Which country has never been part of the OVD? Which countries were included in the Warsaw Pact organization

In May 1955, at a meeting held in Warsaw, the agenda of which included issues of ensuring peace and security, the leaders of a number of countries signed a Treaty of Friendship, Mutual Assistance and Cooperation. The adoption of the document took place on May 15, while the initiative to sign the agreement belonged to the Soviet Union. In addition to him, the actually created military bloc included Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Albania, East Germany and Romania. The agreement was signed for a thirty-year period, which was subsequently extended. This is how the Warsaw Pact Organization came into being.

An agreement that those who signed it will refrain from threatening to use force. And in the event of an armed attack on one of the countries party to the treaty, the remaining parties pledged to help it with all available means, not excluding military force. One of the objectives of the block was to preserve communist power in Central and Eastern Europe.

The world community understood that the Warsaw Pact Organization became a completely justified and adequate response to the creation of the NATO bloc, which persistently sought to expand its influence in Europe. From that moment on, a confrontation between two military organizations of global scale arose and continued for quite a long time.

The nature and significance of the Warsaw Pact Organization

Within the framework of the Warsaw bloc, there was a special military man who controlled the United Armed Forces. The existence of military and political union states gave legal grounds for the participation of Soviet military units in the suppression of the anti-communist rebellion in Hungary and in later events in Czechoslovakia.

The greatest benefit from participation in the Warsaw Pact Organization was the Soviet Union, whose military potential was the basis of the political bloc. The agreement signed in Warsaw actually gave the USSR the opportunity, if necessary, to use the territory of allied countries to base its armed forces without interference. Within the framework of the agreement Soviet troops received a completely legal right to station their troops almost in the very heart of Europe.

Later it turned out that there were intractable contradictions within the countries that signed the treaty. Due to internal disagreements, Albania withdrew from the treaty. Romania has openly demonstrated its exceptional position in relation to the bloc more than once. One of the reasons for the disagreement was the desire of the USSR to establish strict control over the armies of other countries included in the bloc.

When the Berlin Wall fell and Central Europe a wave of “velvet” revolutions swept through, the military bloc socialist countries lost its basis. Formally, the Warsaw Pact Organization ended its existence in July 1991, although in fact it collapsed already at the end of the 80s.

It continued to be quite complex. There was a cold war going on. NATO countries and the bloc of socialist countries led by the USSR still considered each other as potential opponents. In different parts of the planet, they flared up and then died out. local conflicts(in Korea, Indochina), capable of developing into a new world war. The Soviet Union quite rightly feared that the European continent was the most dangerous space where any conflict could turn a “cold” war into a “hot” war and become a reason for the use nuclear weapons.

The greatest concern was caused by plans for the remilitarization of West Germany and its inclusion in the NATO bloc, which was sought by the United States and its allies. Despite the opposition of the USSR, in 1954 agreements were signed in Paris between the Western powers and the Federal Republic of Germany (which entered into force in May 1955), according to which West Germany received the right to restore its armed forces under the control of the Western European Union (established in 1954). ) and was accepted into NATO. All this went against the Potsdam Agreements of 1945 and changed the balance of power on the continent.

The USSR's response was the signing on May 14, 1955 between Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, Poland, Romania, the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Albania (withdrew from the agreement in 1968) Warsaw Pact about friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. The countries that entered into the treaty pledged “in the event of an attack on any of them, to provide the victim of aggression with immediate assistance by all means.” necessary means, including the use of armed force." The aggressor meant, first of all, Germany, but the USSR and its allies understood that a possible war should be expected with the entire NATO bloc. Based on the agreement signed in Warsaw, the Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) was created, designed to coordinate joint defense policy.

Within the framework of the Department of Internal Affairs there was a Unified Command of the Armed Forces and a Political Advisory Committee. As a result creation of internal affairs bodies The USSR received a legal basis for the presence of its troops in Eastern Europe and strengthened its geopolitical position.

DISSOLUTION OF THE OVD

The crisis of this structure can be associated with the new international course of M.S. Gorbachev. On April 26, 1985, the member states of the Warsaw Pact signed in Warsaw the Protocol on the extension of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. In accordance with the Protocol, which entered into force on May 31, 1985, the Warsaw Pact was extended for 20 years with the possibility of a subsequent extension for another 10 years. But already in October 1985 M.S. Gorbachev proposed reducing the armed forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact in Europe, promising that the USSR would significantly destroy more weapons than the USA. On General Assembly UN in December 1988, he announced a unilateral reduction of the Armed Forces of the USSR by 500 thousand people. and the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Central Europe and Mongolia.

After long negotiations in November 1990 in Paris, the heads of state of the Organization of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The treaty provided for mutual reduction of armaments between NATO and Warsaw Pact member states to a reasonable sufficiency. The treaty limited five categories of conventional weapons and equipment - tanks, combat armored vehicles, artillery caliber 100 mm and above, combat aircraft, attack helicopters. The exchange of information and extensive inspection activities were envisaged.

Wanting to hit the Western public opinion, Gorbachev promised to reduce the Soviet Armed Forces on a huge scale. Long years The security of the USSR was based, among other things, on a significant dominance over NATO in armored vehicles in the European theater (there were about 60 thousand tanks alone). For improved relations with NATO and Western assistance, the USSR was forced to limit itself to 6,400 tanks in this theater. Disarmament did not extend to the naval forces, where the US and NATO had significant superiority. Having made big concessions, Gorbachev agreed to reduce Soviet army another half a million and withdraw a significant part of it from the countries of Central and South Eastern Europe, which gave rise to the problem of employment and housing for former military personnel.

The deideologization of international relations radically changed the nature of the USSR's ties with socialist states. From now on, the former allies of the USSR should not count on automatic protection and privileges in trade, loans, prices, etc. Gorbachev actively promoted the decommunization of eastern European countries. Soviet leaders refused to support the pro-Soviet leaders of Eastern European communist parties, who did not have the strength to independently resist the wave of liberalization. The new presidents and prime ministers of these states hastened to “distance themselves” from the USSR and took pro-Western positions. In 1989, the leaders of the Solidarity movement, which was in opposition to the previous leadership headed by W. Jaruzelski, came to power in Poland in 1989. Similar changes from pro-communist governments to pro-Western ones occurred in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. The leader of the Romanian communists N. Ceausescu and his wife were arrested at the end of 1989 and hastily executed by the verdict of the tribunal. Shocking footage of their execution was shown in Romanian and then in Soviet television. Gorbachev had a lot to think about.

In October 1989, celebrations were held in the GDR to mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the state. East German leader E. Honecker met with M.S. Gorbachev. But to follow the path of Soviet perestroika, watching economic crisis in the Soviet Union, Honecker did not strive. Meanwhile, in the GDR the opposition movement was gaining momentum. Under pressure from Moscow and the majority of members of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the seriously ill Honecker was forced to resign. New general secretary E. Krenz was elected by the SED. Even German politicians were surprised by Gorbachev’s agreement to unite both parts of Germany by annexing the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany. However, this step was caused primarily by pressure on the Kremlin from the United States administration. The most active role in the process of German unification (and in fact the absorption of the eastern part of the country by West Germany) was played by German Chancellor Heinrich Kohl, who managed to establish friendly relations with Gorbachev. In November 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. Was open state border between East and West Germany. On September 12, 1990, an agreement was signed in Moscow between the USSR, the USA, Great Britain, France, the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany on the unification of Germany. United Germany recognized the post-war borders with Poland, the USSR and Czechoslovakia, declared that only peace would come from its soil, and pledged not to produce or have nuclear, chemical and bacteriological weapon, reduce land and air Force. The GDR state disappeared from the map of Europe.

During the process of German unification, the US and NATO leadership verbally promised Gorbachev and Shevardnadze that the NATO bloc would not extend its influence further to the east. However, no official statements were signed and this promise was subsequently broken. The reunification of the two parts of Germany, and, consequently, the emergence in the center of Europe even more powerful country was received ambiguously in London and Paris. But Gorbachev did not pay attention to the concerns of British Prime Minister M. Thatcher and French President F. Mitterrand. He saw the USA and Germany as his main partners.

The withdrawal of Soviet troops from the territory of East Germany and Berlin was supposed to occur by the end of 1994. In fact, the withdrawal of a powerful Soviet group by May 1994 was more like a hasty flight: the property of the disbanded Nazi party, SS and other fascist formations that belonged to the USSR by right of victory was abandoned , people and equipment were often located in an “open field”, without prepared barracks and housing for officers and their families. As compensation, the German authorities allocated funds for the construction of part of the housing for the military.

Even earlier than from Germany, Soviet troops were also hastily withdrawn from the territory of Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia. This completely undermined military cooperation now the former socialist camp. On February 25, 1991, a decision was made in Budapest to denounce the Warsaw Pact. The military structures of the Warsaw Pact Organization were officially dissolved on April 1, 1991. The question of compensation: on the one hand, for the abandoned property (weapons, military camps, airfields, communications routes and communication lines), and on the other, for the damage caused to nature at the training grounds , tankodromes, etc. objects, was decided mutual refusal from claims. The USSR announced the withdrawal of Soviet troops military units from Cuba and Mongolia. On July 1, 1991, in Prague, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the USSR and Czechoslovakia signed a protocol on the complete termination of the 1955 Warsaw Pact.

On January 1, 1991, the USSR stopped settlements with the countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance in conventional “transferable rubles” and switched to world currencies and prices in relations with its members. This dealt a final blow to the entire CMEA system, which was officially dissolved on June 28, 1991.

And in December 1991, the USSR finally collapsed. Countries that were once part of the Warsaw Pact began to join NATO, which sharply worsened strategic position Russia, violated the parity in conventional weapons in the European theater, which was not in its favor. The collapse of the ATS and CMEA meant the collapse of the “security belt” Soviet Union on the western borders. Meanwhile, the armed forces of the United States and NATO countries have been intensively improved over the subsequent years. Further promotion NATO to the east (today also affecting the former Soviet republics) created a direct threat to the security of our state.

NOSTALGIA

According to a VTsIOM survey, more than half of Russians felt most protected when the Warsaw Pact organization existed.

Respondents considered the safest period in recent history in the foreign policy sense to be “ Soviet times, in the 60-80s of the twentieth century” - 55% (remember that these years included, for example, Caribbean crisis- the hottest moment Cold War between the USSR and the USA).

The least safe is “90s” - 4%. The vast majority - 89% believe that the Warsaw Warfare was “defensive in nature”, being a proportional response to the creation of NATO. "IN positive influence ATS at international situation Those who are convinced are primarily communists (96%), Socialist Revolutionaries (94%), respondents over 45 years of age (91%) and those who do not use the Internet (93%). Only 6% of respondents see the aggressor and abuser of Eastern European countries in the Department of Internal Affairs” (events of 1968 in Czechoslovakia), VTsIOM reveals these figures.

Just over half - 51% of respondents believe that modern Russia we need another military alliance, modeled on the Warsaw Department and NATO, in order to feel more protected. At the same time, “only a third of Russians (34%) can say something meaningful about the Warsaw Pact Organization twenty years after its collapse.”

- agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, concluded by Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia on May 14, 1955 in Warsaw with the aim of protecting socialist gains, ensuring peace and security in Europe. Came into force on June 5, 1955 after the transfer of instruments of ratification by all parties to the Warsaw Pact for safekeeping to the government of the Polish People's Republic. The validity period of the Warsaw Pact (20 years), since there were no statements about its denunciation (termination), was extended for the next 10 years. Albania has not participated in the work of the Warsaw Pact since 1962, and in September. 1968 unilaterally denounced the Treaty.
Warsaw Pact concluded in view of the increasing danger of unleashing a new world war and the emergence of a threat to the security of socialist countries. This situation was created as a result of the ratification Western states The Paris Agreements of 1954, which provided for the formation of the Western European Union - a united bloc of European imperialist powers and the United States, the remilitarization of West Germany and its inclusion in NATO.
On May 11, 1955, a meeting of representatives of 8 European socialist states was convened in Warsaw. A representative from the PRC also attended the meeting as an observer. All delegates stated that in the current situation, the organization of joint defense against aggression, based on bilateral treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, which were concluded in 1943-49 between the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, is insufficient. It was considered necessary to conclude a multilateral agreement that would become a solid basis for close and comprehensive cooperation of the European socialist countries. The conclusion of the Warsaw Pact supplemented the bilateral agreements on political and military cooperation of the socialist states and was therefore a step forward towards uniting the efforts of the socialist countries in the struggle for peace against imperialist aggression. Thus, the Warsaw Pact contains regulations that were not in bilateral treaties: on political advisory bodies, on the creation of the United Armed Forces and the Unified Command, on the consultation system, etc.
The Warsaw Pact consists of a preamble and 11 articles. In the preamble, the Contracting Parties declared that they intend to “accept necessary measures to ensure their security and in the interests of maintaining peace in Europe,” confirmed their desire to create a “system collective security in a Europe based on the participation of all European countries, regardless of their social and state system...”
The parties to the Treaty pledged to resolve their international disputes by peaceful means (Article 1); declared their readiness to participate in a spirit of sincere cooperation in all international actions aimed at ensuring global peace and security, seeking the adoption of effective measures for a general reduction of weapons and the prohibition of atomic, hydrogen and other types of weapons mass destruction(Article 2); pledged to consult each other on all important international questions (Article 3); not to take part in any coalitions or alliances and not to enter into any agreements whose goals are contrary to the goals of the Warsaw Pact (Article 7); expressed their desire to develop and strengthen the economy. and cultural ties, following the principles of mutual respect for independence and sovereignty (Article 8).
“In the event of an armed attack in Europe on one or more states party to the Treaty by any state or group of states,” says Art. 4, - each State party of the Treaty, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will provide the State or States subjected to such attack with immediate assistance, individually and by agreement with other States parties to the Treaty, by all means available to it necessary, including the use of armed force. The States Parties to the Treaty will immediately consult on joint measures to be taken to restore and maintain international peace and safety."
The union of socialist states, formed on the basis of the Warsaw Pact, was called the Warsaw Pact Organization. This organization is defensive in nature and fundamentally different from the aggressive blocs of the imperialists. This is a voluntary union of socialist states, concluded on the principles of complete equality of its participants. It is not a narrow, closed military organization and is open to the accession of other states that have expressed a desire to fight for peace and international security. Participants in the Warsaw Pact do not threaten anyone, do not lay claim to foreign territories and do not interfere in the internal affairs of other states. The goals of the Warsaw Pact are fully consistent with the goals of the UN as formulated in its Charter. Class, political essence The Warsaw Pact is that it is directed against forces hostile to the cause of peace and socialism, and opposes the attempts of imperialism to restore capitalism into socialism by armed means. countries.
In order to carry out consultations provided for by the Warsaw Pact and to consider issues arising in the process of its implementation, a Political Consultative Committee (PAC) was created. The Joint Command of the Armed Forces was established. Forces allocated by agreement between the parties to the jurisdiction of this command (Article 5). All parties to the Treaty are represented in the PKK, as the highest political body of the Warsaw Pact. The general and first secretaries of the Communist Central Committee participate in its meetings. and workers' parties, heads of government of countries participating in the Warsaw Pact, etc. officials. The activities of the PAC are based on the principle of equal representation and complete equality of rights for all its participants. At meetings of the PAC, the most important foreign policy issues are discussed. issues, solutions are collectively developed on international issues affecting the interests of all parties to the Treaty are considered the most important problems related to strengthening defense capabilities and fulfilling obligations for the joint defense of the Warsaw Pact member countries. PAC meetings are held as needed.
At the first meeting of the PCC (1956), a Declaration was adopted on the need to create a pan-European collective security system that would replace the military groups existing in Europe. The allied socialist countries persistently implemented this idea throughout their subsequent activities. Proposals from the Bucharest (1966) and Budapest (1969) meetings of the PCC on convening a pan-European meeting. meetings on security and cooperation in Europe received international support. Communist meeting and workers' parties, held in Moscow in June 1969. The coordinated, purposeful policy of the countries of the socialist community led to positive results. An agreement was signed on issues related to West Berlin (1971), and bilateral agreements were concluded between the USSR, Poland, the GDR and Czechoslovakia with the Federal Republic of Germany, which laid the foundation for improving the situation in Europe. A number of important Soviet-American, Soviet-French and other documents were signed.
Initiative of socialist countries in the struggle for peace, general arms reduction and prohibition thermonuclear weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction had big influence on the development of international relations and contributed to the conclusion of a number of important agreements: the Moscow Treaty banning tests of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water (1963), the treaty “On the principles of the activities of states in the research and use outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies" (1967), the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968), the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Placement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Types of Weapons on the Bottom of the Seas and Oceans and in Their Subsoil mass destruction"(1971), etc.
The military organization of the Warsaw Pact participants includes: the Committee of Defense Ministers (KMO), the United Armed Forces (JAF), the Unified Command (OK). To manage the activities of the Allied Forces, along with the OK, the following were created: the Military Council of the Allied Forces, the Headquarters of the United armed forces, Technical Committee(TC) and other controls.
The Joint Armed Forces mean the forces and means intended, according to the agreement of the Warsaw Pact participants, for joint actions, and joint military bodies created in accordance with Art. 5 Agreements. The Allied Forces Military Council considers issues of the state and improvement of the Allied Forces, their combat and operational training. The Chairman of the Military Council is the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces. The Allied Forces headquarters is the governing body of the Allied Forces Commander-in-Chief. The Allied Forces Headquarters employs generals, admirals and officers of all allied armies participants of the Warsaw Pact. The location of the Allied Forces Headquarters is Moscow. The Commander-in-Chief, the Chief of the Allied Forces Headquarters and the Chief of the Allied Forces Technical Committee are appointed by mutual agreement by the governments of the Warsaw Pact countries. The unified command operates on the basis of jointly developed principles.
Guided by Lenin's teaching on protecting the gains of the socialist revolution, fraternal parties daily take care of strengthening the defense capability of their countries and the socialist community as a whole. Within the framework of the Warsaw Pact Organization, various forms and methods of military cooperation are being implemented to further increase the combat power and strengthen the military community of the armies of the socialist countries.
Great importance To strengthen and develop military cooperation, the Warsaw Pact states have joint exercises conducted according to OK plans. They take place in conditions as close as possible to combat, and serve as one of the methods for achieving unity of views on issues of military art, the organization of modern operations and combat operations of the armed forces. During the exercises, the training of troops and their interaction are improved, the unity and military commonwealth of the peoples and armies of the socialist countries is strengthened. The largest joint exercises were: “Quartet” (1963), “October Storm” (1965), “Vltava” (1966), “Rhodope” (1967), “Sumava” (1968), “North” (1968), “ Neman" (1968), "Odra-Nisa" (1969), "Brotherhood in Arms" (1970), "Shield-72" (1972), etc. Contacts between the political bodies of the allied armies and the exchange of experience in the field of party politics were widely developed. -political work.
The Warsaw Pact Organization is important factor peace and security of peoples, it has served and continues to serve as a center for coordinating the foreign policy activities of the fraternal socialist countries.
"One of important forms cooperation between the leaders of our parties and countries, - noted at the XXV Congress of the CPSU, - is the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Pact. This Treaty reliably serves the interests of peace and socialism. The importance of the initiatives taken by our Political Advisory Committee in recent years is obvious to everyone. After all, many of them formed the basis for decisions of major international forums or were reflected in a number of important bilateral interstate acts.
We are resolute opponents of both the division of the world into opposing military blocs and the arms race. Our position on this matter is well known. However, it is necessary to state clearly: as long as the NATO bloc remains, while militaristic circles are waging an arms race, our country, together with other participants in the Warsaw Pact, will strengthen this military-political alliance" (Materials of the XXV Congress of the CPSU. M., 1976, p. 8) .
The existence and activities of the Warsaw Pact meet the vital interests of all peoples and the progressive forces of our time. The participants of the Warsaw Pact have always stood and stand guard over peace and international security. To do this they have a large political influence in the world and the necessary military force.
Publ.: Warsaw Pact Organization. 1955 - 1975. Documents and materials. M., 1975.
Lit.: Brezhnev L.I. ABOUT foreign policy CPSU and the Soviet state. Speeches and articles. Ed. 2nd. M., 1975; Grechko A.A. Armed Forces of the Soviet State. Ed. 2nd. M., 1975, p. 403 - 430; Combat partnership of fraternal peoples and armies. M., 1975; Combat union of fraternal armies. Collection. M., 1974; Yakubovsky I.I. Military community. M., 1971; Semin V.V. The Warsaw Pact is a reliable shield of peace and socialism. M., 1975; Kirichenko M.S. Reliable guardian of the world. Minsk, 1975; Matsulenko V.A. Military community. M., 1974; Ablamonov P.F. Friendship coordinates. M., 1974; Soldiers of the fraternal armies. M., 1971; Monin M.E. A Commonwealth born in battle. M., 1971; Bakhov A.S. Warsaw Pact Organization ( legal aspects). M., 1971; Zhukov G.P. Warsaw Pact and international security issues. M., 1961; Latso A. The Warsaw Treaty is an instrument for ensuring peace. Per. with him. M., 1974.
S. M. Shtemenko.

On friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania, the USSR and Czechoslovakia was signed on May 14, 1955 at the Warsaw Meeting of European States to Ensure Peace and Security in Europe.

Representatives of eight European states, who gathered for a meeting on May 11, 1955 in Warsaw (a representative from China was present as an observer), motivated the conclusion of the Warsaw Pact by the need to respond to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the inclusion of West Germany and the policy of its remilitarization. Joint measures to ensure security and defense based on bilateral treaties of 1943-1949. about friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were considered insufficient.

The goals of the Warsaw Pact were to ensure the security of the countries participating in the Treaty and maintain peace in Europe.
The treaty consisted of a preamble and 11 articles. The preamble set out the objectives of the Warsaw Pact and stated that the parties to the treaty would respect the independence and integrity of allied states, do not interfere in their internal affairs.

The purely defensive nature of the Warsaw Pact was declared. The states parties to the Warsaw Pact have undertaken, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations (UN), to refrain from international relations from the threat or use of force, to resolve disputes by peaceful means, to consult among themselves on all important international issues affecting them common interests, declared their readiness to take part in all international actions aimed at ensuring international peace and security, seeking effective measures for a general reduction of armaments and the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, provided for the provision of immediate assistance by all means, including the use of armed force, in the event of an armed attack in Europe on one or more states party to the Treaty.

To implement the goals and objectives of the Warsaw Pact, it provided for the creation of relevant political and military bodies, incl. Political Advisory Committee and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of the participating States.

(Military Encyclopedia. Chairman of the Main Editorial Commission S.B. Ivanov. Military Publishing House. Moscow. in 8 volumes, 2004. ISBN 5 203 01875 - 8)

The Warsaw Pact entered into force on June 5, 1955, after the deposit of instruments of ratification by all parties to the Treaty with Poland as the depositary country.

The Warsaw Pact was concluded for 20 years with automatic extension for the next 10 years for those states that do not denounce the Treaty one year before the expiration of this period.

Albania has not participated in the work of the Warsaw Pact bodies since 1962, and in 1968 announced its denunciation.

On April 26, 1985, the member states of the Warsaw Pact signed in Warsaw the Protocol on the extension of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. In accordance with the Protocol, which entered into force on May 31, 1985, the Warsaw Pact was extended for 20 years with the possibility of a subsequent extension for another 10 years.

The GDR ceased to be a member of the Warsaw Pact in 1990 due to its unification with the Federal Republic of Germany.

In connection with socio-political transformations in the USSR and other countries of Eastern Europe at the turn of the 1980-90s. in February 1991, the participating countries decided to abolish the military structures of the Warsaw Pact. On July 1, 1991, in Prague, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the USSR and Czechoslovakia signed a protocol on the complete termination of the 1955 Warsaw Pact.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

An international agreement, in accordance with the decisions of which a military bloc of European socialist states was created, led by the USSR.

After the creation of NATO (April 4, 1949), agreements on military cooperation were concluded between the USSR and a number of socialist countries. The first friendship treaty was signed during the Second World War: on December 12, 1943 with the Czechoslovak government in exile. In 1943-1949, 23 bilateral agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed between the countries of Eastern Europe.

However, the USSR refrained from further steps until the German regiment was formally involved in the military bloc. On October 23, 1954, members of the military Brussels Pact (France, Great Britain, Benelux countries) and Italy signed the Paris Agreement with Germany, which effectively proclaimed the remilitarization of West Germany and its eventual accession to NATO. The USSR took a number of diplomatic measures in an attempt to prevent such a development. At the meeting held in Moscow on November 29 - December 2, 1954. The Security Conference of representatives of 8 socialist countries adopted the Moscow Declaration, in which they warned that if the Paris Agreement was ratified, they would take steps to create a new military bloc. NATO countries ratified the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on May 5, 1955.

On May 11-14, 1955, the Meeting of European States to Ensure Peace and Security in Europe was held in Warsaw. On the last day of his work (May 14, 1955), the heads of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Socialist Republic Romania (SRR), People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB), Polish People's Republic (PPR), German Democratic Republic(GDR), the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR), the Hungarian People's Republic (Hungary) and the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (NSRA) signed a treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. Representing the People's Republic of China (PRC), Minister of Defense and Deputy Premier of the State Council Peng Dehuai participated in the conference as an observer.

Provisions of the Warsaw Pact

The text of the treaty consisted of a preamble and 11 articles. The participants stated that “the situation that has created in Europe as a result of the ratification of the Paris agreements providing for the formation of a new military group as " Western European Union"with the participation of a remilitarized West Germany and its inclusion in the North Atlantic bloc, which increases the danger new war and poses a threat national security peace-loving states." In accordance with the UN Charter, the contracting Parties have undertaken to “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force and to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner as not to endanger international peace and security” (Article 1). At the same time, they decided to “consult among themselves on all important international issues... guided by the interests of strengthening international peace and security” (Article 3). The most important was the 4th article of the treaty, which stated that “In the event of an armed attack in Europe on one or more states party to the Treaty by any state or group of states, each state party to the Treaty ... will render assistance to the state or states subjected to such attack , immediate assistance... by all means that seem necessary to him, including the use of armed force.” Finally, the participating countries pledged “not to take part in any coalitions or alliances and not to enter into any agreements the purposes of which are contrary to the purposes of this Treaty” (Article 7).

The agreement was concluded for a period of 20 years and, after the transfer of all instruments of ratification (in the USSR, the agreement was ratified by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 25, 1955) for storage by the government of the People's Republic of Poland (June 1, 1955), it came into force on June 5, 1955. At the same time, the GDR initially joined the Warsaw Pact only in politically, V military unit It entered into the treaty only on January 28, 1956, 10 days after the signing of the law on the creation of the National People's Army. In 1975, the contract was automatically extended for 10 years, because There have been no statements of denunciation from participating countries. As the expiration date of the treaty approached, on April 26, 1985, its participants extended its validity for another 20 years (i.e., until May 14, 2005).

Warsaw Pact Organization (WTO)

To develop a common military strategy, coordinate actions and exercise leadership of the Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact countries, according to the terms of the treaty (Articles 5 and 6), Political advisory committee (PKK) and the Unified Command of the Armed Forces (UCAF). It included leaders of communist parties, heads of state, heads of government and foreign ministers. PKK was the highest collective body The Department of Internal Affairs met to consider fundamental issues related to the implementation of the provisions of the Warsaw Pact, as well as to discuss measures to strengthen and improve the Department of Internal Affairs. The bodies of the PAC were: the Committee of Foreign Ministers and the joint Secretariat, established in 1976. Secretary General The PAC was simultaneously the head of the Joint Secretariat, which was executive body PKK and consisted of standing commissions on various issues.

PAC meetings were held alternately in the capitals of the participating countries. The first meeting of the PAC took place on January 27-28, 1956 in Prague; Representatives of the Mongolian People's Republic took part in it as observers. In addition to meetings of the PAC, conferences of the foreign ministers of the Warsaw Pact member states were also held regularly; the first such conference took place in Warsaw on April 27-28, 1959 (representatives of the PRC took part in it as observers).

In addition to discussing issues, declarations were also adopted on the most important issues related to ensuring peace and security in Europe.

Unified Command of the Armed Forces was created to ensure interaction between armed forces and strengthen the defense capabilities of countries participating in the Warsaw Pact. The OKVS was headed by the commander-in-chief (always a representative of the USSR Armed Forces) and with him a headquarters, which was also headed by a representative of the USSR, although it also included generals, admirals and officers of all allied armies of the Warsaw Pact countries. OKVS was located in Moscow. Afterwards, the leadership of the USSR decided to expand the rights of its partners. In 1869, the Committee of Defense Ministers was created - a coordination center on military issues, which also included the commander-in-chief and chief of staff of the Department of Internal Affairs. The Committee formed the Military Council of the OKVS from deputy ministers of defense, which held regular meetings on issues of increasing the combat capability of the armed forces, as well as the Technical Committee.

Commanders-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces (UAF): Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev (05/14/1955-07/23/1960); Marshal of the Soviet Union A.A. Grechko (07/24/1960-04/12/1967); Marshal of the Soviet Union I.I. Yakubovsky (04/12/1967-11/30/1976); Marshal of the Soviet Union V.G. Kulikov (01.12.1976-14.02.1989); Army General P.G. Lushev (02/15/1989-03/31/1991)

Chiefs of Staff of the United Armed Forces (JAF): Army General A.I. Antonov (05/14/1955-06/16/1962); Army General P.I. Batov (06/17/1962-1965); Army General M.I. Kazakov (1965-1968); Army General S.M. Shtemenko (08.1968-04.1976); Army General A.I. Gribkov (1976-1989); Army General V.N. Lobov (02.1989-1990)

At the time of its heyday (1985), the number of Allied Forces was 7,562,987 military personnel; after 5 years (by 1990) it decreased to 6,960,700 people. According to a number of estimates, the tank fleet of the ATS armies amounted to 53 thousand Soviet tanks and about 12-15 thousand tanks from other countries.

The most important component of the activities of the Joint Forces was the conduct of joint command and staff and military exercises and maneuvers, at which the interaction of the Armed Forces of the participating countries was practiced. They were mainly carried out in Eastern European countries. The largest were the “Brotherhood in Arms of the Fraternal Countries of the Socialist Commonwealth” maneuvers, which took place on October 12-18, 1970, as well as the “Brotherhood in Arms” maneuvers in August-September 1980, in which about 40 thousand people took part. Other major maneuvers were: Soviet-Bulgarian exercises (July 1958), “Quartet” (1963), “October assault” (1965), “Vltava” (September 1966), “Rhodope-67” (August 1967 ), “Odra ‒ Nissa” (September 1969), “Dnepr” (September 1967), “North” (1968), “Val-77” (summer 1977), “Zapad-77” (May-June 1977), “Shield-79” (May 1979), “Soyuz-81” (March 1981), “Zapad-81” (September 1981), “Friendship-82” (January 1982), “Shield -82" (September 1982), "Friendship-83" (March 1983), "Shield-83" (summer 1983), "Friendship-84" (February-March 1984), "Summer-84" ( May-June 1984), “Shield-84” (September 1984), “Friendship-85” (September 1985).

The only joint military operation of the Armed Forces of the Department of Internal Affairs was the suppression of the Prague Uprising in August 1968, when military contingents of the USSR, Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria were introduced into the territory of Czechoslovakia.

Dissolution of the Department of Internal Affairs

During the Hungarian events of 1956, the head of the government of the Hungarian People's Republic, Imre Nagy, on November 1, 1956, declared Hungary's neutrality and its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, but on November 4, Soviet troops were brought into Hungary and the uprising was quickly suppressed, and Nagy's statement had no consequences.

On September 3, 1968, during the Czechoslovak crisis, Albania withdrew from the Warsaw Pact (in fact, Albania no longer took part in any activities under the Warsaw Pact since February 1, 1962, after the severance of relations with the USSR).

On September 24, 1990, after the unification of East and West Germany in Berlin, the Minister of Armament and Defense of the GDR, Rainer Eppelmann, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Department of Internal Affairs, Army General P.G. Lushev signed a protocol on the withdrawal of the National People's Army from military organization Warsaw Pact. At this point the crisis socialist system was already so deep that it was clear to everyone that the days of the Department of Internal Affairs were numbered. Events became irreversible. Already on February 25, 1991, the states participating in the Warsaw Warsaw Forces decided to liquidate its military structures from March 31 of the same year. On July 1, 1991, representatives of the countries participating in the Warsaw Pact at a meeting in Prague signed a Protocol on the complete termination of the Treaty “taking into account the profound changes taking place in Europe, which mean the end of confrontation and division of the continent” (it was signed on behalf of the USSR by Vice President G .I. Yanaev).