Firstly I doubt soviet force will be able to land there
Even in 1985 I’m skeptical if they can even take Hokkaido, Alaska is out of question
WI: Soviet Union tries to re-capture Alaska during the Cold War?
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Even in 1985 I’m skeptical if they can even take Hokkaido, Alaska is out of question
bguy
Donor
There was though in the miniseries the Soviets weren't trying to recapture Alaska. Their goal was to have a small Spetnaz force seize a pump station on the Alaska pipeline and use it to insert explosives into a large stretch of the pipeline after which the Soviets would use the threat to destroy the pipeline to get the US and its allies to lift the grain embargo they had placed on the Soviets.
Not very likely. Even if Stalin survives from his fatal stroke, even he hardly would become insane enough to do anything like that.
And if Khruschev or any other Soviet leader begin even talk about that he is going to be ousted. No one want direct war with United States.
And even if some Soviet leadership decides pull that idiotic move, it means WW3.
And if Khruschev or any other Soviet leader begin even talk about that he is going to be ousted. No one want direct war with United States.
And even if some Soviet leadership decides pull that idiotic move, it means WW3.
The poll however says "invasion of Alaska", so it's quite clear is is about a military action.
Nebogipfel
Monthly Donor
I think bits and pieces are on youtube -
Best case scenario: the invasion is defeated with conventional warfare and that's that. If it's anything other than the best case scenario, the world starts ending.
TDM
Kicked
It's War
But on top of that I'm not sure why the USSR would do this even if they knew it was going to be war.
1). Re-claiming Alaska for it own sake and/or to right a perceived historical wrong is a pointless goal if you are then fighting WW3 because of it
2). taking Alaska as a stepping stone to a ground invasion of the rest of the USA doesn't work because:
a. it's a shit place to reach the rest of the US from as you still have to go through Canada
b. it's a shit place to operate from in general it not having much in the way of infrastructure to run an invasion of a continent from (sorry Alaska)
c. I don't think any of the Soviet plans for fighting let alone winning a cold war gone hot involved an invasion of the US? And their forces are not suited for this anyway
But on top of that I'm not sure why the USSR would do this even if they knew it was going to be war.
1). Re-claiming Alaska for it own sake and/or to right a perceived historical wrong is a pointless goal if you are then fighting WW3 because of it
2). taking Alaska as a stepping stone to a ground invasion of the rest of the USA doesn't work because:
a. it's a shit place to reach the rest of the US from as you still have to go through Canada
b. it's a shit place to operate from in general it not having much in the way of infrastructure to run an invasion of a continent from (sorry Alaska)
c. I don't think any of the Soviet plans for fighting let alone winning a cold war gone hot involved an invasion of the US? And their forces are not suited for this anyway
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RandomFloridian
Banned
Could the Soviets try to capture some American island's near the Bering Strait, like St Lawrence Island or Little Dimodode Island and use them as a barging chip against the Americans?
No. If USSR even touch some small sand atoll, USA is going to be pretty angry.
What is this, Canada?
Edit: I think there is basically a zero % chance that the Soviets attempt an invasion, although Sam Rs subterfuge sounds interesting (but like, surely they tried that OTL).
I'm going to say that if there ever was a chance of this, it was in like 1924-1926; ie as the American troops are fighting in Siberia. As they withdraw, maybe a Red Army still led by Trotsky makes an attempt to land in Alaska. It fails.
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Best case scenario is that the US captures Soviet territory and the standoff ends like the Cuban missile crisis. And that’s very much in a “cooler heads prevail” scenario.
Realistically, at least one Soviet city ends up a smoldering crater, and the Soviets either fight to the end - and lose, since China almost certainly says “you’re on your own” to the Soviets after such a batshit insane move - or back the hell down if they know what’s good for them.
Realistically, at least one Soviet city ends up a smoldering crater, and the Soviets either fight to the end - and lose, since China almost certainly says “you’re on your own” to the Soviets after such a batshit insane move - or back the hell down if they know what’s good for them.
The US responds violently. With everything in the arsenal. EVERYTHING. The war will go nuclear. Teh end.
Small point of accuracy. Last American ground forces left Siberia in 1920. The US Navy operated a small radio station in the Soviet Far East until 1922. While some fighting between the Soviets and the Americans in Siberia did occur, it was pretty small-scale and sporadic in nature. Owing to the utterly pathetic state of the Red Navy at this time, a Soviet invasion of Alaska was simply impossible. 9
That was one of these depressing weeknight TV movies that came on while you were doing your homework.
I remember it had Cathy Lee Crosby from That's Incredible. But wow, I did not know that it also had Uncle Bill from Family Affair as a Soviet baddie.
And kind of weird to see Jereon Crabbe, venerable standby of European art flicks, doing middlebrow American TV that early in his career.
I may just be imagining it, but I do recall the FBI being worried about Soviet intelligence efforts to recruit Alaska Natives to form a fifth column in the region. That was back in the 50s/60s, when the FBI was trying to form their own stay-behind guerrilla force in the event of a Soviet invasion. I could see a scenario where the USSR attempts to ferment some kind of movement amongst the Inuit in Alaska, maybe not to the point of insurrection, but possibly enough to cause trouble ala Quebec in the 60s/70s. If that's the case the US response would be harsh, but short of outright war. I could see us returning the favor to groups in the Caucasus and Central Asia, though, and ramping up the arms race.
Now a full on Soviet invasion starts WW3.
Is this invasion sanctioned by the Soviet Government and Soviet Military? Or this a rogue nationalistic group trying to reclaim Alaska?
Either way, we’re still getting nuked
Either way, we’re still getting nuked
I'm going to say this ... let's say when the Russian Civil War breaks out, Alaska is part of the Empire.
So this is a civil war where technically Alaska began as theirs.
I STILL can't see an invasion or diplomatic response...that would be like a diplomatic response to China invading Taiwan...if Taiwan bordered the USA
So this is a civil war where technically Alaska began as theirs.
I STILL can't see an invasion or diplomatic response...that would be like a diplomatic response to China invading Taiwan...if Taiwan bordered the USA