PowerPoint Presentation

THE WARSAW PACT

The Warsaw Pact was the name of the military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations. This treaty included all communist countries except Yugoslavia; Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany. The official name of the treaty is known as Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance.

Some important provisions of the treaty:The members of the treaty will defend each other if one or more of the members were attacked. The treaty also stated that relations among the signatories were based on mutual noninterference in internal affairs and respect for national sovereignty and independence.

Creation

In 1955, the USSR with its own fears of a rearmed Germany created a competing military alliance system, the Warsaw Pact. It integrated the armed forces of Eastern Europe into a unified command under the USSR. In addition, the USSR recognized East Germany as an independent state. It was formally called the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The treaty was signed in Warsaw, Poland on May 14, 1955, that was established to counter the alleged threat from the NATO alliance.

StructureThe two major organs of the Warsaw Pact are:1. Political Consultative Committee-handles political matters2. Combined Command of Pact Armed Forces - controlled the assigned multi-national forces, with headquarters in Warsaw, Poland.The Supreme Commander of the Unified Armed Forces of the Warsaw Treaty Organization commands and controls all the military forces of the member countries

Purposes1. To reinforce communist dominance in Eastern Europe.2. To provide a counterbalance to NATO and increase the international negotiating power of the Soviet Union.

Warsaw Pacts Use of Nuclear WeaponWarsaw Pact was equipped with nuclear weapons, like the NATO. The Soviet Union would not use the nuclear weapons unless the United States used theirs. Both NATO and Warsaw pact countries had access to nuclear weapons but they didnt use them against each other. Why? Because, they believed in the idea of MAD.Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) - Idea that whereby to launch a nuclear attack against another nuclear-armed power would result in the annihilation of both.

How the Warsaw Pact influenced the Cold WarThe Warsaw Pact was a major factor in increasing tensions between the countries during the Cold War. Because of its opposing alliance with the NATO, the country members of both parties sent out terrible threats, violent propagandas, and other measures of short open warfare

What are the reasons why Warsaw Pact lost the war?a. Economic problems: -Lack of money for superior weapons needed to win -Too much money spent on weapons and military already

b. Soviet control of pact failing: -Non-Soviets werent trusted with Soviet weapons-1985 -Non-Soviets demanded for more power-Communism ending in some states

Events that lead to the end of Warsaw Pact

By late 1980s, anti-Soviet and anti-Communist movements throughout Eastern Europe began to crack the Warsaw Pact.In 1990, East Germany left the Warsaw Pact in preparation for its reunification with West Germany. Poland and Czechoslovakia also indicated their strong desire to withdraw. In March 1991, Soviet military commanders relinquished their control of Warsaw Pact forces. A few months later, the pact's Political Consultative Committee met for one final time and formally recognized what had already effectively occurredthe Warsaw Pact was no more.

1. Eastern Bloc countries forced to sign a military alliance: the Warsaw Pact1. Great western democracies joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)2. Cuba, North Korea, China and other communist countries in Asia and Latin America2. Britain, France, West Germany and other anti-communist countries3. Spread communism all over the world3. Contain and stop the spread of communism4. Destroy enemies of communism4. Assist all other enemies of communism militarily or financially

Warsaw VS. NATO