In Europe

the Germans, whose trial and imprisonment caused a political scandal in France at the turn of the century which became known as the ‘Dreyfus Affair’. The army finally rehabilitated him in 1906.
    Dubcček , Alexander (1921–92): Slovak statesman and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia 1968–9. Driving force behind the political reforms of 1968, which prompted the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and his removal from office in 1969.
    Eisenhower , Dwight David ‘Ike’ (1890–1969): President of the United States 1953–61. As supreme commander of the Allied forces in Western Europe during the
Second World War
he supervised the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–5.
    ETA (
Euzkadi ta Askatasuna
, ‘Basque homeland and liberty’): A separatist movement in Spain still conducting a terrorist campaign for an independent Basque state.
    Euro: the single currency adopted by a number of European states, launched in 2002. The following are presently members of the so-called Eurozone: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
    European Economic Community (EEC), also known as the Common Market: forerunner of the
European Union
, an economic association of Western European countries set up by the
Treaty of Rome
in 1957.
    European Union (EU): economic and political association now comprising twenty-seven member states, with its own currency and parliament. Created on 1 November, 1993 when the
Maastricht Treaty
came into force. The following 27 countries are now members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
    First World War (1914–18), also referred to as the Great War: fought primarily in Europe where the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire were defeated by the Allied forces of Britain, France and Russia, later joined by Italy and the United States. An estimated ten million people – soldiers and civilians – were killed. Resulted in the disintegration of the German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman Empires.
    Franco , Francisco (1892–1975): Spanish general and leader of the Nationalist forces that overthrew the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War (1936–9). Proclaimed himself leader of Spain and presided over a government that was essentially a military dictatorship until his death in 1975.
    Franz Ferdinand (1863–1914): Austrian archduke next in the line of succession to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo on 28 June, 1914 by Gavrilo Princip precipitated the Austrian declaration of war which, in turn, triggered the beginning of the
First World War
in Europe.
    Franz Josef (1830–1916): Emperor of Austria 1848–1916 and King of Hungary 1867–1916. Aroused many European political tensions when he annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908. The assassination of his heir apparent, Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
, led Austria and Germany into the
First World War
.
    Gellhorn, Martha (1908–98): American novelist, travel writer and journalist. Particularly known for her work as a war correspondent, reportingon the Spanish Civil War, the rise of
Hitler
and the
Second World War
. The first journalist to report from the Dachau concentration camp after it was liberated.
    Gestapo (
Geheime Staatspolizei
, ‘secret state police’): political police force of
Nazi
Germany which ruthlessly suppressed any opposition to the
Nazis
in Germany and its occupied territories. Jews and others disappeared into concentration camps after being arrested by the Gestapo, who also arranged the deportation of Jews to extermination camps in Poland.
    Goebbels , Joseph (1897–1945): German
Nazi
politician and
Hitler
's Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda from 1933 onwards. With control over the press, radio and all aspects of culture, he was responsible for presenting a favourable image of the
Nazi
regime to the German people.
    Gomulka , Wladyslaw (1905–82): Polish communist leader who served as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish Communist Party 1956–70. His attempts to implement reforms were viewed with alarm by the Soviet leadership but made him a popular figure among Poles.
    Göring , Hermann Wilhelm (1893–1946): German military