Warsaw pact → strengthened → USSR → effectively gave USSR → command of all armies of the satellite states. Inevitably → tensions increased → because Europe now divided into 2 armed camps.
Next 35 years → each side → put much energy into plans → to stop a possible invasion by the other side.
- e.g. → 1000s of US troops, tanks, aircrafts, weapons → stationed in bases across Europe → particularly west Germany
- Return → USSR and other Warsaw pact members → trained their military forces → and stationed troops in each member’s territory in case NATO attacked.
Warsaw Pact → was significant → also because it entrenched Soviet rule → in Eastern Europe. Soviet troops, rather than respective govt → were ones who dealt with protests + uprisings in Eastern Europe.
- e.g. 4th Nov 1956 → nation wide revolt → in Hungary → was forcefully quelled by Soviet tanks and troops.
- 1000s were killed + injured + nearly 1/4 million Hungarians → fled its shores.
- Similar protests → in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania → crushed in same way by Soviet Foprces.