4 ms·

At least for 1956, we know that one side was only targeting its enemies. There's long been debate over if the nuclear powers would lob a few warheads in the dir

At least for 1956, we know that one side was only targeting its enemies. There's long been debate over if the nuclear powers would lob a few warheads in the direction of some of neutral countries to prevent them from becoming hegemons in the post nuclear war world.

matheusmoreira 3y ago
I wonder if south america would have been hit...
pi-e-sigma 3y ago
Totally plausible. Actually even more plausible as a way to draw neutral countries into the war because in all-out exchange there would be no way to be 100% sure whose warhead landed on your head.
roywiggins 3y ago
In the 60s the US contemplated nuking China in response to a Soviet strike on the US: "In 2012, the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) declassified an important document on the pre-delegation instructions approved by President Lyndon Johnson in early 1964. Under the instructions, if the Soviet Union or China launched a nuclear attack on the United States that knocked the president or his successor out of action, making communication impossible, U.S. commanders-in-chief of unified or specified commands (such as Strategic Air Command or European Command) had the authority to retaliate against the entire Sino-Soviet bloc, even if some Soviet allies or China had not launched an attack." https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/nuclear-vault/2018-08-15/us-nuclear-war-plan-option-sought-destruction-china-soviet-union-viable-societies https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/nuclear-vault/2018-0...
The_Colonel 3y ago
Apparently Vienna was an early Soviet target: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/1364037/Vienna-was-top-of-Soviet-nuclear-targets-list.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/13... But I don't think it was about the post-nuclear-war hegemony, it was more immediate. There was always the risk that e.g. Swedish airfields could be used by USA (with or without Swedish approval) to bomb e.g. St. Petersburg.
- wkat4242 3y ago
  That's one of the reasons why Sweden has lots of stretches of highways that can be used as makeshift airbases. Especially during the cold war there were many. https://www.mil-airfields.de/se/list.htm https://www.mil-airfields.de/se/list.htm
  - euroderf 3y ago
    Same in Finland, with fuel and weapons caches AFAIK. You can find recent youtube videos where they are used in readiness exercises. They close down the motorway for a few hours.
Mountain_Skies 3y ago
There are zero negative comments and at least three down votes. Please explain your down votes or withdraw them.

matheusmoreira 3y ago

I wonder if south america would have been hit...

pi-e-sigma 3y ago

Totally plausible. Actually even more plausible as a way to draw neutral countries into the war because in all-out exchange there would be no way to be 100% sure whose warhead landed on your head.

roywiggins 3y ago

In the 60s the US contemplated nuking China in response to a Soviet strike on the US: "In 2012, the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) declassified an important document on the pre-delegation instructions approved by President Lyndon Johnson in early 1964. Under the instructions, if the Soviet Union or China launched a nuclear attack on the United States that knocked the president or his successor out of action, making communication impossible, U.S. commanders-in-chief of unified or specified commands (such as Strategic Air Command or European Command) had the authority to retaliate against the entire Sino-Soviet bloc, even if some Soviet allies or China had not launched an attack." https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/nuclear-vault/2018-08-15/us-nuclear-war-plan-option-sought-destruction-china-soviet-union-viable-societies https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/nuclear-vault/2018-0...

The_Colonel 3y ago

Apparently Vienna was an early Soviet target: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/1364037/Vienna-was-top-of-Soviet-nuclear-targets-list.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/13... But I don't think it was about the post-nuclear-war hegemony, it was more immediate. There was always the risk that e.g. Swedish airfields could be used by USA (with or without Swedish approval) to bomb e.g. St. Petersburg.

wkat4242 3y ago
That's one of the reasons why Sweden has lots of stretches of highways that can be used as makeshift airbases. Especially during the cold war there were many. https://www.mil-airfields.de/se/list.htm https://www.mil-airfields.de/se/list.htm
- euroderf 3y ago
  Same in Finland, with fuel and weapons caches AFAIK. You can find recent youtube videos where they are used in readiness exercises. They close down the motorway for a few hours.

Mountain_Skies 3y ago

There are zero negative comments and at least three down votes. Please explain your down votes or withdraw them.