4 ms·
Were Soviet war plans any different?
by zirgs 3y ago
Were Soviet war plans any different?
- ethanbond 3y agoNope, and this fact amplifies the evil of the system, it doesn’t mitigate it.
- arethuza 3y agoIn the relevant timescale the Soviets were far less of a strategic threat to the US than they would later become. However, they did have lots of weapons pointed at Western Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_gap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_gap In many respect the Soviet leadership was terrified of the West and a first strike - later it was Reagan who was eventually persuaded of what a risk that fear was and de-escalated.
- consilient 3y agoDifferent yes, less catastrophic no. Soviet plans (to the extent that they've been declassified) generally assumed that nuclear weapons would be used in support of tank warfare in Europe.
- the_af 3y agoI remember that at least the Seven Days to the Rhine plan assumed NATO launched a first strike and this was the Soviet counterattack.