I'm reading Stalin : Passage to revolution right now and this book hard core reads like it's singing stalins praises. I looked a bit into Suny and couldn't find much aside from some people saying hes a historical revisionist so I'm having trouble trusting this book. If he is untrustworthy what are some alternatives to this book that are more trust worthy

So I've read fredrick the great on the art of war, articles on maneuver warfare, and air land war but I'm not sure if there is anything around turn of the 20 century that can be used for my research. I'm writing a book of a world were lack of resources has led to regression in technology but no break military thought or theory. I want to create a believable military structure. I was hoping there existed something like in air land war where roles and positions of different unit were given. I did some extensive study on artillery units and the crew names but then decided I didnt want regress far enough that flying batteries would still be viable. Even though I do love the idea of setting zachery Taylor's in a dystopian future. But anyway I just meant I now some structure and existed I just want to find a source to pull ideas from. Like was there an officer or nco who over saw the horses and what he called. Thank you. I'd hope maybe other would be interested in this type of thing and it's not posted in the wrong spot.

If I understand correctly, what made New York City -- all five boroughs -- as wealthy as they are today is the natural harbor.

What I'm struggling to understand is why Manhattan was where people were drawn to. If the harbor is indeed the sell, why not Brooklyn or Staten Island, something closer to the ocean? Why sail a ship all the way into the harbor to Manhattan when you could stop in Bay Ridge, Staten Island, or even Long Island more quickly?

For example you have the Japanese Tamagoyaki, the Itallian Frittata, the french Omelette, Chinese Egg foo yung and all of them are variations of fried, beaten eggs. How did this happen?

I'm Japanese and never really got this part of history but was Japan secretly scared of Hitler and the Nazis and that's why the Japanese became Nazis? The reason I ask is because Japan is such a small country its hard to believe that they were any real threat to any nation? Also its pretty weird to me that Japan would join Hitler just to launch a suicide attack that made the USA join the war ?? Also I saw some information online that said Japan allied itself against the USA during WW2 because it was afraid that the USA was pushing democracy through the east and eventually to Japan itself, but after Japan lost the war and rebuilt itself its now one of the most Democratic and culturally "western" Asian country's around which is exactly the opposite of what japan wanted and the reason they were enemies with the united states ???

Fascism and nazism seem to be used interchangeably, but are there any differences between these ideologies?

As far as I know, the rebellion was a planned affair, and as with many failed rebellions. No one was really prepared for a civil war, it was supposed to be relatively bloodless and a quick coup, but I do not know almost anything about the offical plan of action so to speak. What was supposed to happen according to their plan when the red lantern was raised in Helsinki, 28th of January?

I found some plants with that name but that doesn't seem right. Is it an older name for an animal part?

What are some good free primary sources on the Silk Road(something like Zhang qian) and maybe about the spread of Buddhism and Hellenism?

After France was defeated in 1870, the country saw a huge spike in English sports. Why? Especially since both countries were not on the friendliest of terms at the time.

Why too we’re they English sports and not German sports?

Were there any further implications of the adoption of English sports for the country?

I'm currently reading 'Checkpoint Charlie' by Iain MacGregor and there is one question that I have that is bothering me.

So West Berlin was effectively 'walled in' by the Berlin Wall. This kept people from East Berlin and East Germany from entering West Berlin, where they would be able to live freely (or fly/train from there to West Germany). My question is this: As the Berlin Wall was so heavily guarded, why didn't people in East Berlin (or East Germany more generally) just go to the border of East/West Germany...which I would assume is less heavily guarded given the length of the border? Or was the "Iron Curtain" border between East/West Germany just as heavily guarded and physically restrictive as the wall in Berlin? Did as many people make an attempt across this border as they did across the Berlin Wall? Why or why not?

Thanks in advance.

In the sixties and seventies thousands of westerners travelled 'the overland' from Europe through the Middle East to India (and beyond).

I'm having trouble coming up with a single coherent question but if anyone could address any of the following:

• Who were they?

• Was there an inciting person or incident that started it off?

• What were they looking for and did anyone find it?

• Why did it end (Iranian revolution? Invasion of Afghanistan?)

• Were there any long-term effects either "back home" or on the countries on the trail?

Thanks!