Hi CEE,
I agree with Shmeiker. In order to compete militarily with relatively efficient capitalism, the USSR had to devote a far higher proportion of its GDP to military expenditure. In effect, it was running a war or semi-war economy for the USSR's entire existence, which is an enormous burden to bear. When Reagan upped US defence expenditure in the 1980s, it was the straw that finally broke the Soviet camel's back. The Cold War was no draw. It was a comprehensive victory in the end for the capitalist west.
Cheers,
Sid.
German Guilt and responsibility. A different view
hi
i think that stalin was planing an invasion of western europe long bevore hitler started barbarossa,if you take a look at the sovjet war material in the 1930's you have to agree.tanks like the BT 5/7 were developd to drive on builded roads (autobahnen??) and not on the sand ways which were typical for russia.
i think that stalin was planing an invasion of western europe long bevore hitler started barbarossa,if you take a look at the sovjet war material in the 1930's you have to agree.tanks like the BT 5/7 were developd to drive on builded roads (autobahnen??) and not on the sand ways which were typical for russia.
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sid guttridge
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Hi Midgard,
I think it entirely possible that Stalin had offensive designs.
However, I think that the road wheels of the BT series have nothing to with any specific intention to drive down German autobahnen, which were begun after the BT series had already started development in the USSR.
The BT series was based on an American prototype built by Christie in the early 1930s. This already featured road wheels several years before the first autobahns were built.
Cheers,
Sid.
I think it entirely possible that Stalin had offensive designs.
However, I think that the road wheels of the BT series have nothing to with any specific intention to drive down German autobahnen, which were begun after the BT series had already started development in the USSR.
The BT series was based on an American prototype built by Christie in the early 1930s. This already featured road wheels several years before the first autobahns were built.
Cheers,
Sid.
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sid guttridge
- on "time out"
- Posts: 8055
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2002 4:54 am
Hi Greenhorn,
But not, apparently, as cunning as the Yanks, who not only foresaw the autobahns and built a road-running tank prototype before they had even been begun, but then sold the design to the Russians so they could develop the T-34 and thereby bear the main burden of beating the Germans!
Conspiracy theories - don't we just love 'em!
Cjheers,
Sid.
But not, apparently, as cunning as the Yanks, who not only foresaw the autobahns and built a road-running tank prototype before they had even been begun, but then sold the design to the Russians so they could develop the T-34 and thereby bear the main burden of beating the Germans!
Conspiracy theories - don't we just love 'em!
Cjheers,
Sid.