Kosovo Serbia Essay Example Essay Example

Kosovo Serbia Essay Example Paper Kosovo Serbia Essay Introduction The Historical Background: The collapse of Yugoslavia into smaller states is a significant event following the collapse of the Soviet Union. To understand the complexities involved in this outcome, we have to grasp the history of the region going back a millennium. The middle centuries of first millennia AD was a period of continuous change in Europe. There were widespread animosities between various tribes in their quest for geographic locations rich in natural resources. At this period of time, around 6th and 7th century AD, no one tribe could claim nativity over a piece of land as there were constant displacement from and conquering of new lands. It was then that â€Å"the Slavonic tribes, mixed with the Avars, made their appearance in the Balkans, which was sparsely inhabited by many different tribes of the Illyrians, the Dardanians, the Thracians and probably others whose names have fallen into oblivion† (Almond, 1998). The present day hostility between Albanians and Serb ians could be traced back to this period. Contemporary Albanians, who descended from the aforementioned tribal groups, were defeated in warfare by migrating Slavonic tribes. While some of the conquered were assimilated into Slavonic tribes, the rest took refuge in inaccessible geographic locations like mountain tops. The victorious Slavs on the other hand took control of the most fertile and irrigable lands in the region. Hence, the geography of the Balkans is an important aspect of ethnic rivalries there. Kosovo Serbia Essay Body Paragraphs â€Å"There is little doubt that the process of appropriating the possessions of the pre-existing population created a deeply felt resentment between those who lost their homes and their land and those who profited from the conquest. This hatred was transmitted from father to son over many generations and it became a constant factor in the relationship between the Serbs and the Albanians. Inherent to this feeling remained a strong desire to retake the lost areas if an opportunity appeared†. (Velebit, 1999) The other important historical development occurred during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when Serbian leader Nemanyitch made Kosovo his capital. This meant that Serbs who made Kosovo their home were forced out of this rich and fertile piece of geography. Serbian peasants suffered the most in the process. But the balance of power continued to change through the following centuries, with no particular ethnic group able to maintain dominance over other groups and geogra phic locations for long. Toward the end of the fourteenth century, some of the dominant groups staking claim for Kosovo were the Brankovitch, the Balstich, the Altomanovitch and the Hrebeljanovitch (Miller, 2001). The battle for ascendancy assumed a different complexion with the arrival of Ottoman Turks toward the end of the century. Unlike other contenders, the Ottoman Turks were more powerful, militarily better organized and renowned for shrewd tactics. Serbian attempts to push back Turkish troops were unsuccessful. The Ottoman inroad into the heart of Europe was finally accomplished at a great battle near river Maritsa in Macedonia. This is a turning point in the history of the Balkans. The subsequent Ottoman rule was marked by religious tension between the Mohammedan rulers and their Christian subjects. â€Å"This is particularly true in the first two hundred years of Turkish rule over southeastern Europe, when the natural economy prevailed and the central power of the sultans was still respected. After the gradual introduction of the money economy and the appearance of greedy and rapacious local pashas, the fate of the Christians deteriorated considerably and became almost unbearable. It led to religious conversions and numerous uprisings, which in the 17th and 18th centuries became a regular feature in the Ottoman Empire†. (Almond, 1998) From this boiling pot of different ethnicities, religions and languages, the state of Yugoslavia were to emerge. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the concept of Yugoslavia emerged. The word Yugoslavia, when literally translated, means â€Å"land of the South Slavs†. By early twentieth century, the word Yugoslavia became a rallying cry uniting all southern Slavs. Then the events of the two world wars, which had such a profound effect on the rest of the world, will determine the course of Balkan history for the rest of the twentieth century. At the Treaty of Versailles, the international com munity agreed to grant the Southern Slavs their united homeland and formed the nation of Yugoslavia in 1918. But, due to deep rooted linguistic and cultural differences between the various strands of southern Slavs, there would be continued political tension in the new nation. But this construed unity would be severely tested during the Second World War, when many minorities in the Balkans suffered under Nazi command. But in 1945 the concept of Yugoslav nationhood was reinvented and propagated by the dictator Tito. Tito, who started his political career as a communist in 1917, secured power in the fashion established in Serbia in the 19th century, by waging guerilla warfare against the Germans. Emerging victorious from World War II, Tito proclaimed the brotherhood and unity of the South Slavs. But true to a dictatorship, the post Second World War period saw Yugoslavian economy and culture attain stagnation due to the Cold War drama unfolding throughout Europe. That brings us to the last episode in the region’s history, which followed the collapse of the Soviet Union (Miller, 2001). Independence to Kosovo: A Just Result Given this historical background, the subsequent breaking up of Yugoslavia into smaller states is in the interest of its inhabitants as well as the mediating international community. We have to understand that autonomy to smaller geo-political entities divided on lines of ethnicity is the only viable solution for a region in perpetual turmoil for most of its modern history. The most recent episode in this political rearrangement is the independence of Kosovo from Serbia. This result is a welcome relief for all peace loving nations, including the United States. The Balkans, which had earlier been a theatre for Cold War animosities between the United States and the USSR, has finally seen peace and harmony, thanks mainly to the persistent and brave efforts of the United States government as well as the NATO. The numerous ethnic groups that i nhabit this resourceful landscape, including the Slavs, Croats, Serbs, Albanians, Bosnians, Slovenes, etc, can finally look forward to a period of peace and prosperity, thanks to the justified intervention by the NATO. The independence to Kosovo, which was achieved recently, is in the long term interests of both Kosovo as well as Serbia. A noteworthy aspect of the Kosovo conflict is the demonstration of what genuine peace loving nations such as United States can do. Under leadership from Washington D.C. 19 countries joined hands and stood shoulder to shoulder through tough and trying moments in recent world history. And the result is for all to see: â€Å"an end to the killing and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. The ethnic Albanians of Kosovo, the underdog heroes of this saga, are streaming home to a safe and secure environment† (Beeman, 1999). Benefits for the United States and the rest of the World: Credit has to be given to the United States for bringing Slobodan Milosevic to trial in the international court in Hague. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Milosevic rose to power in the erstwhile Yugoslavia. Following on the legacy of Dictator Tito, he carried out many despicable atrocities against his own countrymen. The situation called for military and judicial intervention, both of which were provided by the American leadership. For example, â€Å"The history of the conflict over Kosovo is well known. For eleven weeks, NATO war planes continually degraded Serbia’s ability to wage war and conduct ethnic cleansing. In the last weeks of the war, a resurgent Kosovo Liberation Army (now flush with angry recruits from refugee camps) waged limited but important ground offensives in south-west Kosovo which finally forced Yugoslav troops from their protective warrens. Fully exposed to NATO air power, Serbian amour and troops suffered heavy losses. With Yugoslav army morale in tatters, NATO unified, and the KLA’s strength growing daily, Milosev ic finally realized his situation was untenable†. (Beeman, 1999) The role of the United States and NATO in this sustained effort to preserve basic human rights of the people of the Balkans cannot be overstated. It is also an accomplishment that NATO achieved its goals with no allied casualties and minimal civilian casualties. This is â€Å"an astounding feat, a testament to the use of high-tech warfare, and a warning to those considering a future course of action similar to Milosevic’s† (The Washington Times, 1998). As the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair noted, â€Å"NATO’s success in Kosovo will be the biggest deterrent to tyrants the world over and the biggest rallying cry for democracy† (The Washington Times, 1998). It is also a favorable result for American interests, as American leaders can focus their efforts on bringing peace and prosperity to the rest of the world. The result is a setback for Russian designs for the region. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Russia had pursued a policy of dominating â€Å"near abroad† nations. While the Balkans falls in this zone, the assertive intervention by NATO had reinforced the standing of the United States as the only superpower in the world, thus weakening Russian influence in the region. In the end, Russia paid for its opportunistic diplomatic maneuvers. Works Cited: Almond, Mark. â€Å"Balkanized: The Wonder Is Not That Serbia Attacked Kosovo, but That It Waited So Long.† National Review 20 Apr. 1998: 32+. â€Å"The Ancient History of Kosovo Is Irrelevant to Today’s Crisis.† The Washington Times 30 Aug. 1998: 2. Beeman, Josiah., â€Å"THE UNITED STATES, NATO and KOSOVO.† New Zealand International Review 24.5 (1999): 6. Doder, Dusko. â€Å"Yugoslavia: New War, Old Hatreds.† Foreign Policy Summer 1993: 3+. Miller, Nick. â€Å"Yugoslavia: A History of Its Demise.† The Historian 63.4 (2001): 875. Velebit, Vladimir. †Å"Kosovo: A Case of Ethnic Change of Population.† East European Quarterly 33.2 (1999): 177. We will write a custom essay sample on Kosovo Serbia Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Kosovo Serbia Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Kosovo Serbia Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Trench warfare Essay Example

Trench warfare Essay Example Trench warfare Essay Trench warfare Essay Warfare World War I was one of the most historic wars in United States history. The war was mostly fought In France or Germany. What sparked the start of the war was the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand. There were 65 million men from 30 countries flatting In the war and there were over 35 million casualties. Trench Warfare was one of the many ways used to fight In World War I. The method of fighting was to have trenches, and other enemys would also have trenches across the plains. They would each try, and do little raids on their enemys. The ranches were a tough place to live, sleep, eat, and battle in. Trench life was brutal, you would have to sleep underground on the rock solid ground. The soldiers would put their coat over them as that was the only thing they had to keep them warm. If it rained outside they would have to deal with sleeping in puddles with rats, frogs, and beetles. The dugout was a small room where the commander or soldiers slept in. They would even sometimes have to take turns on who gets to sleep because one person had to keep guard for enemy attacks. Overall sleeping in trenches was not a UN time for any soldiers during the war. There was always a dally routine that the soldiers had to do even If there wasnt an attack. The routine would start with a stand to. At this time all the sleeping soldiers were woken up. They would grab a gun or a weapon and get ready for morning raids. After the stand to the soldiers would have breakfast and clean the weapons. After breakfast, there would be an inspection to make sure the guns are clean and their clothes are too. They would also check their feet for trench foot. All the men that werent fighting had chores to do like fill sandbags and repair the ranches. After they were done with their chores for the day they were free until next task. It was very boring and they would have a lot of free time. They would write a note back to their loved ones and tell them they are alive. Another thing is clean their weapons and clothing. Also they would play games Like cards. This Is also the time to start and cook their own meals. They would have one more stand to at night time with the same routine. Some weapons they used were flame throwers and mustard gas. The Germans started to use flame throwers in the asses. They had a huge range of 40 meters so hat made them a great trench warfare weapon. Mustard gas was also a deadly type of weapon in WWW as enemies used them to raid. They would throw in a gas bomb. The soldiers that threw it, were equipped with gas masks so they were able to walk right in and fire. Sadly, the soldiers inside were not and there were many casualties from gas and flame throwers. Deaths were also very normal in the Great War. Soldiers would always be losing friends. There were many ways a soldier could die in the trenches. When the soldiers looked over the parapet they would have a high risk of getting sniped by the enemy. The last thing was death from all types of disease Like trench foot. The soldiers not only had to deal with enemies that were human, but also with rats and other manias and insects. Rats in packs of millions infested the trenches. I nerve were two types AT rats, Dalai Ana Drown. I en rats love t trenches. They would eat the dead soldiers eyes and livers. After they would feast on human flesh they would go and scavenge food from the soldiers. This would cause many deaths as the rats would put diseases into the food they ate. Some rats loud grow to be the size of a cat on how much they ate. The soldiers in the trenches were scared of the rats. They would use any method to kill the beasts. A couple things they used was the bayonet on their gun, shooting or smacking them with their guns. One rat in the trench can produce up to 900 offspring in a year. Rats werent the only scare in the trenches. Lice was a normal thing in the trenches. Up to 95% of the soldiers living in the trench had some case of lice. There was body lice, which would have lice on them from being so dirty, and those lice would plant eggs. There was also head lice. Men chose shaving their heads to not have to deal with lice. Lice not only itched but caused Trench Fever, it was a deadly disease, it was pain that was followed by a very high fever. Other ensconces are frogs, slugs, and beetles. Another terrible thing that the soldiers had to deal with was the horrible smell. There were many things that caused the trenches to smell as bad as they did. The rotting flesh of dead soldiers would make the trenches reek. Sometimes the men would die, and their dead bodies werent found quickly so they would sink into the du and rot. Also, Just the stench of common humans that did not have the luxury of taking a bath. Also, the smell of dried up sweat and cigarette smoke added to the stench. There was a constant smell of strong cleaning supplies as the men would try to rid themselves of diseases. Last, but not least the smell of battle, the odor of gases and gun smoke were everywhere. The United States started to Join the war in 1917. It took them about another year to get all their supplies and troops over there. Therefore, the Americans were not really involved in trench warfare. Trench warfare really didnt affect the Americans battle style or their battle involvement. It was not a big thing that happened that got them all roused up and wanting to strike. The warfare did have a little bit of an affect on the homestead. Woman would take over the menus Jobs to pay for expenses. People from all over the country would pitch in and send food to Americans fighting in the war and in trenches. African Americans would move up to get new Job opportunities as all the soldiers and men in the country were at war. In 1917 they were not only using volunteer soldiers anymore. They needed more men to fight over in Europe and they would get them from back at the home-front. Thats why they did a military draft. During one year of the draft nearly 24 million men entered the army and 3 million went into the war. The United States food administration went under a huge change. They wanted everyone to farm so they could send food to the soldiers. They wanted regular families to grow victory gardens in their backyard. Women were taking all menus Jobs for the first time ever in American history. They would be working on the assembly lines, producing weapons, and munitions. For the iris time ever stores were hiring African Americans in their stores. The women really favored the draft because that gave them opportunities to be all they can be. For once they could do all the Jobs the men could and not Just be waitresses and caterer cents. Some women Colane In to Nell Walt meal problems. Back on the battlefield, some soldiers would even kill themselves so they would not have to endure the terrible living conditions of the trenches. Others would run out on the battlefield on purpose to get sniped by enemy. A soldiers trench life would consist of a week in the front trench. Then they would get moved to a week in the support trench, which followed by a third week in a reserve trench. In the reserve trench the soldiers could rest and do what they want. They could play sports and card games. If they wanted to they could write letters to their family back in America and cook dinner for themselves. The trenches had many main causes of how they came to be. One is the Germans in 1914, planned to invade France with the Schlemiels Plan. When the Germans came close they were tired and retreated. They dug trenches to protect themselves. When the enemy forces tried to pass and invade they would be killed instantly by machine guns and all types of gases. The trenches were so well hidden and underground so the human eye could barely see them. Because of the trench warfare, the war slowed down a lot. Trench warfare affected many lives of countries nationwide. It was a good war tactic and helped countries military a lot. Although there was many casualties in the war and the trenches brought many diseases, World War I will always go down in history to be a very important war, fought worldwide.