1957
sees the formation of European Economic Community, the EEC,
including France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium
and Luxemburg. After opposition from France was finally overcome,
the EEC expanded to include Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland
in 1972.
The Beatles from Britain, the most popular music group up to
that time, make their first tour of the United States in 1964.
While not the first rock 'n roll band, the "Fab Four"
as they were called, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison
and Ringo Star, firmly establish the "rock band"--drummer,
lead guitar, bass guitar and vocalist--as the typical pop music
group. Hordes of screaming fans at concerts is called "Beatlemania".
In general, however, it is Europe that sees a massive influence
of American culture, reversing a trend that had begun with the
first European landings in North America.
Similar to the student protests in the United States, huge marches
and rallies occur in France and elsewhere in Europe between
1967 and '69. France sees a major political crisis in May '68,
as police brutally crush a student protest march in Paris. A
general strike is called, and France is on the verge of civil
war with widespread street fighting. The situation was only
calmed down slowly after sharp increases in wages ended the
strike.
In August 1968, France detonated its first atomic bomb, becoming
the fifth nuclear power along with the USA, the Soviet Union,
Britain and China.
Soviet forces invade Czechoslovakia in 1968. The communist government
of Czechoslovakia had started to introduce some democratic reforms,
but these efforts were abruptly ended by the Russian invasion.
There is some scattered fighting, but the Russian invasion was
met with only limited opposition.
A new period of "troubles" breaks out in the British-controlled
province of Northern Ireland between Irish nationalists, the
IRA and the British Army. Between 1969 and 1974, there are bombings,
sniper attacks and street fighting.
In 1971, women finally gain the right to vote in Switzerland.
Anselm Kiefer (born 1945 in Germany), is known for making huge
paintings using symbolic photographic images to examine the
history of Germany in the 20th century. He is particularly interested
in the ancient roots of German culture, and how this cultural
heritage contributed to the rise of a militant German nationalism.
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