Crisis in the Kremlin - Our 1982 USSR
- Thread starter panpiotr
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- 1980's communism soviet union ussr
1. Vote on the Geneva Agreement, which would result in a reduction of Soviet of the nuclear stockpile by 20%.
A) Stick to the agreement and reduce the stockpile by 20%;
2. Please write down who should replace Marshal Ustinov as the new Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union?
Marshal Nikolai Ogarkov seems a good loyal man to help shape our glorious army to our more efficient vision.
3. Please write down who should replace Yuri Andropov as the new chairman of the KGB?
Viktor Chebrikov looks good.
4. Please write down which reforms/policies should be introduced to reorganize the Soviet Armed forces?
I agree with the rest of greater specialization
5. Please write down which reforms/policies should be introduced to reorganize the Soviet industry and military-industrial complex?
I concur with @ruffino and @dunHozzie
6. As the Iran-Iraq War entered a new phase, which side should the USSR support?
B) Remain neutral and sell arms to both Iraq and Iran;
A) Stick to the agreement and reduce the stockpile by 20%;
2. Please write down who should replace Marshal Ustinov as the new Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union?
Marshal Nikolai Ogarkov seems a good loyal man to help shape our glorious army to our more efficient vision.
3. Please write down who should replace Yuri Andropov as the new chairman of the KGB?
Viktor Chebrikov looks good.
4. Please write down which reforms/policies should be introduced to reorganize the Soviet Armed forces?
I agree with the rest of greater specialization
5. Please write down which reforms/policies should be introduced to reorganize the Soviet industry and military-industrial complex?
I concur with @ruffino and @dunHozzie
6. As the Iran-Iraq War entered a new phase, which side should the USSR support?
B) Remain neutral and sell arms to both Iraq and Iran;
Yeah, unfortunately due to unexpected events update is postponed till I don't know when
Chapter Eight - Internal development (January - March 1984)
The first half of 1984 saw extensive developments in the Soviet internal political and economic situation. In January, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union ratified the nuclear agreement reached with the U.S. in Geneva, which resulted in a decrease in the Soviet nuclear stockpile from 30,000 to 24,000 warheads. This allowed the Soviet government to save additional money and resources, which were badly needed in other areas. Furthermore, three changes at the top of the Soviet political ladder took place: Viktor Kulikov replaced Dmitry Ustinov as the new Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union. During his tenure, the Soviet Armed Forces would undergo extensive reform and modernization. Nikolai Ogarkov was recalled from Afghanistan and would take over as Supreme Commander of the Unified Armed Forces of the Warsaw Treaty Organization. Another change took place in the KGB, where Victor Chebrikov was chosen by General Secretary Romanov as the new chairman of the KGB.Through information supplied by American spy Aldrich Ames, Chebrikov was able to dismantle the network of CIA operatives in the USSR. Chebrikov was highly respected for his skills among his American counterparts; according to Kenneth E. deGraffenreid, the senior White House intelligence official in the Ronald Reagan administration, "One has to say that Chebrikov's term as KGB chief was the heyday of the KGB in terms of foreign intelligence. In terms of intelligence production—spies, and dishing the Americans on the secrets—they were going strong right up to the end. We uncovered 80 spies during those years. These guys were on the rise, and there was no question about their influence."
(Starting from 1984, the Red Army would undergo a massive reform and reorganization)
Facing the still difficult economic situation of the USSR and the Eastern Bloc in general, a decision was made to greatly reduce the budget of the Soviet Armed Forces, which in 1983 accounted for almost 25% of Soviet GDP. Romanov and Kunaev knew that, in the long run, such a situation would put immense pressure on the already struggling Soviet economy, so a sudden and drastic change of course was needed. In 1984, the budget of the Soviet Armed Forces would be reduced from 25% to 17.5% of Soviet GDP, in 1985 to 12.5% and in 1986 to 10%. Such a reduction would allow the Soviet government to save hundreds of billions of dollars. Additionally, the Soviet Armed Forces would undergo extensive reorganization and reform, which included the following elements:
(Romanov's reorganization of the Soviet economy would put the wellness of Soviet citizens on the first place)
Additionally, the Soviet government introduced a wide reform of the Soviet economy, which included:
(A column of newly supplied Soviet T-62 tanks to Iraq)
On the topic of Iran-Iraq, a decision was made to remain neutral in the conflict, which allowed the USSR to sell weapons to both sides of the conflict. Thanks to the choice made by General Secretary Romanov, the USSR earned badly needed hard currency from both Iran and Iraq. Nevertheless, the USSR provided much more tanks, spare parts, ammunition, training of pilots, intelligence support, along with surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, aircrafts and helicopters to Iraq than to Iran. The USSR feared the Iranian victory over Iraq, fearing Tehran would go on to export Islamic revolution elsewhere in the world. However, Iran, after the Western embargo of 1979, was motivated to expand its own manufacturing capability and to seek short-term, clandestine procurement of spares and replacements compatible with its Western equipment base. To the extent the Soviet Union could satisfy these needs, it had incentive to do so. Some equipment was shipped from satellite states such as Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. North Korea during the Iran–Iraq war both shipped Soviet-designed weapons it made, and acting as a conduit for shipments directly from the Soviet Union and the China, even though China was a rival of the Soviets for Middle East influence. Certainly, Soviet clients, such as Libya and Syria, were providing Soviet products to Iran, and the Soviets did not announce a general embargo on them. That the Soviets were willing to do so selectively, as when they proposed shipment of advanced naval mines from Libya to Iran, saying "opposed the unauthorized transfer of their military technology to a third country" indicates that some exports were tolerated.
(Starting from 1984, the Red Army would undergo a massive reform and reorganization)
Facing the still difficult economic situation of the USSR and the Eastern Bloc in general, a decision was made to greatly reduce the budget of the Soviet Armed Forces, which in 1983 accounted for almost 25% of Soviet GDP. Romanov and Kunaev knew that, in the long run, such a situation would put immense pressure on the already struggling Soviet economy, so a sudden and drastic change of course was needed. In 1984, the budget of the Soviet Armed Forces would be reduced from 25% to 17.5% of Soviet GDP, in 1985 to 12.5% and in 1986 to 10%. Such a reduction would allow the Soviet government to save hundreds of billions of dollars. Additionally, the Soviet Armed Forces would undergo extensive reorganization and reform, which included the following elements:
- reduction of the army to a more manageable number (down from 4,200,000 to 3,000,000)
- focus on the development and integration of new technologies
- withdrawal from human wave tactics and mentality: "the more tanks, the better."
- Gradual specialization of the Soviet Army
- more autonomy for non-commissioned officers and regular officers in battlefield conditions
- reduction of bureaucracy in the Army
- campaign against corruption
- focus on computing, electronic warfare, and beyond the visual horizon engagement (both air and land).
- higher professionalization.
(Romanov's reorganization of the Soviet economy would put the wellness of Soviet citizens on the first place)
Additionally, the Soviet government introduced a wide reform of the Soviet economy, which included:
- development of agriculture and the pharmaceutical sector
- development of army-factory collaboration
- expansion of the "luxury" industry
- reduction of bureaucracy and inclusion of more autonomy in economy
- focus on mechanization
(A column of newly supplied Soviet T-62 tanks to Iraq)
On the topic of Iran-Iraq, a decision was made to remain neutral in the conflict, which allowed the USSR to sell weapons to both sides of the conflict. Thanks to the choice made by General Secretary Romanov, the USSR earned badly needed hard currency from both Iran and Iraq. Nevertheless, the USSR provided much more tanks, spare parts, ammunition, training of pilots, intelligence support, along with surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, aircrafts and helicopters to Iraq than to Iran. The USSR feared the Iranian victory over Iraq, fearing Tehran would go on to export Islamic revolution elsewhere in the world. However, Iran, after the Western embargo of 1979, was motivated to expand its own manufacturing capability and to seek short-term, clandestine procurement of spares and replacements compatible with its Western equipment base. To the extent the Soviet Union could satisfy these needs, it had incentive to do so. Some equipment was shipped from satellite states such as Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. North Korea during the Iran–Iraq war both shipped Soviet-designed weapons it made, and acting as a conduit for shipments directly from the Soviet Union and the China, even though China was a rival of the Soviets for Middle East influence. Certainly, Soviet clients, such as Libya and Syria, were providing Soviet products to Iran, and the Soviets did not announce a general embargo on them. That the Soviets were willing to do so selectively, as when they proposed shipment of advanced naval mines from Libya to Iran, saying "opposed the unauthorized transfer of their military technology to a third country" indicates that some exports were tolerated.
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Please write down which policies/reforms should be implemented/introduced to make the COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) more efficient and integrated economic organization, which would help in transformation and development of the Soviet economy in the ever quickly changing world.
Abolish it. Unless significant economic change hits the states, they are a drain on the Soviet Economy. Given the rebellious nature of most of the populations, investing for long term is a roll of the dice.
Seriously, cut them loose. Edit: only keep the Soviet bases. Funded by them. In turn, allow free elections.
That's political suicide and honestly suicide for USSR as well.
Encourage reforms similar to those in USSR, maybe even some measure of privatization, otherwise encourage a single market in Warsaw block countries to improve trade as that'll benefit to USSR and more developed economies like East Germany.
Invest in railway infrastructure and infrastructure in general in eastern Europe in order to make trade easier, advise Warsaw block countries to diminish their military spending. Make Soviet support more transparent ,for example don't buy wast amount of Sugar from Cuba just to keep their economy afloat and differentiate a supply chain to avoid shortfalls and to get a better deals. Any future support will come in form of credits with strings attached. Basically ditch any unprofitable support.
Generally let go of economic chokehold USSR has over these countries and allow them to reform and go away from central planing, but still keep Brenzhew doctrine in regards to politics.
COMECON reforms:
- Decrease or eliminate barriers for trade as much as possible (it will give COMECON countries extra currency and add incentive for specialization as well as focusing on consumer goods and will decrease shortages in the Union)
- Deregulate prices on goods procured from trade(will increase incentives for trade and create some competition)
- Create/expand(I think one already exists, but I am not sure) a student exchange program with a focus on USSR as the target for these exchanges and top students (secure the elites and cultivate eastern block friendships)
- Establish a series of consumer standards for trade goods and agencies responsible for their enforcement(maker sure that they are staffed by members of each countries), it will ensure that the prices are not the only thing countries can compete on.
- Create a standardized system of logos which will represent the origin of any given product and make these logos mandatory for exporters (more incentives to focus on quality for the exporter).
- Establish as many common institutions across the newly created market as possible to disincentivize the dissolution of COMECON.
- Streamline tourism
- Expand sport related Championships within the union
- Attempt to restructure the debt of all member nations
- Create a COMECON statistic office only for review by the different governments, as accurate as possible (to prevent confusion regarding the actual reality)
- Change the railroad gauge of the European nations to USSR standard(claim strategic necessity for mobilization purposes)
- Establish a common currency for the COMECON tired to Ruble
- Create a unified banking system
- Create methods for investments by different countries into other nations industries
- Set up a minimum standards for governance and average citizens quality of life tied to subventions and penalties
- Try to redistribute the defence spendings across the different countries
- Attempt to create some pan COMECON infrastructure projects which will benefit all nations (highways, railroads, canals) funded by all nations (mostly by USSR)
- Create a unified electrical grid to ease trading and prevent burnouts of blackouts in any given nation
I vote for @5je1ryj plan.
- Decrease or eliminate barriers for trade as much as possible (it will give COMECON countries extra currency and add incentive for specialization as well as focusing on consumer goods and will decrease shortages in the Union)
- Deregulate prices on goods procured from trade(will increase incentives for trade and create some competition)
- Create/expand(I think one already exists, but I am not sure) a student exchange program with a focus on USSR as the target for these exchanges and top students (secure the elites and cultivate eastern block friendships)
- Establish a series of consumer standards for trade goods and agencies responsible for their enforcement(maker sure that they are staffed by members of each countries), it will ensure that the prices are not the only thing countries can compete on.
- Create a standardized system of logos which will represent the origin of any given product and make these logos mandatory for exporters (more incentives to focus on quality for the exporter).
- Establish as many common institutions across the newly created market as possible to disincentivize the dissolution of COMECON.
- Streamline tourism
- Expand sport related Championships within the union
- Attempt to restructure the debt of all member nations
- Create a COMECON statistic office only for review by the different governments, as accurate as possible (to prevent confusion regarding the actual reality)
- Change the railroad gauge of the European nations to USSR standard(claim strategic necessity for mobilization purposes)
- Establish a common currency for the COMECON tired to Ruble
- Create a unified banking system
- Create methods for investments by different countries into other nations industries
- Set up a minimum standards for governance and average citizens quality of life tied to subventions and penalties
- Try to redistribute the defence spendings across the different countries
- Attempt to create some pan COMECON infrastructure projects which will benefit all nations (highways, railroads, canals) funded by all nations (mostly by USSR)
- Create a unified electrical grid to ease trading and prevent burnouts of blackouts in any given nati
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