLD (The Rhinegold) The first part of Richard Wagner's tetralogy "Der Ring Des Nibelungen" condensed into a 30 minute animation, produced in 1991 for television. As far as I know, no other operas in the Ring cycle were animated. Sung in English. Sadly, does not feature Bugs Bunny or Elmer Fudd!! ;)

Tags: Richard Wagner Ring Nibelungen Das Rheingold Animation Cartoon Opera Wagnerian Classical

In Feb 2008, Fidel Castro Ruz announced he intended not to resume his duties as President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba, positions he had officially occupied since 1976. (However he did not officially announce he was retiring - indeed it's impossible to imagine Fidel relaxing in old age! He will still be politically active in other fields, including the writing of his column in the 'Granma' newspaper). Fidel has more or less been Cuba's leader since 1959, making him the second longest serving leader of a nation after Queen Elizabeth II (and she didn't even come to power through either a popular vote or revolution, which surely means they are wrong those who say Fidel is the worlds longest serving "dictator" .. we in the UK are subject to that). Throughout his leadership has shown an internationalist duty, showing solidarity with popular movements throughout the world, sometimes provoking the anger of both the US and even the USSR at times. Jesse Jackson described him as "the most honest, courageous politican I have ever met". The world needs more like Fidel. Viva Fidel! Viva Che! (NOTE: Fidel was born in 1927 not 1922 as stated on the video!!)

Tags: Fidel Castro Cuba Cuban Revolution News Politics Communism Socialism President History Cold War

A video for the people of East Germany. Scenes from the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic) or DDR (GDR), a socialist state which existed between 1949 - 1990. This is a techno version of the national anthem "Auferstanden aus Ruinen", composed by Hanns Eisler with lyrics originally written by the poet Johannes R. Becher (they were dropped and reinstated at various points in East Germany's existence depending on the political climate!). Something for all those with Ostalgie!

Tags: East Germany German Deutsche Demokratische Republik Democratic Republic Socialism Communism Soviet Techno Anthem DDR

Conductor, style icon and all-round legend Herbert von Karajan was born in Austria on 5th April 1908. For his centenary year, vast back catalogues of his recordings from EMI, Deutsche Grammophon and others are planned for release. Here is my little video tribute to the man who introduced me to many great pieces of timeless music, as well as a clip from a rare interview where he talks about conducting Wagner at the Salzburg festival. Karajan is, for me, far cooler and more talented than any of today's so-called music icons!! (in any genre!) ;) (My original cut of this video lasted 15 minutes and included longer music clips but sadly Youtube only allows 10 minute videos, so apologies for the choppiness and shortness of the musical segments, this is due to erratic editing on my part in trying to keep the tone of the video without losing too much!) Music includes: Richard Strauss - 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' Mussorgsky - 'Promenade' from 'Pictures at an Exhibition' (Ravel orchestration) Richard Wagner - finale from 'Das Rheingold' (taken from Karajan's 1979 film.) J Strauss - 'Radezky March' (from the memorable 1987 New Year Concert in Vienna.) Ludwig van Beethoven - finale from Symphony No. 9 (a Karajan favourite)

Tags: Herbert Karajan Classical Music Beethoven Wagner Strauss Conductor Composer Centenary

Film and photos of great revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and scenes from China during the revolution and under his rule. A man (NOT a God) who made many mistakes, but undeniably a great military and political genius who changed the worlds most populous country forever, and inspired revolutionaries and progressives all over the world. To this day, he is still an influential force, not just in China but also inspiring Maoist People's Wars in Nepal (Prachanda), Peru, Colombia, India, The Philippines, and also potentially in Bhutan. Since Deng Xiapoings coup, the Chinese Communist Party has largely put forward policies based on introducing market elements into the economy, creating an increasing wealth gap, social divions, the re-emergence of class antagonisms, a clique of Party bureaucrats and corruption. The Chinese Communist Party's official position on Mao, from a resolution adopted in 1981, is thus: "Comrade Mao Zedong was a great Marxist and a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist and theorist. It is true that he made gross mistakes during the "cultural revolution", but, if we judge his activities as a whole, his contributions to the Chinese revolution far outweigh his mistakes. His merits are primary and his errors secondary. He rendered indelible meritorious service in founding and building up our Party and the Chinese People's Liberation Army, in winning victory for the cause of liberation of the Chinese people, in founding the People's Republic of China and in advancing our socialist cause. He made major contributions to the liberation of the oppressed nations of the world and to the progress of mankind." The video features some popular songs from the Cultural Revolution (taken from very old and crackly 45rpm records!). VIVA MAO!!!!

Tags: Mao Zedong Maoism Marxism Lenin Revolution Chinese China History Politics Communism Asia Eastern Communist

Film and photographic footage of Vietnamese revolutionary and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) Ho Chi Minh (born Nguyễn Sinh Cung). Defeated first French Colonialism then waged a war against US imperialism to unify the country. Nationalist? Communist? Hero? Certainly a unique and charismatic man.

Tags: Vietnam Vietnamese War Liberation Communist Communism Marxism Socialist Independence Republic Democratic Ho Chi Minh

The prelude and part of the first sene of act 2 of Wagner's "Die Walküre", the 'first day' of his epic tetralogy "Der Ring Des Nibelungen". From a concert performance at the 2005 BBC Proms from the Royal Albert Hall. Bryn Terfel sings Wotan. Lisa Gasteen is Brunnhilde. The orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Antonio Pappano

Tags: Richard Wagner Wagnerian Opera German Ring Cycle Bryn Terfel Pappano Gasteen BBC Proms Nibelung Wagnerite Valkyrie

The opening of act 3 of 'Die Walküre', the "first day" of Richard Wagner's epic cycle of operas 'Der Ring Des Nibelungen'. The greatest, grandest, most revolutionary music drama you will ever encounter! The Valkyries gather on the rock where they await Brunnhilde. When she arrives, they disover she is fleeing from Wotan after disobeying his orders. A concert performance from the BBC Proms in 2005, from the Royal Albert Hall. Lisa Gasteen is Brunnhilde. Waltraud Meier is Sieglinde The orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Antonio Pappano.

Tags: Richard Wagner Wagnerian Opera German Music Drama Ride Valkyries Pappano Gasteen Wotan Brunnhilde Mythology Revolution