04.08.2009, 09:42
I don't watch a lot of television these days (too much IL2 I guess) but today I came across a program detailing political events at the close of Second World War. It focused primarily on Poland, and whilst the allies had agreed at the Yalta Conference about the fate of that nation, Stalin had little intention of honouring his part of the bargain.
Despite the grass roots comradeship Great Britain and Russia made uncomfortable allies. The Second World War had started over the question of Polish security and the Cold War began to rear its ugly head over Poland as well, as Stalin denied the Polish people self determination despite American pressure.and dramatically increased tension in post-war Europe.
Churchill had always warned against the possibility of Russian expansion across Europe and on the 22nd May 1945, asked his military planners to prepare Operation Unthinkable - The British attack on Soviet Russia. I'm not joking, and neither was Churchill.
In the opinion of one individual involved in planning this venture - it might take a very long time to win. Given the recent experience of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe units struggling with the climatic conditions and the vast demoralising open spaces of eastern Europe, one wonders what the British could actually do about it. The Americans may have spoken up for Poland but you can be sure they were less willing to extend the war against their former ally.
It is ironic of course that the Russian people were convinced (largely by offical propaganda) that the West were about to launch a full scale invasion of the Soviet Union for something like forty or fifty years. Were the Russian government aware of Operation Unthinkable via the communist sympathisers lurking in Whitehall? Or was it merely the legacy of Stalins paranoia?
Anyway, there is a historical scenario for 1946 fans. Can Britain do it? Operating over the long distances of eastern Europe? The harsh unforgiving climate? Maintaining a war footing into economic exhaustion? Fighting a war on a broad front with less resources than the German began theirs with? Can Britain save the world against the communist tide?
Despite the grass roots comradeship Great Britain and Russia made uncomfortable allies. The Second World War had started over the question of Polish security and the Cold War began to rear its ugly head over Poland as well, as Stalin denied the Polish people self determination despite American pressure.and dramatically increased tension in post-war Europe.
Churchill had always warned against the possibility of Russian expansion across Europe and on the 22nd May 1945, asked his military planners to prepare Operation Unthinkable - The British attack on Soviet Russia. I'm not joking, and neither was Churchill.
In the opinion of one individual involved in planning this venture - it might take a very long time to win. Given the recent experience of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe units struggling with the climatic conditions and the vast demoralising open spaces of eastern Europe, one wonders what the British could actually do about it. The Americans may have spoken up for Poland but you can be sure they were less willing to extend the war against their former ally.
It is ironic of course that the Russian people were convinced (largely by offical propaganda) that the West were about to launch a full scale invasion of the Soviet Union for something like forty or fifty years. Were the Russian government aware of Operation Unthinkable via the communist sympathisers lurking in Whitehall? Or was it merely the legacy of Stalins paranoia?
Anyway, there is a historical scenario for 1946 fans. Can Britain do it? Operating over the long distances of eastern Europe? The harsh unforgiving climate? Maintaining a war footing into economic exhaustion? Fighting a war on a broad front with less resources than the German began theirs with? Can Britain save the world against the communist tide?