Warsaw Pact Facts: Learn About This Collective Defense Treaty

Created as a NATO equivalent, the Warsaw Pact was established in 1955.

Your political science teacher might have already told you about the Warsaw Pact. But let's dive in a little deeper.

Established on May 14, 1955, the Warsaw Treaty Organization (also referred to as Warsaw Pact) was created as a counterbalance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (also referred to as the North Atlantic Alliance), which was established post World War II.

When NATO was first built as a military alliance between the United States and 11 other countries in 1949 and following the integration of West Germany, the USSR, in response, established the Warsaw Pact.

Let's look more closely at the Warsaw Pact's objective and purpose.

Objective & Purpose

As a response to NATO, the Warsaw Pact was built as a political and military alliance between USSR nations with the shared motive to look out for each other and readily extend military help to all their member countries.

The communist alliance was established as a political and military alliance between eight communist states. The first one, of course, was the Soviet Union, along with other Central and Eastern Europe states including Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Romania, Hungary, and Albania.

The pact ensured military cooperation by safeguarding the security of its member states, and although there was never really a full-fledged war, these two blocs of power with their alliances created a lingering global tension.

Nonetheless, this collective security ensured that all these European countries looked out for each other.

The Warsaw Pact made the Soviet forces stronger than ever. Simply put, an attack on any one of the communist states was considered a personal attack on all of them, and the military forces of the other seven representatives would join the cause to retaliate.

Importance Of Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Pact played an important part in the Cold War.

During a time when countries were constantly alert to the possibility of another war breaking out, the Warsaw Pact provided an assurance of security.

It also helped smaller nations by promising protection, access to weapons, and economic aid should they be in danger of conflict with neighboring rivals.

This pact also allowed the Soviet Union to gain control over the military forces of its members, thus making the Soviet Union too strong to risk the chance of attacking any of its countries.

The Soviet Union also benefited from the Pact in other ways, as control over the smaller states gave it access to vital resources, opened up locations for spying on rival nations, provided territory for launching weapons and military troops, and supplied financial support by providing the required economic aid.

Impact Of The Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance was established in a climate where there was constant fear of another war.

After the pact between the USSR and the satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe was set up to rival NATO, the entire world was on its toes.

Rivalries between the two superpowers intensified.

Concerns regarding the outbreak of another war mounted. One unintentional mistake by the other country and the whole world might have ended up paying, especially during a time when most countries were still recovering from the consequences of war and colonization.

This pervasive concern resulted in several arms control treaties between these countries, such as the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks I (SALT I), the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II (SALT II), the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I (START I), and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II).

Cause Of The Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Pact was a result of West Germany's alliance with NATO.

When West Germany joined NATO, the Soviet Union was instantly threatened and decided to integrate countries from Central and Eastern Europe and create an alliance of its own that would ensure security through political and military support. Any attack on one nation was considered an attack on all of them.

This alliance also allowed nations to look out for each other. The Warsaw Pact gave the Soviet Union a unified military command and a systematic strategy to increase its influence over other nations.

As a result of a failed coup that began against Gorbachev in 1991, the Soviet Union was finally dissolved. Boris Yeltsin seized control of the state. The Warsaw Pact too came to an end in the year 1991.

FAQs

What happened after the Warsaw Pact was dissolved?

The Warsaw Pact was dissolved, and subsequently, the Warsaw Pact members joined NATO. East Germany and West Germany reunited.

Who led the Warsaw Pact?

The Warsaw Pact was led by Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolay Bulganin.

How did the Warsaw Pact impact the Cold War?

The establishment of the Warsaw Pact brought in a tension between the global superpowers. This was also referred to as the Cold War.

Was the Warsaw Pact successful?

After being active for 36 years, the Warsaw Pact was finally dissolved, marking the end of the Cold War era.

What was the impact of the Warsaw Pact?

The Warsaw Pact made the Soviet forces stronger than ever. It also allowed them to control and intervene in the internal affairs of the other member states.

What was the objective of the Warsaw Pact?

The Warsaw Pact was formed to build a stronger military power by integrating the armed forces of its member states and thus creating a coordinated defense that would protect against any attack from the West.

Was Yugoslavia part of the Warsaw Pact?

No, Yugoslavia chose to maintain a neutral position by joining the Non-Aligned Movement.

Why was Warsaw Pact formed?

The Warsaw Pact was formed as a response to the alliance of West Germany with NATO, which was a military alliance between the western powers.