The warsaw pact is formed the soviet union and seven of its european satellites sign a treaty establishing the warsaw pact, a mutual defense organization that put. In eastern europe, eight nations came together in warsaw in 1955 to form a military alliance known as the warsaw pact. Jun 16, 20 i have played more cold war warsaw pact games versus nato than most, at least in terms of the number of different rule sets i have used. Ultimately, in 1991, the remaining six countries decided to formally end their alliance and the warsaw pact was disbanded. There is no shortage of literature addressing the workings, influence, and importance of nato and the warsaw pact individually or how the two blocs faced off during the decades of the cold war. Tanks and combat vehicles of the warsaw pact ebook written by russell phillips.
This has included the many civilian wargame rules such as wrg modern warfare rules and tim gows nato brigade commander, but i have also played professional military games such as contact. As the last acts of the cold war were playing out, several warsaw pact states poland, czechoslovakia, and hungary participated in the usled coalition. Finally, in 1955, the warsaw pact created a military alliance that joined the ussr with all european countries of the communist bloc with the exception of yugoslavia. The warsaw pact is the soviet union, plus a little bit more european land. Artillery of the warsaw pact shilka publishing cold. The warsaw pact contingency plan for war with nato in the central region of europe as revised by the soviets in the early 1960s assigns the initial offensive missions to the forces already deployed in east germany, czechoslovakia, and poland. The essays of a dozen leading european and american cold war historians. The soviet union established itself as a threat to the west at the end of world war ii by its military occupation of eastern european countries and the attempts of its armed proxies to capture greece and south korea. In the books which focus on the warsaw pact, the role of the eastern. It marked a significant development in the cold war although the marshall plan created a trading alliance, nato was a military alliance with the specific aim of defending the west against communism the formation of the warsaw pact. However, little has been written about the various intrabloc tensions that plagued both alliances during the cold war or about how those. In the new world of the cold war, the search for security led to the formation of new military alliances.
Warsaw pact was like nato but for the communist counties mostly controlled by the soviets. The immediate occasion for the warsaw pact was the paris agreement among the western powers admitting west germany to the north atlantic treaty organization. May 28, 20 this study examines the role of clandestine reporting in cias analysis of the warsaw pact from 1955 to 1985. Although it was ostensibly a military alliance, the warsaw pact. Jul 17, 2019 the warsaw pact is formed the soviet union and seven of its european satellites sign a treaty establishing the warsaw pact, a mutual defense organization that put the soviets in command of the. However, little has been written about the various intrabloc tensions that plagued both alliances during t. Artillery of the warsaw pact the armies of the warsaw pact made artillery a cornerstone of their military strategies. And the importance they placed on this type of weaponry saw them use their technology and exp. However, little has been written about the various intrabloc tensions that plagued both alliances during the cold war or about how those tensions. May 07, 2020 warsaw pact, treaty establishing a mutualdefense organization composed originally of the soviet union and albania, bulgaria, czechoslovakia, east germany, hungary, poland, and romania. The ussr responded in 1955 with the creation of the warsaw pact. The army and the air force exploited emerging technologies and new operational concepts to develop a credible warfighting doctrine in the event of a warsaw pact conventional attack. The cold war was a period of military and political tensions between the soviet union and warsaw pact members and the us and nato allies. An important part of cias ongoing effort to be more open.
Readers are invited to explore the book a cardboard castle, which offers three more. This study examines the role of clandestine reporting in cias analysis of the warsaw pact from 1955 to 1985. The role of nato and the warsaw pact in the cold war essay sample. And the importance they placed on this type of weaponry saw them use their technology. This essay will examine the roles of both nato and the warsaw pact in concurrence with other events unfolding at the time, contributing to the development of the early cold war. The cold war was fought on the political, economic, and propaganda fronts. The warsaw pact was a defense treaty among eight communist satellite states of eastern europe dominated by the ussr during the cold war. Cardboard castle an inside history of the warsaw pact on jstor. The treaty provided for a unified military command and for the maintenance of soviet military units within other participating states. And the importance they placed on this type of weaponry saw them use their technology and expertise to develop a wide range of munitions including. This important book fills that void and examines the agency of these states. This text, enhanced by colour plates and photographs, examines the nato and warsaw pact tank forces of that era, focusing on tank firepower and crew training, and speculates as to the possible.
Considered to be the god of modern war by the soviet army, artillery played a vital role in the cold war period. Unlike the treaty, it was kept secret throughout the cold war, although it was. Instead, the conflict was fought on an ideological basis and in proxy wars. The warsaw pact was a military alliance between communist countries in east europe to counter the threat of capitalism in europe. Printed books are making a comeback and while these three titles lack the glitz of the kind produced by the bestknown military specialist publishers, there is a substance to mr. The cold war was a lengthy struggle between the united states and the soviet union that began in. This furthered the cold war as the both the implementation and economic developments posed a threat to the west. The book also details how second world war weapons like multiple rocket launchers continued to play a key part in the cold war hostilities, alongside newlydeveloped artillery, including tactical ballistic. Canadian wargame rules, 1980, dunn kemp 1978, american. However, the alliances maintained the balance of military power between the forces of the west and east, and were of great importance in keeping international peace and stability. The united states formed the nato alliance after aiding the germans in the berlin airlift. Selfmade map based on historic books and real plans. It was long assumed that the soviet union dictated warsaw pact policy in.
The role of nato and the warsaw pact in the cold war essay. The warsaw treaty organization wto, officially the treaty of friendship, cooperation and. The prague spring and the warsaw pact invasion of czechoslovakia in 1968. The armies of the warsaw pact made artillery a cornerstone of their military strategies. Cia analysis of the warsaw pact forces this study examines the role of clandestine reporting in cias analysis of the warsaw pact from 1955 to 1985. The establishment of nato and the warsaw pact provided the framework for the military standoff that continued throughout the cold war 1945 1991. The warsaw treaty organization wto, officially the treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, commonly known as the warsaw pact, was a collective defense treaty signed in warsaw, poland between the soviet union and seven other eastern bloc socialist republics of central and eastern europe in may 1955, during the cold war. And the importance they placed on this type of weaponry saw them use their technology and expertise to develop a wide range of munitions including mortars, rocket launchers, missiles and largecalibre guns. I have played more cold war warsaw pact games versus nato than most, at least in terms of the number of different rule sets i have used. It was written during the cold war inside of america. Plan of a possible attack on austria by the warsaw pact cold. Researched by nicholas dambacher volunteer for the cold war museum cosby high school. Command post exercises have always been an important part of military.
The warsaw pact countries the east, the iron curtain the warsaw pact 14 may 1955 1 july 1991 was the ussr response to the nato treaty at the start of the cold war. Artillery of the warsaw pact by russell phillips overdrive. Phillips work that should make these books attractive to readers interested in the armed forces of the warsaw pact. Essays on cold war tensions within nato and the warsaw pact there is no shortage of literature addressing the workings, influence, and importance of nato and the warsaw pact individually or how the two blocs faced off during the decades of the cold war. Though the importance of tanks had dimished since their heyday in the second world war, on the modern battlefield they remained the dominant weapon. One, which shows the key defensive areas of the austrian military and the other one shows the lines of approach of the warsaw pact in case of an armed conflict both maps were revealed after the end of the cold war austria was a neutral country during the entire cold. Aug 22, 2017 tanks and combat vehicles of the warsaw pact ebook written by russell phillips. The warsaw pact was the military complement to the.
The warsaw pact was terminated on july 1, 1991, at the end of the cold war. Pact and assess their importance in the development of the cold war. After world war ii, it formed the warsaw pact, a military alliance of european communist states meant to counter nato. Nato and the warsaw pact the kent state university press. The cold war was a period of intense rivalry between the united states and its allies and the soviet union and its allies, lasting from the end of world war ii in 1945 until the collapse of the. At the end of ww2 the relationships of the once allied nations quickly. It had a great effect as a military deterrent on any of the european nations seeking war against other nations to better further the spread of the ideals it supported. The cold war was a period of geopolitical tension between the soviet union and the united states and their respective allies, the eastern bloc and the western bloc, after world war ii. The warsaw pact was a mutual defense treaty between the soviet union ussr and seven soviet satellite nations of eastern europe signed in warsaw, poland, on may 14, 1955, and disbanded in 1991. The pact was made between the soviet union and several eastern bloc satellite states, and was the ussrs response to nato. Albania, bulgaria, czechoslovakia, east germany, hungary, poland, romania and of course the ussr. And the importance they placed on this type of weaponry saw them use their technology and expertise to develop a wide range of munitions including mortars, rocket launchers, missiles and large. After the defeat of nazi germany in 1945, the two wartime allies the soviet union and the us became increasingly split on ideological and political grounds.
Warsaw pact countries the original signatories to the warsaw pact treaty were the soviet union and the soviet satellite nations of albania, poland, czechoslovakia, hungary, bulgaria, romania, and the german democratic republic. The army and the air force exploited emerging technologies and new operational concepts to develop a credible war fighting doctrine in the event of a warsaw pact conventional attack. After world war two ended, it was clear that the usa and ussr were now huge rivals. Tensions had long been brewing between the eastern bloc and its frontrunners and big brother, the soviet union and the western powers primarily led by the united states of america. May 11, 2017 causes of the cold war nato and the warsaw pact 1. The warsaw pact reconsidered utrecht university repository. Tanks and combat vehicles of the warsaw pact by russell. The term cold is used because there was no largescale fighting directly between the two. Essays on cold war tensions within nato and the warsaw pact. Powers were obliged to accept stalins role in the territories liberated by soviet tanks. Because each side was preparing to fight the other, intelligence on the opposing sides intentions, military, and technology was of paramount importance. Firstly, it worked like an alliance, so if any member got attacked the rest would come and help. The soviet union established itself as a threat to the west at the end of world war ii by its military occupation of eastern european countries and the attempts of its armed proxies to capture. Classroom country profiles the warsaw pact and eastern europe.
In eastern europe, eight nations came together in warsaw in 1955 to form a. Aug 22, 2018 artillery of the warsaw pact also looks at the widespread use of towed guns as well as the growth in popularity of selfpropelled guns. The soviet union established itself as a threat to the west at the end of world war ii by its military occupation of eastern european countries and the attempts of its armed proxies to. Artillery of the warsaw pact weapons and equipment of the. Throughout the cold war, the two sides were part of military alliances known as nato west and the warsaw pact east. The warsaw pact was, however, the first step in a more systematic plan to strengthen the soviet hold over its satellites, a program undertaken by the soviet leaders nikita. Cold war tensions within nato and the warsaw pact there is no shortage of literature addressing the workings, influence, and importance. To gather this information, the two relied on a wide variety of military and civilian agencies. However, little has been written about the various intrabloc tensions that plagued both alliances during the cold war or about how those tensions affected the alliances operation. The west had long seen soviet action as mere antagonism, coupled with what the west viewed the establishment of new communist states as soviet expansionism. The cold war 1947 1991 introduction the grand alliance formed by the u. Plan of a possible attack on austria by the warsaw pact. The iron curtain was the name of the impenetrable barrier or border between the central and eastern european countries of the soviet bloc, the sphere of influence of the soviet union, and the rest of europe during the cold war. Why cold war warsaw pact tactics work in wargaming.
The alliance included six european countries occupied by the ussr following nazi defeat plus albania and is also referred to as the eastern bloc. Eastern european alliance, simply because it barely survived the cold war. The history of the warsaw pact, recounted and documented in this book, bears on some. Cia analysis of the warsaw pact forces cia foia foia. The cold war in the third world reinterpreting history reinterpreting history. What is the importance of the warsaw pact in enders game. The period is generally considered to span the 1947 truman doctrine to the 1991 dissolution of the soviet union. Nato formed the backbone of the wests military bulwark against the ussr and its allies for the next 40 years, with its membership growing larger over the course of the cold war era. This study examines the role of clandestine reporting in the cias analysis of the warsaw pact from 1955 to 1985. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read tanks and combat vehicles of the warsaw pact. The warsaw pact was a cold war era mutual defense treaty signed on may 14, 1955, by the eastern european nations of the soviet union and seven communist soviet satellite nations of albania, poland, czechoslovakia, hungary, bulgaria, romania, and the german democratic republic. The warsaw pact was established during the cold war by the soviet in an attempt to retaliate against the united statess nato, which was a military alliance previously formed by the united states. Cold war espionage describes the intelligence gathering activities during the cold war between nato and the warsaw pact.
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