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Where do you go, Leonid, I wanna know
It was 9th day of 1961 February when nominal head of state or Chairman of the Presidum of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev died when his Il-18 plane encountered three French Vautour jet fighters. When returning from his state visit in Guinea, his plane strayed into French Algerian airspace and was intercepted by three fighters patrolling area. Damaged radio onboard Ilyuszyn-18 caused French pilots to think that this is plane carrying weapons so one of them fired two warning shots. While first bullet missed plane by few inches, Soviet pilot tried to turn plane to avoid second one. His actions proved to be unsuccessful as second bullet hit engine and caused chain reaction destroying plane in aftermatch.
Day after incident French Foreign Ministry apologized for unfortunately accident over Algerian skies and offered joint French-Soviet investigation of this case but stated that it was Leonid Brezhnev who strayed into French airspace. It was enough to spark wrath of Soviet Premier, who called this as act of war and political murder directed against hero of the communism by French fascists. He issued final ultimatum against France - extradite those who were responsible for accident. Tensions between Soviet Union and France had been never so high than in February 1961. Communists and Socialists in France criticized military procedures that allowed foreign head of state to be killed, some of them called this as intentionally murder of Soviet dignitaries and demanded de Gaulle to resign. On 12nd February Khrushchev warned French that whole metropolitan France will be turned into radioactive desert if they did not comply. Tensions were resolved when three pilots surrendered themselves to Soviet embassy and were transported to Moscow. One who fired warning shots was sentenced to life in prison while rest were recognized as not guilty.
Brezhnev Incident deteriorated French-Soviet relations and caused de Gaulle to return to full participation in North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Threat of nuclear war had never been ho high than in 1961 when Nikita Khrushchev and his Western counterparts clashed in several crisises. In the Soviet Union outcome was somewhat unexpected - Galina Brezhneva became more involved in politics.
Leonid Brezhnev was succeeded as nominal head of state by Old Bolshevik Anastas Mikoyan.
We will crush you like a flea. Your cities will be deserts, your vineyard will be radioactive, your nation will be erased from Earth - Nikita Khrushchev; 12th February 1961
It was 9th day of 1961 February when nominal head of state or Chairman of the Presidum of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev died when his Il-18 plane encountered three French Vautour jet fighters. When returning from his state visit in Guinea, his plane strayed into French Algerian airspace and was intercepted by three fighters patrolling area. Damaged radio onboard Ilyuszyn-18 caused French pilots to think that this is plane carrying weapons so one of them fired two warning shots. While first bullet missed plane by few inches, Soviet pilot tried to turn plane to avoid second one. His actions proved to be unsuccessful as second bullet hit engine and caused chain reaction destroying plane in aftermatch.
Day after incident French Foreign Ministry apologized for unfortunately accident over Algerian skies and offered joint French-Soviet investigation of this case but stated that it was Leonid Brezhnev who strayed into French airspace. It was enough to spark wrath of Soviet Premier, who called this as act of war and political murder directed against hero of the communism by French fascists. He issued final ultimatum against France - extradite those who were responsible for accident. Tensions between Soviet Union and France had been never so high than in February 1961. Communists and Socialists in France criticized military procedures that allowed foreign head of state to be killed, some of them called this as intentionally murder of Soviet dignitaries and demanded de Gaulle to resign. On 12nd February Khrushchev warned French that whole metropolitan France will be turned into radioactive desert if they did not comply. Tensions were resolved when three pilots surrendered themselves to Soviet embassy and were transported to Moscow. One who fired warning shots was sentenced to life in prison while rest were recognized as not guilty.
Brezhnev Incident deteriorated French-Soviet relations and caused de Gaulle to return to full participation in North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Threat of nuclear war had never been ho high than in 1961 when Nikita Khrushchev and his Western counterparts clashed in several crisises. In the Soviet Union outcome was somewhat unexpected - Galina Brezhneva became more involved in politics.
Leonid Brezhnev was succeeded as nominal head of state by Old Bolshevik Anastas Mikoyan.
- Tal Shiar
- Word Count: 410