[1984]
Album: "Russians and Americans"

[1993]
Album: "Famous Last Words"

History and references behind Al Stewart's songs from www.alstewart.com

Jean Jaurès (1859 - 1914)

Jean-Joseph-Marie-Auguste Jaures was one of the leaders of the French Socialist movement during its formative years. He was born in Castres, France on September 3, 1859 and attended the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, earning the title agrege de philosophie. Upon graduation he worked as a teacher at the lycee of Albi (1881-83) and as a lecturer at the University of Toulouse (1883-85).
He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1885 with no political affiliation. After his defeat in 1889, he returned to the university. In 1891 he presented two theses for his doctorate. He was returned to the chamber during the by-election of 1893. Although he was defeated again in 1898, he served again after being elected in 1902, 1906, 1910 and 1914.
By his election... (continua)

[1973]
Album: "Past, Present, Future"

History and references behind Al Stewart's songs from www.alstewart.com

"They crossed over the border the hour before dawn ..."

The Nazi-Soviet pact was signed on August 23, 1939. In the pact an anti-communist Germany came to terms with the USSR to open an opportunity for the invasion of Poland. The Soviets, who could not negotiate an agreement with the British and/or French decided to protect themselves by dealing with the Nazis directly. The pact, signed in Moscow by Joachim von Ribbentrop and Vyacheslav Molotov, included nonaggression and trade agreements.
World War II began within weeks with the German invasion of Poland. The pact was broken when the Germans invaded the USSR in June, 1941.

"Most of our planes were destroyed on the ground where they lay ..."

On June 22, 1941 the German's launched their attack on Russia. The Russians admitted... (continua)