Explanation: During the Cold War, a number of wartime scenarios were planned for by the military staff of both sides of the conflict. In most scenarios, Soviet-aligned forces would push through NATO-aligned forces at the Fulda Gap, through NATO-aligned West Germany. Where the plans went from there... varied.
France, which had an independent nuclear arm and policy, regarded its best defense against this possibility by...
... nuking West Germany as soon as Soviet troops came through.
No more Soviet invasion AND no more Germany? The French saw no downside!
4 Comments
PugJesus@piefed.social · 8 pts · 154d
Explanation: During the Cold War, a number of wartime scenarios were planned for by the military staff of both sides of the conflict. In most scenarios, Soviet-aligned forces would push through NATO-aligned forces at the Fulda Gap, through NATO-aligned West Germany. Where the plans went from there... varied.
France, which had an independent nuclear arm and policy, regarded its best defense against this possibility by...
... nuking West Germany as soon as Soviet troops came through.
No more Soviet invasion AND no more Germany? The French saw no downside!
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 154d
This isn’t nearly as insane as the British chicken nuke
uss_entrepreneur@startrek.website · 4 pts · 154d
I had to look this up and now you all have to read this as well
marcos@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 154d
And the Dr. Strangelove's quote is valid again... What's up with all those crazy countries keeping their nuclear deterrent in secret?
That's probably the least absurd aspect of this one, but it's so common it's ridiculous.