The Soviet Union is in its prime. Its borders are never satisfied; always hungering for more territory, always hungering for the West. In this hypothetical 1953, the Soviet Union greenlights their plan to conquer Europe and the West. In the matter of only seven days, the Soviet Union plans to reach the river Rhine in Germany, dropping strategic atomic weapons whilst doing so. In reality, this battle strategy was declassified by the CIA. But in our hypothetical situation, Operation Seven Days to the River Rhine is a go.
How would the Soviet Union accomplish such a feat? Firstly, they would send several armies (which is the modern militaristic term for a legion) and use guerilla warfare tactics to make it to Germany. Since we are in 1953, the Eastern Bloc is in full swing, so the Russians can start their assault from Eastern Germany and Czechoslovakia. The Russians would rush the west quick and fast, much like the Blitzkrieg strategy the Germans used in WW2 -- but unlike the original Blitzkrieg, this one would implement nuclear warheads. These strategically placed warheads would drop in places such as Vienna, Verona, Padua, Stuttgart, Munich, Roskilde, and Espjerg. By bombing these areas, the Soviet Union deemed that these places would fall due to low morale. Soldiers would rush around these areas to the River Rhine, where the Soviet Union hoped the democratic countries in Europe would surrender. What about France and Great Britain, the nuclear powers of Europe? The Soviets would bomb places outside of these countries, hoping that they choose appeasement over war. The Soviets would then take both countries by surprise, bombing both of these areas in quick succession. The armies waiting on the River Rhine would then turn their attention to these countries, sweeping through them with incredible speed. Using drugs the KGB developed, they could be on the move for a very long time.
After this fateful week, Europe would have fallen and the Soviet Union would have complete puppet control over Europe.
The Soviet Union declared that the war would be over in seven days. This Operation does not go into detail about the invasion of the United States, but many hypothesize that classified U.S.S.R. documents describe such an Operation. Many nickname this Operation as Operation Red Dawn, which alludes to communism rising on the horizon and setting across the entire earth.
This Operation ties in today, where Russia’s ambitions in Ukraine are starting to look more like their former self. Will Russia use nuclear warheads to end the war in Ukraine? I believe that this Operation is far too ambitious -- one that is meant to be used when Russia has the entire Bloc behind them. Today, it would be highly unlikely that this strategy would even be considered.
Sources:
https://www.rferl.org/a/1063249.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvMm4Uh3HPs
Do you believe Russia will start World War III?
Do you think Russia will use nukes in the Russo-Ukrainian war?
Is Operation Seven Days to the River Rhine feasible?
Replies
You finally cracked the top five Darbie! I know you wanted it! I really enjoyed reading your summary and +5 for a unique topic. It's well written and touches on a "what if" situation with the Soviet Untion/Warsaw Pact starting a nuclear war with the west. At the very end you tie it into to today's situation which was great idea. The disconnect for me is that your first two questions your posed to students were more yes/no questions based on the current situation in Ukraine. The vast majority of your sumamry was about Operation Seven Days to the River Rhine. I think that is what you should have focused on more. You may not have been in the top five but it would have fit better.
With all that said, great job as always!
Russia may start world war III but I doubt its gonna happen because of the nucelar explosions. If they do start this war it will be all confusiion with nuclular bombs and madness would start so no, I can not see a new war starting.
There is always a small chance. But personally, I don't think Russia will start another World War. There are some countries which expecting a war and get troops ready, but Russia and Ukraine met for a peace talk and it went verry well, Putin also takes some troops out of Ukraine.
I don't think that the war would start because it doesn't look like any of the other countries are going to do anything about it and that if Trump was still the president he would stop whats going, but nothing is going to stop because Biden isn't a good president.
I think that there is a chance that Russia could start World War III, but I don't think that they will. I doubt that they will try to use nukes because they realize how bad a nuclear war would be. Personally, I don't see a war happening soon.
I think that there is a slight chance of Russia starting a 3rd world war but maybe other countries will trigger it more. I honestly have no clue weather Russia will or will not use the nukes but I certainly hope they don't. In my opinion Russia will most likely try to do attack countries in a other way such as hacking into their systems because the pretty much have the best hackers in the wo
I don't believe that Russia will try and innitiate WW3. There are a lot of different paths that the war can take.
I don't think that if the war gets bigger that we won't get involved. But I don't think WW3 will break out. i feel the US is helpping keep the war from getting bigger by having people by the boarders and just making sure people are safe
If Russia simply takes Ukraine, then yes, WW3 will not break out. But if Putin gets ambitious and decides to reunite the Bloc, then I feel like things will get escalated.
I don't think WWIII will happen soon because of this conflict. If is does happen, I think it will be one of the shortest World Wars because I think it will move to nukes very quickly. If the war turns to nukes things will not go well at all.