Shot Through the Heart Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vietnam

Diệm played a key role in the Republican period of Vietnam after the Second World War when it lost its colonial status. With US support, he gradually consolidated his control of South Vietnam, overcoming enemies and French colonial interests. Tens of thousands died.

In 1955 he established the Republic of Vietnam with himself as first President. His authoritarian rule lost him support in the US and eventually he was assassinated in 1963 during a US-sanctioned coup d'état.

Answer: Slovak Republic

Tiso was a Roman Catholic priest who became politically active following the First World War. Initially moderate, he became more authoritarian in outlook and also sought secession from Czechoslovakia. This he achieved in 1939 with the help of Nazi Germany. He became the first President of the Slovak Republic, a satellite state of Germany during the Second World War.

When the Soviet army took over his region, he fled. The Americans found him in a Capuchin monastery in Bavaria and arrested him. Returned to Czechoslovakia for trial, he was found guilty of treason and hanged in his clerical outfit.

Answer: Pakistan

Bhutto was a political leader during a period of turmoil in the country's history. This included two wars with India and the secession of East Pakistan to form Bangladesh. On Pakistan's surrender at the end of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he was given the Presidency of Pakistan. When he formed a new constitution in 1973, he gave up the Presidency and took over as Prime Minister until deposed in a bloodless coup in 1977.

General Zia-ul-Haq carried out the coup and then subsequently had Bhutto put on trial for arranging the murder of a political opponent. Various judges were replaced until the desired verdict was obtained and Bhutto was hanged in 1979.

Answer: Turkey

Menderes was Prime Minister of Turkey throughout the 1950s. He oversaw rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, a booming economy and pro-Western moves such as joining NATO whilst at the same time being more tolerant of Islam.

Latterly, high inflation and massive debt coupled with repressive censorship soured the picture. A military coup resulted in him being deposed in 1960, tried and then hung.

Answer: Romania

Ceaușescu had a 24-year period as General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, with 22 of those as leader of Romania. His regime was characterised by nepotism, nationalism and a personality cult. It became increasingly oppressive with strict controls over media and dissent suppressed by the brutal Securitate secret police.

Romania was one of the Eastern Bloc countries affected by the Revolutions of 1989. It was the only one where the regime was violently overthrown. The Ceaușescus fled but were captured, had a quick show trial on Christmas Day and then were taken out back and shot.

Answer: Liberia

In charge of Liberia for a decade, Doe got into power through a violent coup in 1980 during which he reportedly killed the incumbent President William Richard Tolbert Jr. and later had many of his cabinet executed.

He ran a corrupt and repressive regime. He himself suffered a similar fate when US financial support for him waned, a civil war started up in 1989 and he was captured, mutilated and then killed in 1990.

Answer: Poland

Rataj was twice Acting President of Poland - first in 1922 for a week following the assassination of the incumbent president (who had 5 days as president) and then in 1926 for half a month following the post-coup resignation of the then president.

He was one of the thousands executed as part of the Nazi German AB-Aktion programme carried out in Poland in 1940. This aimed to eliminate the Polish intelligentsia, politicians, artists and upper classes from areas marked for annexation. At least 60,000 died. Similarly, the Soviet Union was responsible for the execution of around 22,000 Polish military officers at Katyń in 1940.

Answer: Mexico

When challenging the incumbent dictator Porfirio Díaz for the Presidency of Mexico landed him in jail in 1910, Madero escaped to the US. He and his supporters then wrote Plan of San Luis de Potosí, which led to the Mexican Revolution and the end of Díaz's 35-year rule.

Madero became President but was arrested during a coup in 1913 and assassinated along with his Vice-President a short time later.

Answer: Syria

On independence from France in 1946 al-Za'im was appointed Chief of Staff of the Syrian Army. He carried out a bloodless coup d'état in March 1949 and was appointed President.

Declassified records show that the CIA sponsored the coup so that an oil pipeline could be built across Syria. This was immediately agreed following the coup, however al-Za'im rule as President only lasted until August 1949 when the second of three coups that year took place. He was executed.

Answer: Afghanistan

As head of the KHAD (Afghanistan's equivalent of the Soviet KGB), Najibullah came to the attention of the occupying Soviets for his ruthless efficiency. He became President in 1987 through Soviet intervention but saw his power weakened as the Soviet army gradually withdrew from Afghanistan. The Soviets ended their aid to Afghanistan in 1992, which shortly after led to the resignation of Najibullah's government.

He obtained sanctuary for the next four years in the UN compound in the capital. As the Taliban approached, he turned down several offers to flee Kabul. As a result he was captured and brutally killed by the Taliban.