Quick history question, please help!?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact were two important Cold War organizations. Describe their purpose and function as they relate to the Cold War.

1 Answer
Apr 6, 2018

If there were a hot war in Europe they would fight it. The USSR wanted to maintain control of Eastern Bloc military forces as a counterbalance to NATO.

Explanation:

The Warsaw Pact was created as a counter to NATO when West Germany joined NATO in 1955. The Warsaw Pact's largest operation was the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. It dissolved with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and was recreated in a Collective Security Treaty Organization among the Soviet Republics.

NATO has a much longer and varied existence. It was established in 1949 and spurred into greater existence by the Korean War,

Although the Korean War was fought by the United Nations, the possibility of an European War with the Soviet Union worried many in the West. Many Nations had standing Military commitments in West Germany ready to repel a sudden attack.
It is worth reading "The Third World War" by General Sir John Hackett published in 2 "what if" novels one in 1979 and one in 1982. to the complexity and expense of such a War.

NATO went on the take decisive action in Yugoslavia. The US activated the alliance after the September 11, 2001 attacks to go to war in Afghanistan.

NATO still exists and there is a line up to join which Russia finds worrisome. Former Eastern Bloc countries wish to join the Alliance as security against a Russian attack.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact