What would YOU do after Brezhnev's death?

If Soviet troops keep the lid on and a modicum of border security is maintained, does a Berlin Wall demolished on CCCP command really have the same effect on the Germanies as one torn down by the masses as guards stand by confused? I don't think so.

That would look to Reagan and company an awful lot like an outright Soviet "victory" in Europe. It might well be the best thing for Europe, but bear in mind that German troops ARE the conventional NATO forces, and any prospect of winning a ground war goes out the window with such a move. Beyond that, given the history of East Germany what is going to make the west anything like willing to declare neutrality? Honestly giving up East Germany in exchange for getting (once again) acceptance of continued control of Poland might be the best bet here.
 
That would look to Reagan and company an awful lot like an outright Soviet "victory" in Europe. It might well be the best thing for Europe, but bear in mind that German troops ARE the conventional NATO forces, and any prospect of winning a ground war goes out the window with such a move. Beyond that, given the history of East Germany what is going to make the west anything like willing to declare neutrality? Honestly giving up East Germany in exchange for getting (once again) acceptance of continued control of Poland might be the best bet here.

In that bit about demolishing the Berlin Wall, I wasn't planning German neutrality - just, well, demolishing the Berlin Wall. The USSR would accept a larger East German brain drain in return for better PR and various Western concessions, essentially.
 
#4 No chance in hell. The West is far too far ahead in tech for the 1980 USSR to catch up.
Allende tried something like that in Chile using telex machines in the '70s. So some sort of proto-internet, even if based in slower computers than the ones available in the West, would help streamline the economy. This proto-internet doesn't have to be better, it has to be good enough.
In that bit about demolishing the Berlin Wall, I wasn't planning German neutrality - just, well, demolishing the Berlin Wall. The USSR would accept a larger East German brain drain in return for better PR and various Western concessions, essentially.
How much money is PR really worth?
 
If it helps us pressure (through Western public opinion) Western governments into agreeing to detente/general military drawdowns in Europe, quite a bit.


It won't be just East Germany but every other East European country you can name that will lose population. It will also look like a sign of weakness by East Europeans who may well revolt. In which case you lose Eastern Europe or (much more likely) you have a PR nightmare that far overcomes any positive PR you get from tearing down the Berlin Wall.
 
If it helps us pressure (through Western public opinion) Western governments into agreeing to detente/general military drawdowns in Europe, quite a bit.
The problem is that the USSR doesn't control western media. So, while it can take actions that will make it look good in western eyes, some media outlets might still push for an editorial line that tries to influence public opinion towards increased military expenditures anyway.
 
The problem is that the USSR doesn't control western media. So, while it can take actions that will make it look good in western eyes, some media outlets might still push for an editorial line that tries to influence public opinion towards increased military expenditures anyway.

More importantly is the reaction from Eastern Europe. The Eastern Europeans would see it as a sign of weakness and would try to push things as much as they can. The vast majority of the East Europeans don't want their countries to be colonies of the USSR( Which in effect they were). They would want to see how much independence they can get from the Kremlin.
 
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