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regardless of whether the US had a continuous military presence in west Germany, it is implausible to me that east Germany / the USSR could have taken over west

by rrss 5y ago

regardless of whether the US had a continuous military presence in west Germany, it is implausible to me that east Germany / the USSR could have taken over west germany without starting WWIII. West Germany was a NATO member state by 1955.

linuxftw 5y ago
There is no NATO without the US occupation of Europe. If the US pulls out of NATO, it will fold like the Afghan security force.
- sofixa 5y ago
  That's just bullshit. France had nukes in 1965, and still does today. Baring a communist revolution in France, US troops in Europe made no practical difference. And they don't today.
  - linuxftw 5y ago
    I doubt France has enough military power to defeat Ukraine, let alone the whole Soviet Union.
    - sofixa 5y ago
      First, you're wrong, second it doesn't matter, the point of nuclear weapons is to serve as a deterrent.